CNN
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Donald Trump legal professional Evan Corcoran appeared final month to testify earlier than a federal grand jury in Washington, DC, that’s wanting on the former president’s handling of national security records at his Mar-a-Lago residence, a supply confirmed to CNN.
He was there for roughly 4 hours.
Bloomberg first reported that he had appeared.
Prosecutors requested Corcoran about what had occurred up till the August 8, 2022, search of Mar-a-Lago, which got here after investigators discovered proof that made them consider categorised data stored on the Florida resort have been moved and hid – together with questions on his interactions with Trump, one other individual conversant in the scenario mentioned.
The disclosure of Corcoran’s testimony comes amid a gentle drip of current strikes by particular counsel Jack Smith to acquire grand jury testimony from very shut contacts of Trump, in lots of circumstances about what Trump was instructed and what he mentioned on the finish of his presidency and afterward.
It additionally comes amid an escalation of exercise in Smith’s different Trump probe, wanting into January 6, 2021, and efforts to impede the switch of energy following the 2020 election. Smith issued a subpoena in that investigation to former Vice President Mike Pence in current days, in search of paperwork and testimony. Trump’s former nationwide safety adviser Robert O’Brien also received a subpoena, as CNN first reported.
Corcoran declined to reply some questions within the grand jury that will have divulged his recommendation to Trump and their conversations, citing attorney-client privilege, the individual acquainted added. The Justice Division has repeatedly tried within the investigation to pressure witnesses to reply questions they declined to answer within the grand jury, however the courts will in the end need to resolve if Corcoran should say extra.
As considered one of Trump’s main legal protection attorneys since he left the presidency, Corcoran has been in contact with federal investigators and the Nationwide Archives for a lot of the course of the Mar-a-Lago paperwork investigation.
He had drafted a letter signed by one other legal professional final June that mentioned Trump’s group had completed a diligent search and turned over categorised data of their possession. Even nonetheless, the DOJ believed its investigation was being obstructed, prompting investigators to acquire a search warrant from a courtroom in August.
Tons of extra data with categorised markings have been discovered, with further being turned over by Trump’s attorneys to the DOJ up to now few months.
This story has been up to date with further particulars.
