March 13 (Reuters) – Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, testified on Monday afternoon before a Manhattan grand jury investigating a hush money payment he has said he orchestrated to porn star Stormy Daniels on behalf of the former president.
“This is all about accountability. He needs to be held accountable for his dirty deeds,” Cohen said of Trump outside a Manhattan courthouse on his way to the grand jury.
Lanny Davis, Cohen’s attorney, later said Cohen testified until 5 p.m. on Monday, after starting at 2 p.m. He said Cohen would return to answer more questions Wednesday afternoon.
The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Grand jury proceedings are not public.
The renewed interest in Stormy Daniels and the $130,000 payment she received before the 2016 presidential election comes at a critical time for Trump, who is seeking the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Daniels has said she got the payment in exchange for not discussing a sexual liaison with Trump, who denies it happened.