Grand jury is expected to resume hearing case Monday
It now appears that any indictment of former President Donald Trump will not come until next week at the earliest.
The grand jury hearing evidence about Trump's role in a hush-money payment to a porn star typically does not consider the case on Thursdays and does not meet on Fridays, according to a person with knowledge of the matter.
However, on Thursday afternoon, the prosecutors from the Manhattan district attorney's office leading the investigation were seen entering and leaving the building where the grand jury meets, suggesting that some activity may have taken place.
It is unclear whether the grand jury was hearing witness testimony or reviewing other evidence.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin L. Bragg has been questioning witnesses about the role Trump played in the payment to the porn star, Stormy Daniels, and there have been several signals that the prosecutors are nearing an indictment. Still, the exact timing of any charges remains unknown.
Although the special grand jury hearing evidence about Trump meets on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, it typically does not hear evidence about the Trump case on Thursdays, according to the person with knowledge of the matter. Special grand juries, which unlike regular grand juries sit for months at a time and hear complex cases, routinely consider several cases simultaneously.
None of the witnesses relevant to the hush-money matter have been seen going into the building where the jury sits on Thursdays. And what may appear to outside observers to be wild swings in the momentum of the investigation are most likely the routine stop and start of the New York grand jury process, either because of scheduling conflicts or other unexpected interruptions.
It is unclear whether Bragg's office has completed its presentation of evidence to the grand jury, or if another witness might still testify. Scheduling that testimony could cause a brief delay in the proceedings.