Grand jury to hear from former Trump aide who was with him on Jan. 6

Grand Jury to Hear from Former Trump Aide who was with him on Jan. 6

Summary:

• A DC grand jury investigating interference in the 2020 election will hear from William Russell, a former White House aide who now works with the Trump campaign.
• Russell was present with former President Trump on January 6th.
• Meanwhile, a federal judge in New York has blocked Trump's efforts to move his trial in the hush money payments case from the state court to federal court.

Lead:

NBC News reports that a DC grand jury, currently investigating interference in the 2020 election, is scheduled to hear testimony from William Russell, a former White House aide who is now affiliated with the Trump campaign. Russell was also present with former President Donald Trump on January 6th, the day of the Capitol riot. In a separate development, a federal judge in New York has halted Trump's attempts to transfer his trial related to hush money payments from state court to federal court. To discuss the significance of Russell's testimony and the ongoing investigations, NBC News correspondent Garrett Haick and former federal prosecutor Jessica Roth from Yeshiva University's Cardozo Law School join the conversation.

Body:

William Russell served as a trip director and special assistant to President Trump during his tenure in the White House. He was considered a personal aide, often in close proximity to the former president, which allowed him to be privy to various conversations and events, including January 6th, the day of the Capitol insurrection.

While Russell wasn't a high-ranking figure in the Trump White House or campaign, his physical proximity to the former president during crucial moments makes his testimony essential to the ongoing investigations. It is yet unclear whether the special counsel's office is specifically interested in his knowledge of January 6th or any potential connections to the 2020 election interference.

Haick points out that Russell's presence around Trump, especially towards the end of his term, raises questions about the kind of information he might possess. The grand jury will likely explore whether Russell overheard any significant conversations during his time working with the former president, and if such information could shed light on the events leading up to the January 6th riot.

Moreover, the investigations will likely probe into Russell's continued involvement with Trump's campaign. It remains to be seen whether this is his first appearance before the grand jury or if there will be subsequent testimonies.

Ending:

As the investigation unfolds, the significance of William Russell's testimony cannot be underestimated. Being a personal aide to former President Trump and closely associated with the campaign, Russell's potential insights may provide valuable information for understanding the events surrounding the Capitol riot and any potential election interference.

With the federal judge's ruling blocking Trump's trial transfer to federal court in the hush money payments case, legal challenges continue to add to the complexity of the former president's legal battles.

As developments emerge, the nation awaits the outcome of the grand jury's inquiries and how it might shape the future legal landscape for Donald Trump and those connected to the events of January 6th and the 2020 election.

José Díaz-Balart, MSNBC, NBC News, nbc, news, news coverage, breaking news, us news, world news, politics, current events, top stories, pop culture, business, health, political news, msnbc live, Donald Trump, Trump, President Trump, Trump investigation, Trump grand jury, capitol riots, January 6, January 6 riots