Trump hails evidence of former legal adviser in hush money case

Donald Trump has hailed the news that a former adviser to Michael Cohen will testify before a Manhattan grand jury investigating the ex-president’s alleged role in a hush money payment to the adult film star Stormy Daniels.

Robert J Costello, a one-time legal adviser to former Trump lawyer Cohen, was due to appear before the grand jury yesterday, and was expected to give testimony “attacking the credibility of Cohen’s statements”, Associated Press reported.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges involving $130,000 paid to Daniels close to the election day in 2016. Daniels claims she had sex with the former president in 2006, an allegation Trump denies.

Trump said on Saturday he would be “arrested on Tuesday” but then offered a more buoyant outlook after news of Costello’s scheduled appearance. “Just reported that the most important witness to go before the New York City grand jury, a highly respected lawyer who once represented convicted felon, jailbird and serial fake storyteller and liar Michael Cohen, will be doing so tomorrow afternoon,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.

“The information he will present will supposedly be conclusive and irrefutable! Witch hunt!!!”

Costello, who has represented the Trump confidants Steve Bannon and Rudy Giuliani, offered to represent Cohen in 2018 as he faced charges related to the Daniels payment. The pair discussed the case, the New York Times reported, but the relationship soured after Cohen began to criticise and implicate Trump.

Associated Press reported that Costello recently contacted a Trump lawyer, claiming he had information that contradicted Cohen’s account and could help exonerate Trump. The lawyer brought it to the attention of the Manhattan district attorney, Alvin Bragg, who last week invited Costello to testify.