A New York grand jury investigating Donald Trump over allegations that hush money was given to an adult film star before the 2016 US presidential election will not be meeting on Wednesday, several news organisations reported, as anticipation builds for a possible indictment against the former president.
Michael Cohen, a former ally of Mr Trump, had previously told the grand jury that he paid $130,000 to silence Stormy Daniels during Mr Trump's first White House campaign.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, had claimed she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006.
Mr Trump has denied the affair and any wrongdoing and has called the investigation — as he has other investigations — a “witch hunt”.
The grand jury meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. It is unknown why the group was adjourned and not called into session on a day it typically meets.
There are also reports that the grand jury may hear from an additional witness.
The adjournment on Wednesday suggests that any indictment of Mr Trump would come on Thursday at the earliest.
The former president also claimed this week, without evidence, that he would be arrested on Tuesday, though no criminal charges have so far been filed.
Should the grand jury indict Mr Trump, he would become the first former US president to be criminally charged. He would have to travel from Florida to New York for a mugshot and fingerprinting if he were to be charged.
Police in New York this week were preparing for unrest, and Mr Trump himself has called for protests, but so far few supporters have been taking to the streets.
Joseph Tacopina, a lawyer for Mr Trump, said the former president would surrender to authorities if indicted, Bloomberg reported.
Republicans and allies of Mr Trump have since attacked the credentials of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whose office has been investigating the case.
A group of Republicans in the US House of Representatives on Monday signed a letter demanding Mr Bragg present committees with documents related to the investigation as well as his testimony.
House Speaker Kevin McCarthy accused Mr Bragg of overreach but does not think people should protest a possible Trump indictment.
“I don’t think people should protest this, no,” Punchbowl News reported Mr McCarthy as saying at the House Republican retreat in Orlando on Sunday.
The investigation over potential hush money paid to Daniels is one of a number of probes circling Mr Trump and his allies.
He faces two additional investigations related to accusations that he sought to undermine the results of the 2020 election, as well as an investigation into his potential mishandling of classified records once he left office.
Agencies contributed to this report
