Former National Enquirer publisher David Pecker testifies before a Manhattan grand jury in the Trump investigation

Former head of the National Enquirer David Pecker left the Manhattan courts Monday afternoon amid reports that the grand jury has reconvened to hear another witness in the Donald Trump cash payment case.

It comes as new reports emerge that the grand jury did not vote on Monday on whether to indict the former president after hearing testimony from Baker – but is expected to meet again on Wednesday.

Baker, who was photographed by DailyMail.com leaning in the back of a car leaving a courtroom on Monday, was embroiled in controversy surrounding the 2016 presidential election when he purchased exclusive rights to stories that could damage Trump’s campaign.

A Manhattan grand jury investigating Trump’s alleged hush money payments to porn star Stormy Daniels convened again Monday afternoon to hear more evidence as the city remains on a knife-edge waiting to find out if the former president will be charged with paying the star $130,000. Porn Stormy Daniels.

Under tight security after a death threat last week, Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg walked into a New York City court on Monday, March 27, as the grand jury in the Trump financial case resumed silence.

Monday is the committee’s first meeting in conjunction with the silent money case since last week when they heard testimony from a pro-Trump witness. The jury broke the normal rhythm by not meeting on Wednesday and convening on Thursday to hear matters in a separate case.

The grand jury is now back on Trump, according to a person familiar with the matter. It was not immediately clear if an additional witness could be called before the committee.

Reports have surfaced that a witness may appear as testimonial testimony given by attorney Robert Costello on March 21.

Costello’s testimony was a rebuttal to two days of testimony earlier this month from Michael Cohen, Trump’s former go-between, who paid Daniels $130,000 and is now under suspicion.

Baker is linked to the case because of an investigation over his role being used to bury unfavorable stories as Trump when he was CEO of American Media, Inc. (AMI), and is the publisher of the Star, The Globe, National Enquirer, and World News Weekly.

During an August 2014 meeting with Trump, Baker offered to use the National Enquirer to find, intercept and kill any allegations of sexual affairs against him.

AMI and Pecker came under investigation in 2018 for purchasing the rights to these stories and then refusing to publish them.

At the time, Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen asked AMI to purchase the rights to Daniel’s story, which Baker refused. Later, during testimony he gave in February 2019, Cohen told the House Oversight Committee during a hearing that he and Baker worked together to capture and kill stories that could harm Trump.

Baker was removed as CEO of AMI in August 2020, but remains as an executive advisor.

Trump claimed last weekend that he would be arrested early Tuesday as he held demonstrations in New York and Washington, D.C., and near his residence in Mar-a-Lago, Florida.

This put the police on high alert, with all 36,000 NYPD officers dressed and ready to deploy in the event of disturbances.

A car leaves the garage of the State Office Building in Manhattan on Monday following reports that David Pecker met with the grand jury investigating Trump.

Baker is pictured leaning as cameras flash in his car as he leaves the Louis J. Lefkowitz State Office Building in Manhattan, New York on Monday, March 27, 2023.

Trump blasted Manhattan Attorney General Alvin Bragg in a social media post Monday morning.

‘Can you imagine?’ I lead the opposition within the GOP by 30-plus, Biden by 6-plus, and everyone is waiting to hear from the local DA backed by George Soros, who has seen violence in Manhattan rise to record levels, on whether or not he’ll “file a criminal charge” on me, Trump added. not committing a crime.”

The former president raised speculation that criminal charges were imminent with a March 18 post on his social media platform saying he expected to be arrested last Tuesday.

The lack of an indictment or arrest has since been used to claim that the investigation is somewhat faltering.

Meanwhile, sources tell DailyMail.com Bragg is having trouble convincing the grand jury to indict, with one court source saying he has a “weak” case.

Trump has stepped up his rhetoric in recent days, warning that “potential death and destruction” would accompany any indictment.

He also posted a photo of himself holding a baseball bat next to a photo of Attorney General Alvin Bragg, a Democrat. On Thursday, Trump referred to Bragg, Manhattan’s first black DA, as an “animal.”

A canine unit provides security at the state office building where a grand jury investigating former President Donald Trump meets in New York, Monday, March 27, 2023

People make out and hold signs about former President Trump outside Manhattan Criminal Court, Manhattan, New York