Particular counsel seeks to query Trump lawyer, supply says

Particular counsel Jack Smith, who is investigating former President Donald Trump’s dealing with of labeled paperwork, is ramping up strain on one in every of Trump’s attorneys to testify earlier than a grand jury, an individual accustomed to the matter instructed CBS Information Thursday.

Prosecutors argue that they should be taught extra about an alleged June 24, 2022, name between Trump and his lawyer, Evan Corcoran. On the time, investigators have been in search of to safe paperwork at Trump’s house and video surveillance tapes of Mar-a-Lago.

ABC Information first reported that investigators have been in search of to query Corcoran.

The individual accustomed to the investigation instructed CBS Information that prosecutors need to know what Trump might need mentioned in the course of the alleged dialog, and whether or not he gave Corcoran any orders about the right way to deal with subpoenas.

The chief choose overseeing the case is anticipated to decide on whether or not Corcoran might be compelled to testify in regards to the name within the coming days.

Corcoran has appeared earlier than a grand jury, however has up to now refused to reply questions on his communications with Trump, claiming attorney-client privilege.

Prosecutors are actually in search of to make use of the “crime-fraud exception” to compel Corcoran to testify about his shopper, Trump, and the previous president’s conduct across the time Mar-a-Lago surveillance footage was ordered to be submitted to investigators by means of a subpoena.

Beneath the “crime-fraud exception,” attorney-client privilege wouldn’t apply if the discussions have been in furtherance of criminal activity.

Key questions stay about how Trump responded to federal doc requests and what he mentioned to his attorneys earlier than and after the FBI first searched Mar-a-Lago in August, in response to a second individual near the investigation.

Smith was appointed particular counsel in November to supervise the Justice Division’s prison investigation into Trump, which incorporates his dealing with of delicate authorities paperwork and the potential obstruction of efforts to retrieve them, in addition to efforts to intervene within the 2020 election.

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Trump, who denies wrongdoing, has not been charged.

Corcoran was unavailable for remark when reached by CBS Information.

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