If the case succeeds, Trump, 76, could become the first former US president charged in criminal justice.
The Republican tycoon, candidate for a new term in the White House, “must be held accountable for his dirty conduct,” Cohen declared to various media outlets upon arriving at court. He also assured that he wants to “tell the truth” and does not seek “revenge”.
Questioned by AFP, his lawyer, Lanny Davis, confirmed that his client “was being questioned by the grand jury”, a panel of citizens with broad powers to investigate.
Cohen testifies within the investigation into the $130,000 he gave, in 2016, porn actress Stormy Daniels – whose real name is Stephanie Clifford – so that she would remain silent about the alleged relationship she had with Trump.
The payment was made two weeks before the election in which the Republican defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty, in particular to orchestrating this payment in violation of campaign finance laws. He, however, assured that he acted at the request of Trump, who would reimburse him as soon as he was elected president.
According to the New York Times, the former president could be accused of trying to make up accounting reports to disguise the payment to Stormy Daniels. A crime that could be more serious if prosecutors consider that Trump sought to circumvent regulations on campaign finance, according to the publication.
After the media revelations, Trump denounced, on his Truth Social network, that he was the victim of a “political witch hunt that seeks to overthrow the candidate” with better options to represent the Republican Party.
The former president was investigated for different cases, but was never charged.