Trump received offer to speak before NY grand jury in Stormy Daniels case

Former President Donald Trump has been offered the chance to appear before a New York grand jury to answer questions about his non-disclosure agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels.

Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg has investigated Trump's payment of $130,000 to Daniels near the end of the 2016 campaign for the past five years, Fox News reported. Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen sent Daniels the money and Trump later reimbursed him.

New York law grants potential defendants the right to appear before a grand jury before it recommends charges, Fox News noted. It is not uncommon for such an offer to precede criminal charges and many outlets reported on the development as signaling charges are likely to be forthcoming. Such an offer, however, is a legal right, and does not definitively mean such charges will materialize.

At the core of the case is a premise that the payments may constitute falsifying business records, a misdemeanor. However, if Bragg can demonstrate intent to defraud or conceal, it would become a felony, the outlet noted.

Bragg previously waged a successful prosecution of the Trump Organization over a tax evasion scheme by its top executives. Trump was not indicted in that case.

Trump is facing myriad other investigations, including inquiries from Fulton County, Georgia District Attorney Fani Willis, New York Attorney General Letitia James, and Department of Justice special counsel Robert Hur.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.