Prosecutors in the Manhattan criminal case against former President Donald Trump have turned over to their lawyers a recording of Trump and a witness, whose identity was not released, according to a document the office released Friday.
The document, called an automatic discovery form, outlines the nature of the charges against a defendant and a broad overview of the evidence prosecutors will present at Trump’s preliminary hearing or trial. Trump’s lawyers and media organizations, including CBS News, had repeatedly requested that form be made public in the weeks following Trump’s April 4 arrest.
Trump is the first former president in US history to face criminal charges. You have entered plea of not guilty to 34 felonies of falsification of commercial records for alleged payments made as part of a “hush money” scheme..
The document lists the dates of 34 instances between February 14, 2017 and December 5, 2017 when he allegedly falsified records.
In a section on electronic evidence to be turned over, a prosecutor from Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office said they have released to the defense a “recording of a conversation between the defendant and a witness” .
The section also states that prosecutors intend to disclose recordings of calls between witnesses and others.
A lawyer for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The form was completed on Tuesday, which was also when Trump appeared at a hearing before New York Judge Juan Merchan. Trump received permission from Merchan appear via a live video feedin part to spare law enforcement the massive security operation that accompanied his appearance.
Merchan reviewed a protective order he put in place, barring Trump from releasing, or even possessing, much of the evidence to be handed over. Trump cannot speak publicly or post on social media any case material that has not already been made public.
Some of the information, labeled “Restricted Materials” by prosecutors, will only be available to Trump in the presence of his lawyers.
Merchan told Trump that if he fails to comply with the order he could be sanctioned or fined, “up to a finding of contempt, which is punishable.”
The trial of the case is scheduled to begin on March 25, 2024.
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