Michael Cohen's web of lies unravels in courtroom revelation, Admits to stealing from Trump Org
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Quick Hit: Michael Cohen, former attorney for Donald Trump, admitted under oath to stealing from the Trump Organization, further tarnishing his credibility as a witness.
Key Details:
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Cohen confessed to falsely claiming a $50,000 reimbursement from the Trump Organization for a tech firm's services.
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This admission comes as Cohen is a key witness in the ongoing hush money trial against Trump.
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Cohen's history of deceit includes lying to Congress, using false pretenses for bank accounts, and misleading invoices.
Diving Deeper:
Michael Cohen, once a trusted attorney for Donald Trump, has once again demonstrated his propensity for deceit, this time admitting to stealing from the Trump Organization. During a tense cross-examination by Trump’s lawyer Todd Blanche, Cohen acknowledged that he lied about the amount needed to reimburse a tech firm, RedFinch Solutions, for rigging online polls. Despite claiming $50,000, Cohen pocketed a significant portion of the funds.
This startling admission further erodes Cohen’s credibility as a key witness in the high-profile hush money trial. Cohen, who has already been convicted of several felonies, including lying to Congress, admitted on the stand that he had only paid approximately $20,000 to RedFinch Solutions, while keeping the rest. He was reimbursed $100,000 by the Trump Organization for this inflated claim.
Cohen’s checkered past includes a litany of lies and deceptions:
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Lying to Congress: Cohen testified that he falsely claimed there were no plans for a Trump Tower in Moscow to align with Trump’s public statements denying any Russian connections.
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Misleading Bank Accounts: He opened a bank account under false pretenses to facilitate a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, using a home equity loan to avoid leaving a paper trail.
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Manipulating Legal Documents: Cohen created a nondisclosure agreement with Daniels using aliases for Trump and Daniels, and later, his law firm drafted a misleading letter to the Federal Election Commission about the Trump Organization’s involvement.
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Recording Trump: Cohen secretly recorded a conversation with Trump about paying off Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, to bury her story of an alleged affair with Trump.
Cohen’s admission of theft adds another layer of complexity to his already dubious character. Despite prosecutors supporting his testimony with documentary evidence, Trump’s legal team has aggressively challenged Cohen’s reliability. This latest revelation of theft from his former employer only serves to bolster the defense’s portrayal of Cohen as an untrustworthy and self-serving witness.
As the trial progresses, Trump’s lawyers will have the opportunity to present their evidence and potentially call witnesses. While it remains uncertain if Trump will testify, his defense team is keen to highlight Cohen’s extensive history of dishonesty to undermine the prosecution's case.
In a trial marked by salacious details and high stakes, Michael Cohen’s credibility—or lack thereof—will undoubtedly play a crucial role in the jury’s deliberation. His admissions not only cast doubt on his current testimony but also remind the court of his long history of deceit, further complicating the prosecution's efforts to convict Donald Trump.
“Michael Cohen in 2019” by The Circus is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2rMOVj6JcWY
BREAKING NEWS: Trump—Flanked By Son Donald Trump Jr., Ronny Jackson, & More—Speaks Outside NYC Trial
Forbes Breaking NewsTrump Falls Asleep During Michael Cohen's Testimony in Hush Money Trial
Jon Stewart on Iran, Israel, and Trump’s Hush Money Trial | The Daily Show
Trump Closes His Eyes As Jury Deliberates—Here Are All The Times He’s Reportedly Fallen Asleep At Hush Money Trial
Timeline
doze off on the first day of jury selection in the hush money case, where Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, according to reporters in the Manhattan courtroom, who said they observed Trump lean back in his chair with his eyes closed before jolting back awake after his attorneys passed him notes.
Trump appeared toaccording to Law360.
The very next day, Trump dropped his head inside the courtroom, keeping his eyes closed before jolting his head upright, drooping it again, jerking up, and slouching for a third time,empaneled, following an exhaustive selection process involving rounds of questioning over potential bias.
Trump’s eyes remained “closed for extended periods” during the final day of jury selection, according to New York Times reporter Maggie Haberman, just before the full 12-member jury and alternates were officiallyaccording to New York Times reporter Susanne Craig,” though he appeared to wake up after a nudge from his attorney Todd Blanche.
Before opening statements began, Trump seemed to be “struggling to stay awake,”appeared to nod off for “significant portions” of witness testimony, Haberman reported, while NBC news reporters noted Trump occasionally “jerked” his head up “in a way consistent with sleeping,” including during his attorneys’ cross-examination of witness Gary Farro, a banker who worked for Cohen.
TrumpTimes and ABC News reported, adding that Trump later dozed “on and off” as his defense attorneys and prosecutors debated Blanche’s call for a mistrial.
As former adult film star Stormy Daniels—a key witness—took the stand for her second day of testimony, Trump’s eyes remained closed for “several minutes,” theThe New York Times and CNN—with the Times more directly reporting the ex-president was “asleep” during the trial’s afternoon session—while The New York Post reports Trump “jerk[ed] his head forward slightly” and was “slumped forward in his chair,” noting that is “behavior typically associated with people who are asleep.”
Trump’s eyes appeared to be closed at various points during Cohen’s testimony, according tomultiple outlets reported, with the Times’ Jonathan Swan noting Trump’s eyes remained closed and that he seemed to be “dozing peacefully,” and Politico’s Erica Orden observing Trump “slouched in his seat” with his eyes “seemingly closed and his mouth slack” as cross-examination began.
Trump appeared to doze off once again as prosecutors continued to pry information out of Cohen,Times and the Associated Press reported, with a Times reporter adding Trump appeared to be “fidgeting from time to time,” as the jury appears close to reaching a verdict.
As the jury entered its second day of deliberation, Trump sat “mostly” with his eyes closed, theChief Critic
Trump, who has berated New York prosecutors for bringing charges against him and slammed the judge overseeing the case, denied reports he was sleeping, saying in a Truth Social post on May 2 he had “simply close[d] my beautiful blue eyes, sometimes.” Trump also took the opportunity to reiterate his repeated criticism of the case as a “witch hunt,” and claimed he listens “intensely and take[s] it ALL in!!!”
News Peg
The jury entered deliberation earlier this week following closing arguments in the weeks-long trial, following testimony from nearly two dozen witnesses, including Daniels and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen, who testified earlier this month that the ex-president had first-hand knowledge of payments that were being made to “catch and kill” negative stories about him. The ex-attorney was the second major witness to testify at the trial, after Daniels took the witness stand last week, fielding questions from Trump’s attorneys about her alleged affair with the former president and the $130,000 hush money payment she took from Cohen before the 2016 election. During cross-examination, Trump attorney Susan Necheles accused Daniels—whose real name is Stephanie Clifford—of attempting to profit off the story of the affair, which Trump denies having with Daniels. The adult film star testified she was not incentivized by the hush money payout, saying she feared Trump could retaliate if the story got out, though she admitted she had wanted to sell the story even before the hush money offer was on the table so she could control the narrative.
BREAKING NEWS: Donald Trump Jr., Allies Of Ex-POTUS Decry NYC Hush Money Trial Outside Hearing
Forbes Breaking NewsFrom: Chrystia Freeland <Chrystia.Freeland@fin.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, May 20, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Olivia Rubin has the latest as day 19 of former Pres. Trump's hush money trial c
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From: Moore, Rob - M.P. <Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Mon, May 20, 2024 at 10:28 PM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE Olivia Rubin has the latest as day 19 of former Pres. Trump's hush money trial c
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
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From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 20, 2024 at 10:26 PM
Subject: RE Olivia Rubin has the latest as day 19 of former Pres. Trump's hush money trial c
To: <olivia.a.rubin@abc.com>, <bragga@dany.nyc.gov>, David.Fraser <David.Fraser@cbc.ca>, David.Akin <David.Akin@globalnews.ca>, Jacques.Poitras <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, Robert. Jones <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>, <toddblanche@blanchelaw.com>, <Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.ca>, Jean-Yves.Duclos <Jean-Yves.Duclos@parl.gc.ca>, pm <pm@pm.gc.ca>, kris.austin <kris.austin@gnb.ca>, martin.gaudet <martin.gaudet@fredericton.ca>, Mark.Blakely <Mark.Blakely@rcmp-grc.gc.ca>, Tyson Billings <fuctnfree@hotmail.ca>, fin.minfinance-financemin.fin <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, Marco.Mendicino <Marco.Mendicino@parl.gc.ca>, Dana-lee Melfi <Dana_lee_ca@hotmail.com>, waynenarvey <waynenarvey@hotmail.com>, blaine.higgs <blaine.higgs@gnb.ca>, premier <premier@gov.ab.ca>, premier <premier@ontario.ca>, <Emil.Bove@blanchelaw.com>, pierre.poilievre <pierre.poilievre@parl.gc.ca>, Anderson-Mason, Andrea Hon. (JAG/JPG) <Andrea.AndersonMason@gnb.ca>, jagmeet.singh <jagmeet.singh@parl.gc.ca>, <Steve.Outhouse@gnb.ca>
Cc: mdcohen212 <mdcohen212@gmail.com>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, ragingdissident <ragingdissident@protonmail.com>, robert.mckee <robert.mckee@gnb.ca>, washington field <washington.field@ic.fbi.gov>, <Steve.Outhouse@gnb.ca>, hugh.flemming <hugh.flemming@gnb.ca>
BREAKING NEWS: Trump Rails To Reporters Before Michael Cohen Resumes Testifying In Hush Money Trial
Forbes Breaking NewsFrank Sinatra - My Way (Live At Madison Square Garden, New York City / 1974 / 2019 Edit)
Frank SinatraTrump hush-money trial enters crucial phase as prosecutors rest their case
Prosecution's final witness, ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, could be most important
Prosecutors rested their hush-money case against Donald Trump on Monday, turning it over to the former president's lawyers for a chance to call witnesses.
The prosecution's final witness, at least for now, was also their most important: Trump lawyer-turned-adversary Michael Cohen, whom the defence over several hours of cross-examination sought to paint as a serial fabulist who is on a revenge campaign aimed at taking down Trump.
Cohen testified on Monday that he stole tens of thousands of dollars from Trump's company, an admission defence lawyers hope to use to undermine Cohen's credibility as a key prosecution witness in the former president's hush-money trial.
Back on the witness stand for a fourth day, Cohen told jurors that he stole from the Trump Organization after his 2016 holiday bonus was slashed to $50,000 US from the $150,000 he usually received.
Cohen claimed to have paid $50,000 to a technology firm for its work artificially boosting Trump's standing in a CNBC online poll about famous businessmen. Cohen said he gave the firm only $20,000 in cash in a brown paper bag, but he sought reimbursement from Trump for the full amount, pocketing the difference.
"So you stole from the Trump Organization?" defence lawyer Todd Blanche asked.
"Yes, sir," Cohen replied. Cohen said he never paid the Trump Organization back. He has never been charged with stealing from Trump's company.
Cohen's testimony underscores the risk of prosecutors' reliance on the now-disbarred lawyer, who admitted on the witness stand to a number of past lies, many of which he claims were meant to protect Trump.
Michael Cohen, former lawyer for Trump, departs his home in Manhattan to testify in Trump's criminal trial on Monday. (Eduardo Munoz/Reuters)
Cohen also served prison time after pleading guilty to various federal charges, including lying to Congress and a bank and engaging in campaign-finance violations related to the hush-money scheme. He has made millions of dollars off critical books about Trump, whom he regularly slams on social media in often profane terms.
But when pushed by Blanche, Cohen stood by his recollection of conversations with Trump about the $130,000 hush-money payment to porn actor Stormy Daniels that is at the centre of the case.
"No doubt in your mind?" Blanche asked about whether Cohen specifically recalled having conversations with Trump about the Daniels matter. No doubt, Cohen said.
The prosecution got another shot to question its star witness after the defence wrapped up its cross-examination.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger took a dig at the defence strategy to go after Cohen, asking him: "I know you might feel like you're on trial here after cross-examination, but are you actually on trial here?"
"No, ma'am," Cohen replied.
Robert Costello expected to be called by defence
Whether the defence succeeds at undermining Cohen's credibility could determine Trump's fate in the case. Cohen tied Trump directly to the hush-money scheme, recounting meetings and conversations with his then-boss about stifling negative stories in the waning weeks of the 2016 election campaign.
The defence's first witness is a paralegal who works in Blanche's law office. Trump's team also plans to call as a witness Robert Costello, a lawyer who advised Cohen several years ago before the two had a falling out.
Costello testified last year before the grand jury that indicted Trump after asserting that he had information that undermined Cohen's credibility. Costello told reporters afterward he came forward to make clear that he did not believe Cohen.
"If they want to go after Donald Trump and they have solid evidence, then so be it," Costello said at the time. "But Michael Cohen is far from solid evidence."
Trump walks with Blanche after a break during his trial in New York on Monday. (Michael M. Santiago/The Associated Press)
After more than four weeks of testimony about sex, money, tabloid machinations and the details of Trump's company record-keeping, jurors could begin deliberating as soon as next week to decide whether Trump is guilty of 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president.
The charges stem from internal Trump Organization records where payments to Cohen were marked as legal expenses. Prosecutors say they were really reimbursements for the payment to Daniels to keep her from going public before the 2016 election with claims of a sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump says nothing sexual happened between them. He has pleaded not guilty. His lawyers say there was nothing criminal about the Daniels deal or the way Cohen was paid.
"There's no crime," Trump told reporters after arriving at the courthouse in New York on Monday. "We paid a legal expense. You know what it's marked down as? A legal expense."
Trump's allies, including several who joined him at the courthouse on Monday, quickly seized on Cohen's admission on the witness stand. Former Trump administration official Kash Patel told reporters that Monday marked the first time in six weeks of trial proceedings that "we finally have a crime" — Cohen stealing money from the Trump Organization.
"We also have a victim. That victim is Donald J. Trump," Patel said.
Closing arguments expected at end of May
Blanche grilled Cohen about his initial public denials that Trump knew about the Daniels payoff. After the Wall Street Journal reported in January 2018 that Cohen had arranged the payout to the porn actor more than a year earlier, Cohen told journalists, friends and others that Trump had been in the dark about the arrangement.
He did not change his account until after federal authorities in April 2018 searched Cohen's home, office and other locations tied to him. Four months later, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations and other charges and told a court that Trump had directed him to arrange the Daniels payment.
Known for his hot temper, Cohen remained mostly calm on the witness stand despite sometimes heated interrogation by the defence about his misdeeds and the allegations in the case.
Prosecutors will have have an opportunity to call rebuttal witnesses once Trump's witnesses are done. Judge Juan M. Merchan, citing scheduling issues, said he expects closing arguments to happen on May 28.
The defence said it hasn't decided whether Trump will testify. And Trump did not respond to shouted questions from reporters about whether his lawyers have advised him not to take the stand.
Defence lawyers are generally reluctant to put their clients on the witness stand and open them up to intense questioning by prosecutors, as it often does more harm than good.
Trump defense team concludes cross-examination of Michael Cohen
Trump lawyers accuse Michael Cohen of lying on the stand
Donald Trump's defence team at the former president's hush-money trial accused star prosecution witness Michael Cohen of lying on the stand regarding a phone call Cohen says he had with Trump about Stormy DanielsFrom: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, May 20, 2024 at 1:13 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: <bragga@dany.nyc.gov>, David.Fraser <David.Fraser@cbc.ca>, David.Akin <David.Akin@globalnews.ca>, Jacques.Poitras <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, Robert. Jones <Robert.Jones@cbc.ca>
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Mon, May 20, 2024 at 12:32 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: <toddblanche@blanchelaw.com>
Cohen faces more cross-examination as Trump’s trial enters final stretch
Donald Trump’s former lawyer is the prosecution’s last witness in the ex-president’s hush-money trial in New York.
Donald Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen faces another day of cross-examination, as the ex-United States president’s hush-money trial enters the final stretch this week in New York.
The landmark trial kicks back off in Manhattan on Monday morning with more defence questioning of Cohen, whose pivotal testimony last week directly tied Trump to the alleged hush-money scheme.
Cohen is the prosecution’s last witness and it’s not yet clear whether Trump’s attorneys will call any witnesses – such as the presumptive Republican presidential nominee himself.
Last week, Cohen told jurors how he kept Trump informed about $130,000 paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels to buy her silence about an affair she says she had with Trump. The ex-president has denied the affair took place.
The payment, prosecutors have argued, was part of a scheme aimed at stifling negative press that could have harmed Trump’s chances in the 2016 election, which he won.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 felony counts of falsifying business documents related to the payments, and said he is the victim of a politically motivated “witch hunt”.
“There’s no crime,” Trump told reporters after arriving at the courthouse on Monday. “We paid a legal expense. You know what it’s marked down as? A legal expense.”
His lawyers are seeking to discredit Cohen’s testimony, painting him as a serial liar who is on a revenge campaign aimed at taking down the former president.
Trump’s defence team has already questioned Cohen for hours about his criminal history and past lies.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to federal charges related to the hush-money payments, as well as for lying to Congress. He was sentenced to three years in prison.
He has said repeatedly he takes “responsibility” for his actions and has faced the consequences.
Al Jazeera’s Kristen Saloomey, reporting from outside the courthouse in New York last week, said “It all really comes down to [Cohen’s] word.”
“And his word has been highly suspect from the beginning of this case, given that he’s gone to jail for lying under oath in the past,” Saloomey said.
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s office is expected to rest its case once Cohen is off the stand, but prosecutors would have an opportunity to call rebuttal witnesses if Trump’s lawyers present witnesses of their own.
The judge has told lawyers to be prepared for closing arguments as early as Tuesday, though the timing will depend on whether the defence calls any witnesses, which it is not obligated to do.
Defence lawyers said they have not decided whether Trump will testify.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfadrcEU7l0
It’s OVER! Michael Cohen Lawyer Drops BOMBSHELL Info On Trump Trial
Barry CunninghamMay 16, 2024
Barry Cunningham Podcasts And Live Shows
It’s OVER! Michael Cohen Lawyer Drops BOMBSHELL Info On Trump Trial #donaldtrump #donaldtrumpnews #michaelcohen They are still shredding Michael Cohen on the stand but for all intents and purposes, this sham trial is over! It is so bad for Michael Cohen that his lies may cost him HIS freedom. If it wasn’t New York, I will say Alvin Bragg would end up being behinds bars too. While they are tying Cohen up in knots in court, his attorney was testifying in Congress. He dropped bomb after bomb!
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1,907 Comments
FIERY: Vivek Ramaswamy Absolutely Loses It On Judge Merchan Over Trump's NYC Hush Money Trial
Forbes Breaking News
Did Michael Cohen sink case against Trump? Hear what CNN panel thinks
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: <toddblanche@blanchelaw.com>, <Emil.Bove@blanchelaw.com>
toddblanche@blanchelaw.com
Emil Bove, Esq. (PHV)
Emil.Bove@blanchelaw.com
BLANCHE LAW
99 Wall St., Suite 4460
New York, NY 10005
(212) 716-1250
'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
Michael Cohen also told the court about lying to protect former U.S. president
Before Mikey Cohen is crossed examined tomorrow Perhaps I should inform Alexander Panetta of my old comments and Cohen's emails
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:51:14 -0400
Subject: RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I just got off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why does he lie to me after all this time???
To: president , mdcohen212@gmail.com, pm , Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.ca, MulcaT , Jean-Yves.Duclos@parl.gc.ca, B.English@ministers.govt.nz, Malcolm.Turnbull.MP@aph.gov.au , pminvites@pmc.gov.au, mayt@parliament.uk, press , "Andrew.Bailey" , fin.financepublic- financepublique.fin@canada.ca, newsroom , "CNN.Viewer.Communications. Management" , news-tips , lionel
Cc: David Amos , elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "justin.ling@vice.com, elizabeththompson" , djtjr , "Bill.Morneau" , postur , stephen.kimber@ukings.ca, "steve.murphy" , "Jacques.Poitras" , oldmaison , andre
---------- Original message ----------
From: Michael Cohen
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:14 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just
called and left a message for you
To: David Amos
Effective January 20, 2017, I have accepted the role as personal
counsel to President Donald J. Trump. All future emails should be
directed to mdcohen212@gmail.com and all future calls should be
directed to 646-853-0114.
________________________________
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---------- Original message ----------
From: "Finance Public / Finance Publique (FIN)"
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:05:00 +0000
Subject: RE: Yo President Trump RE the Federal Court of Canada File No
T-1557-15 lets see how the media people do with news that is NOT FAKE
To: David Amos
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
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---------- Original message ----------
From: "Joly, Mélanie (PCH)"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:16:17 +0000
Subject: Accusé de réception / Acknowledge Receipt
To: David Amos
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Mélanie Joly, ministre du Patrimoine canadien.
La ministre est toujours heureuse de prendre connaissance des
commentaires de Canadiens sur des questions d'importance pour eux.
Votre courriel sera lu avec soin.
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---------- Original message ----------
From: "Hancox, Rick (FCNB)"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:22 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just
called and left a message for you
To: David Amos
G'Day/Bonjour,
Thanks for your e-mail. I am out of the office until 24 February. If
you need more immediate assistance, please contact France Bouchard at
506 658-2696.
Je serai absent du bureau jusqu'au 24 fevrier Durant mon absence,
veuillez contacter France Bouchard au 506 658-2696 pour assistance
immédiate.
Thanks/Merci Rick
At the Trump trial, the grilling of Michael Cohen commences
Star witness undergoes withering cross-examination
The grilling of the star witness in Donald Trump's criminal trial has commenced. The former U.S. president's lawyers cast his ally-turned-nemesis Michael Cohen as an impulsive, biased and ill-tempered narrator.
The cross-examination at the New York Supreme Court started with a fiery opening. Within seconds, Cohen had been accused of commenting publicly on the case, ignoring repeated prosecution requests to keep quiet, launching into profane tirades against the defendant, and having a history of leaking to the media about legal cases.
Trump lawyer Todd Blanche came roaring out of the gate, saying he and Cohen had never met: "You went on TikTok and called me a crying little shit."
"That sounds like something I would say," Cohen said.
Blanche also said, "You referred to Trump as a dictator-douchebag, didn't you?
"Do you recall saying, 'Trump belongs in a f---ing cage, like an animal'?"
"I recall that," Cohen replied.
After some aggressive back-and-forth, Cohen admitted he wanted to see the defendant convicted: "Sure," Cohen replied, after repeated questions about whether he wanted Trump found guilty. The court heard that he'd said so on his podcast and even sold a T-shirt depicting Trump behind bars.
Lawyers tried to cast Cohen, seen leaving his apartment building in New York on Tuesday, as a biased and ill-tempered narrator. (Seth Wenig/The Associated Press)
Pre-emptive grilling from prosecutors
Cohen was also subjected to a sustained grilling — from his own side.
It was prosecutors who subpoenaed him as their witness, with his detailed first-hand knowledge of Trump's alleged cover-up of hush-money payments to a porn star.
Those same prosecutors launched a pre-emptive strike earlier on Tuesday. Before the defence could get at Cohen, they battered him with questions about his prolific history of lying and criminal convictions for fraud.
It was an attempt to prepare the jury for the withering cross-examination Cohen is now facing as Trump's defence team took over.
Former U.S. president Donald Trump returns to the courtroom after a break in his criminal trial at Manhattan criminal court before his trial in New York, on May 14. (Justin Lane/The Associated Press)
The attacks were foreshadowed by the appearance of numerous Republicans at the Manhattan courthouse this week: the governor of North Dakota, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and other members of Congress have made the political pilgrimage.
With Trump under a gag order, forbidden from attacking witnesses, several of these people rumoured for potential roles in the next administration came as part of Trump's entourage, to disparage the case and the witness.
'I regret doing things for him that I should not have'
The prosecution's final questions for Cohen sought to present his past lies in the light most favourable to the case: As having been done exclusively for Trump.
In his second day on the witness stand, Trump's former lawyer and personal fixer expressed regret for years of behaviour that he said cost his reputation, his freedom, his finances and his family.
"I regret doing things for him that I should not have. Lying. Bullying people," said Cohen, who spent 10 years working for Trump, before their relationship soured.
"It violated my moral compass."
With that, the prosecution completed its questioning. As court broke for lunch Tuesday, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger said, "Nothing further, your honour."
That was after she'd gotten Cohen's testimony bolstering the key facts of the felony case: That Trump knew about the hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, that he in fact ordered them, that he approved a cover-up, and that it was done primarily for electoral purposes in 2016.
The court saw about two dozen examples of allegedly deceptive paperwork produced by the Trump Organization and by Cohen, including this invoice, where Cohen requested payment for legal work. (Judiciary of New York State)
She had Cohen walk her through what he called false financial statements — invoices claiming he was being paid a legal retainer; Trump company statements mentioning legal expenses; and cheques signed by Trump, totalling $420,000 US, which Cohen said included a $130,000 US reimbursement for his own payment to cover up a sex scandal.
One of a dozen cheques signed by then-president Donald Trump, which Michael Cohen testified Tuesday secretly refunded Cohen's payments to help hide Trump's affair with Stormy Daniels. (Judiciary of New York State)
How the Cohen-Trump relationship soured
Cohen described how his relationship with Trump started to break down. After the FBI raided Cohen's home in 2018, he said he spoke to Trump that day — and never again.
He said he felt various forms of pressure from Trump not to flip on him. This came in the form of public tweets from the president, and in private overtures from a lawyer who offered to discreetly convey messages to and from the president, through their mutual friend, Rudy Giuliani.
Cohen read into the court record one letter from that lawyer, Robert Costello, which said, "You are loved.… Sleep well tonight. You have friends in high places." Cohen said he understood the "friend in high places" to mean then-president Trump, and called it reassuring that the man running the Justice Department was in his corner.
Months later, reports surfaced that Cohen was considering testifying before the Mueller probe into Russian collusion in 2016. His relationship soured with Costello, who again sent messages urging him not to flip on Trump.
At that point, in the spring of 2018, he said conversations with his family persuaded him to stop lying for Trump, and he made a promise to his wife, son and daughter: "I would not lie for President Trump any longer."
He subsequently pleaded guilty to tax fraud, lying to Congress, and to a federal election finance crime, in a payoff to another Trump paramour peripherally related to this case.
There came the pre-emptive move from Hoffinger who, in an attempt to inoculate her witness, asked him repeatedly about all these misdeeds and — crucially — about why he committed them. Cohen's reply: "For the benefit of Donald J. Trump."
His lies for Trump included his one-time insistence that he had paid Daniels out of generosity for a friend, not expecting a refund; his lies to Congress denying Trump was trying to get a skyscraper built in Moscow during the 2016 election; and a misleading 2018 letter to the Federal Election Commission saying Trump had never refunded him for the Daniels payments. "It's deceptive," Cohen admitted Tuesday, because that letter omits that it was a Trump trust fund that paid him.
What Cohen, and the prosecution, left out, is that some of his criminal charges were unrelated to Trump — including tax-evasion charges involving Cohen's taxi business.
Visitors to the courthouse
Outside the courthouse Tuesday, House Speaker Mike Johnson referred to Cohen as a known liar. Others rumoured to be candidates for roles in a future Trump administration came to the courtroom, and did interviews and rage-tweeted against the case.
They've included lawmakers Byron Donalds, Nicole Malliotakis and J.D. Vance, former presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, and Doug Burgum, the sitting governor of North Dakota. They have been seated in the front row of the courthouse, with Trump's son Eric.
Trump, for his part, has shown little emotion inside the courthouse. In fact, for many minutes Tuesday, his eyes were closed, and his head was titled sideways, as if he were sleeping — a common occurrence throughout the trial.
---------- Original message ---------
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
The
Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances Canada accuse réception de votre courriel. Nous vous assurons que vos commentaires sont les bienvenus.
---------- Original message ---------
From: Moore, Rob - M.P. <Rob.Moore@parl.gc.ca>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Automatic reply: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for contacting the Honourable Rob Moore, P.C., M.P. office. We appreciate the time you took to get in touch with our office.
If you did not already, please ensure to include your full contact details on your email and the appropriate staff will be able to action your request. We strive to ensure all constituent correspondence is responded to in a timely manner.
If your question or concern is time sensitive, please call our office: 506-832-4200.
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Member of Parliament for Fundy Royal
---------- Original message ---------
From: Ministerial Correspondence Unit - Justice Canada <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Subject: Automatic Reply
To: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Arif Virani, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada.
Due to the volume of correspondence addressed to the Minister, please note that there may be a delay in processing your email. Rest assured that your message will be carefully reviewed.
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-------------------
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Arif Virani, ministre de la Justice et procureur général du Canada.
En raison du volume de correspondance adressée au ministre, veuillez
prendre note qu'il pourrait y avoir un retard dans le traitement de
votre courriel. Nous tenons à vous assurer que votre message sera lu
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From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 5:57 PM
Subject: Fwd: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: <toddblanche@blanchelaw.com>, <Emil.Bove@blanchelaw.com>
toddblanche@blanchelaw.com
Emil Bove, Esq. (PHV)
Emil.Bove@blanchelaw.com
BLANCHE LAW
99 Wall St., Suite 4460
New York, NY 10005
(212) 716-1250
From: David Amos <david.raymond.amos333@gmail.com>
Date: Tue, May 14, 2024 at 3:38 AM
Subject: RE 'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
To: <alexander.panetta@cbc.ca>, fin.minfinance-financemin.fin <fin.minfinance-financemin.fin@canada.ca>, Jacques.Poitras <Jacques.Poitras@cbc.ca>, <adurkee@forbes.com>, rob.moore <rob.moore@parl.gc.ca>, ragingdissident <ragingdissident@protonmail.com>, mcu <mcu@justice.gc.ca>
'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
Michael Cohen also told the court about lying to protect former U.S. president
Before Mikey Cohen is crossed examined tomorrow Perhaps I
should inform Alexander Panetta of my old comments and Cohen's emails
---------- Original message ----------
From: David Amos
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 10:51:14 -0400
Subject:
RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump I just got
off the phone with your lawyer Mr Cohen (646-853-0114) Why does he lie
to me after all this time???
To: president , mdcohen212@gmail.com, pm , Pierre-Luc.Dusseault@parl.gc.
Cc: David Amos , elizabeth.thompson@cbc.ca, "justin.ling@vice.com, elizabeththompson" , djtjr , "Bill.Morneau" , postur , stephen.kimber@ukings.ca, "steve.murphy" , "Jacques.Poitras" , oldmaison , andre
---------- Original message ----------
From: Michael Cohen
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:14 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just
called and left a message for you
To: David Amos
Effective January 20, 2017, I have accepted the role as personal
counsel to President Donald J. Trump. All future emails should be
directed to mdcohen212@gmail.com and all future calls should be
directed to 646-853-0114.
______________________________
This communication is from The Trump Organization or an affiliate
thereof and is not sent on behalf of any other individual or entity.
This email may contain information that is confidential and/or
proprietary. Such information may not be read, disclosed, used,
copied, distributed or disseminated except (1) for use by the intended
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received this communication in error, please immediately delete it and
promptly notify the sender. E-mail transmission cannot be guaranteed
to be received, secure or error-free as emails could be intercepted,
corrupted, lost, destroyed, arrive late, incomplete, contain viruses
or otherwise. The Trump Organization and its affiliates do not
guarantee that all emails will be read and do not accept liability for
any errors or omissions in emails. Any views or opinions presented in
any email are solely those of the author and do not necessarily
represent those of The Trump Organization or any of its
affiliates.Nothing in this communication is intended to operate as an
electronic signature under applicable law.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Finance Public / Finance Publique (FIN)"
Date: Fri, 10 Feb 2017 22:05:00 +0000
Subject: RE: Yo President Trump RE the Federal Court of Canada File No
T-1557-15 lets see how the media people do with news that is NOT FAKE
To: David Amos
The Department of Finance acknowledges receipt of your electronic
correspondence. Please be assured that we appreciate receiving your
comments.
Le ministère des Finances accuse réception de votre correspondance
électronique. Soyez assuré(e) que nous apprécions recevoir vos
commentaires.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Joly, Mélanie (PCH)"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:16:17 +0000
Subject: Accusé de réception / Acknowledge Receipt
To: David Amos
Merci d'avoir écrit à l'honorable Mélanie Joly, ministre du Patrimoine canadien.
La ministre est toujours heureuse de prendre connaissance des
commentaires de Canadiens sur des questions d'importance pour eux.
Votre courriel sera lu avec soin.
Si votre courriel porte sur une demande de rencontre ou une invitation
à une activité particulière, nous tenons à vous assurer que votre
demande a été notée et qu'elle recevra toute l'attention voulue.
**********************
Thank you for writing to the Honourable Mélanie Joly, Minister of
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The Minister is always pleased to hear the comments of Canadians on
subjects of importance to them. Your email will be read with care.
If your email relates to a meeting request or an invitation to a
specific event, please be assured that your request has been noted and
will be given every consideration.
---------- Original message ----------
From: "Hancox, Rick (FCNB)"
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 14:15:22 +0000
Subject: Automatic reply: RE FATCA ATTN Pierre-Luc.Dusseault I just
called and left a message for you
To: David Amos
G'Day/Bonjour,
Thanks for your e-mail. I am out of the office until 24 February. If
you need more immediate assistance, please contact France Bouchard at
506 658-2696.
Je serai absent du bureau jusqu'au 24 fevrier Durant mon absence,
veuillez contacter France Bouchard au 506 658-2696 pour assistance
immédiate.
Thanks/Merci Rick
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/cohen-trump-criminal-trial-1.7202656
'Beyond angry': Former Trump confidant testifies financial feud followed hush-money payment
Michael Cohen also told the court about lying to protect former U.S. president
Seated before Donald Trump was a ghost from his past life, an erstwhile ally whose testimony could land him a criminal conviction for old misdeeds.
Seated behind him, in a courtroom, were his present-day allies — elected Republicans, including a potential vice-presidential pick.
Trump's amen corner joined him in the Manhattan courthouse on Monday to offer support during the most critical testimony of the felony criminal case against him.
Michael Cohen walked prosecutors through his decade of service as Trump's legal Mr. Fix It — a solver of problems often tangentially related to his professional title as lawyer.
Most crucially, Cohen is being asked to prove key pillars of the prosecution's case: that Trump knew of payments to conceal his fling with a porn star, that he intended to cover them up and that it was done primarily for electoral reasons.
Early in Monday's testimony, Cohen recalled a head-spinning week in the 2016 presidential election that is at the heart of this case.
He described his reaction when he learned that Stormy Daniels was shopping around her story, just days after the release of an explosive Access Hollywood tape that captured Trump describing crude, unwanted sexual advances against women.
Of the decision to pay $130,000 US to keep Daniels quiet, Cohen said the motivation was politics, not about keeping the news from Trump's wife. "He wasn't thinking about Melania. This was all about the campaign," said Cohen, who summed up his own reaction at the time: "Catastrophic. This is horrible for the campaign."
In this courtroom sketch, Cohen, right, is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger before Justice Juan Merchan, left, as Trump watches, during his criminal trial on charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels, in New York on Monday. (Jane Rosenberg/Reuters)
He recalled Trump's horrified reaction upon hearing, in October 2016, that Daniels was shopping around her story — a subject of old gossip the Trump team thought it had squelched years earlier.
Cohen testified that he remembered Trump telling him: "This is a disaster, a total disaster. Women will hate me. Guys — they'll think it's cool. But this is going to be a disaster for the campaign." He said Trump ordered him to deal with it and make sure it didn't emerge before the election.
Cohen testified he lied for Trump
That electoral element is fundamental: The only reason this case is being charged as a felony is because prosecutors alleged Trump falsified business records in order to skirt other laws, including a federal campaign-spending law.
Trump and Cohen barely acknowledged each other in the courtroom. It was a rare encounter between two allies who once spoke multiple times a day.
They were so close, in fact, that Cohen testified that he downloaded all of Trump's phone contacts into his own phone, to reach anyone, at any time, at Trump's request.
Cohen described lying for Trump, bullying people and encouraging Trump to run for president in 2012, even creating a now-expired website intended to drum up interest.
He told court that Trump decided to run years in advance of 2016 but took a pass on the previous race, in part because his contract had been renewed for the reality TV show The Apprentice. He recalled Trump saying at the time: "You don't leave Hollywood. Hollywood leaves you."
As they strategized over a presidential run, Cohen said Trump warned him of inevitable sex scandals: "Just be prepared, there's gonna be a lot of women coming forward," he remembered Trump saying.
They are now such bitter foes that Cohen began his memoir with the opinion that Trump probably wishes he were dead.
Trump did not turn to look at Cohen as he walked in. In fact, the former U.S. president had his eyes closed for stretches of Monday's hearing, prompting speculation about whether he'd been dozing off.
Cohen appeared to very furtively, briefly, shoot a glance in Trump's general direction as he sat down at the witness stand.
He recalled with fondness his decade-long work with Trump. His base salary started at $375,000. And he waxed nostalgic about getting to know Trump's children — Ivanka's office at Trump Tower even became his own.
"It was fantastic," recalled Cohen, who has described Trump as a father figure. "It was a big family."
But it's not family — at least not anymore.
Trump's entourage in courtroom
On Monday, Trump's actual son, Eric, was in that courtroom, seated behind the defendant. They were surrounded by the entourage that walked in with the former president, which included Trump's new political family.
The group consisted of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who has neither confirmed nor denied rampant rumours that he's being considered to become Trump's running mate in this fall's election.
While Cohen was working to elect Trump in 2016, Vance was publicly trashing him. Vance, who now says he's had a change of heart, is among the vice-presidential contenders who won't commit unconditionally to accepting the next election result.
Trump walks over to reporters after his trial for allegedly covering up hush-money payments ended for the day in criminal court in New York on Monday. (Spencer Platt/Pool Photo/The Associated Press)
Several vice-presidential aspirants have made those sorts of comments as Trump seeks a replacement for his previous running mate. Mike Pence is another past ally now out of Trump's favour, because Pence certified the 2020 election.
Pence has also testified against his old boss in a criminal case. Just like Cohen.
But Trump is moving forward, leading the latest opinion polls, increasingly considered the favourite in this year's rematch with President Joe Biden.
Entering the courthouse on Monday, he fretted that this is the only reason he's on trial: to damage him politically in the election lead-up.
"This is election interference at a level that nobody in this country has ever seen before," he said. Behind him entering that courtroom were Vance, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
They all spent part of their day tweeting and doing interviews on his behalf — and denouncing the prosecution and witness.
Prosecution's case to end this week
The prosecution is expected to rest its case this week, as the trial enters its final stretch. It said it expects to be done with Cohen sometime on Tuesday and that it expects to call only one other witness.
Cohen's credibility has been assailed by Trump's allies. They've pointed to his numerous criminal convictions, including for lying to Congress and to the federal tax agency.
He shared deeply personal details about some of those lies, including to his wife of three decades.
Cohen is shown leaving his apartment building on his way to the criminal courthouse in New York City on Monday to testify for the prosecution at Trump's trial. (Julia Nikhinson/The Associated Press)
Cohen said he tried structuring complex ways to pay Daniels instead of using his own bank account, which he shares with his wife.
"I clearly could not tell her [I was paying Daniels $130,000]," Cohen testified. "That would've been a problem for me."
After the election, he said, he became livid at Trump. Cohen said his annual holiday bonus had been chopped down two-thirds from the previous year, to $50,000.
He recalled unleashing a string of expletives in a colleague's office. Not only had he not been offered a senior White House position, but now he was earning less than the previous year after having spent his own money to silence his boss's sex scandal.
"Angry. Beyond angry," Cohen testified, recalling his reaction to the cut to his bonus. "After all I had done.... It was insulting."
Trump promised to make amends. After the holidays, Cohen claims to have received $420,000 from Trump, to cover the Daniels payments and other expenses, with a bonus to cover taxes.
In his memoir, Disloyal, Cohen said he considered this a stroke of genius, writing that Trump accounted for the $420,000 as a legal fee, which he could then write off as a business expense.
"Trump's maneuver was classic, gangster," Cohen wrote in his memoir. "Trump was actually making money on the deal."
Now it's the subject of a criminal case.
'He directed me to make the payments': Cohen says Trump's denials aren't believable
Trump says Cohen acted of his own volition and it was a private matter, not a campaign expense
In an interview with Good Morning America that aired Friday, Michael Cohen said Trump "was very concerned about how this would affect the election."
Cohen was sentenced Wednesday to three years in federal prison. He pleaded guilty to several charges, including campaign finance violations and lying to Congress.
Cohen said he secretly used shell companies to make payments of $150,000 and $130,000, respectively, to silence former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult-film actress Stormy Daniels for the purpose of influencing the 2016 election. The women have claimed they had affairs with Trump after the real estate mogul married his third wife, Melania.
Nothing at the Trump Organization was ever done unless it was run through Mr. Trump.
- Michael CohenReturning to Washington on Air Force One on April 6, Trump for the first time answered questions about the reports of the Daniels payment, issuing a blanket denial to reporters while saying they would "have to ask Michael Cohen."
Three days later, the FBI raided Cohen's office, seizing records on topics including the payment to Daniels. Furious, Trump called the raid a "disgrace" and said the FBI "broke into" his lawyer's office.
He also tweeted that "Attorney-client privilege is dead!"
The raid was overseen by the U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan and arose from a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian election interference and potential co-ordination with the Trump campaign.
"I never directed him to do anything wrong," Trump said of Cohen in an interview with Fox News broadcast on Thursday. "Whatever he did, he did on his own."
Cohen scoffed at that assertion in the ABC interview.
"I don't think there is anybody that believes that," he said. "First of all, nothing at the Trump organization was ever done unless it was run through Mr. Trump."
Cohen said there were certain things he couldn't talk about given that not all investigations have been completed, but that "there's a substantial amount of information that [the special counsel] possessed that corroborates the fact that I am telling the truth."
Likely distinction with Obama example
Cohen, Trump and David Pecker, chairman of the company that owns the National Enquirer, had a meeting at Trump Tower in August of 2015 to discuss ways the media company could help the campaign, including buying the silence of women who might talk publicly about affairs with Trump, according to documents made public by federal prosecutors.
It is part of what makes the case different than the one Trump has brought up this week in comparison, involving President Barack Obama's 2008 campaign. The Federal Election Commission, which typically handles smaller campaign finance violations when the actions aren't wilful and with civil penalties that are typically fines, docked the Obama campaign $375,000 for regulatory civil violations. The fines stemmed from the campaign's failure to report a batch of contributions, totalling nearly $1.9 million, on time in the final days of the campaign.
It's unclear what federal prosecutors in New York will decide to do if they conclude that there is evidence that Trump himself committed a crime.
"It's called flipping and it almost should be illegal," said Trump.
The president has downplayed his involvement with Cohen, who worked for him for a decade, saying he was just a "part-time" or "low-level" lawyer.
'I'm angry at myself'
Cohen said it was not his intention to embarrass Trump, but that "the man doesn't tell the truth.""I think the pressure of the job is much more than he thought it would be … he doesn't understand the system," said Cohen, who is due to turn himself in to authorities on March 6.
He attributed his years of doing Trump's bidding to misplaced loyalty.
"I'm angry at myself because I knew what I was doing was wrong," said Cohen.
Maurice Cohen, 83, reportedly wrote a letter to the court asking for leniency, in which he detailed the family's history; the elder Cohen survived the Holocaust and emigrated from Poland to Canada, he wrote, attending medical school in Toronto before finding work in the U.S.
Cohen, 52, also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about statements regarding a potential Trump building project in Moscow. The project, it is alleged, was talked about at the highest levels of Russian government, it was alleged, well into the 2016 campaign.
Trump has insisted the project wasn't a secret.
On Friday, White House spokesperson Hogan Gidley faulted the news media for "giving credence to a convicted criminal," and called Cohen "a self-admitted liar."
Cohen is among a number of people in Trump's orbit who have pleaded guilty to criminal charges. The list also includes his former presidential campaign chair, Paul Manafort, and Manafort's colleague, Rick Gates, former national security adviser Michael Flynn and campaign foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos, who was released last week after serving a short prison sentence.
While Trump has mused about not being opposed to offering a presidential pardon to Manafort, Cohen's prosecution at the state level would make him ineligible for a pardon.
With files from The Associated Press and Reuters
RE FATCA, NAFTA & TPP etc ATTN President Donald J. Trump
Trust that Mr Mueller knows that I had talked to Cohen 3 times before the FBI raided his home etc His cell phone records should prove it N'esy Pas?
Any chance to slam Trump sells popcorn.
The other low life lawyer Avenatti is another darling of the MSM and the left.
Grace Oliver
Doesn't matter
This is a nothing burger.
A non-issue
Faulty logic again.
trump has been implicated in felonies. By any measure you wish to use, this is a huge problem for a sitting president.
Looking forward to seeing trump and his sheep served up a big slice of crow with their nothing burgers.
And who cares?
No surprise here.
Hunting season on everyone linked to Trump.
If you can put Trump name into the article then it's a target!
Methinks the fat lady has not sung yet Perhaps you should review the other replies I have sent you in the past Furthermore anyone can check out my Twitter account just like they do Trump's N'esy Pas?
Methinks Mr Trump, Mr Cohen and Mr Mueller certainly should N'esy Pas?
Perhaps folks should Google the following 3 names to confirm that I am not joking about having dealt with these people.
David Raymond Amos, Robert Mueller, Michael Cohen
Original Blogs
Wednesday 12 December 2018
Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen gets 3 years in prison
David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/michael-cohen-abc-interview-1.4945954
Trump expands criminal defense team
Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor, and Kendra Wharton, a white collar defense lawyer, joined the former president’s legal team after the abrupt departures of three Trump attorneys over the summer.
Emil Bove, a former federal prosecutor who was co-chief of the national security unit at the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, and Kendra Wharton, a seasoned white collar defense lawyer with Capitol Hill ties, have signed onto the legal team organized by Trump attorney Todd Blanche.
In recent days, Bove joined Blanche’s firm, while Wharton launched her own firm and is expected to partner with Blanche, according to two people close to the legal team granted anonymity to discuss personnel decisions. Bove and Wharton are expected to work on Trump’s criminal matters, including the New York criminal case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and the federal cases filed by special counsel Jack Smith. Trump is also facing a fourth criminal case in Fulton County, Ga., and has hired a separate defense team for that matter.
The additions are the most significant new legal hires in months for Trump as he prepares for multiple criminal trials scheduled for next year. Bove and Wharton are expected to help fill out a team that was, in some ways, hobbled by the abrupt departures of veteran lawyers John Rowley, Tim Parlatore and James Trusty around the time Trump was indicted by a Florida grand jury in June.
Since then, Blanche, also an alumnus of the Manhattan U.S. attorney’s office, has emerged as the architect of Trump’s multi-front legal battle, and the new hires further solidify his imprint on some of the most significant criminal cases in American history.
“Emil is an expert in white collar and CIPA-related litigation and his trial skills are among the best in the business,” Blanche said in a statement, referencing the Classified Information Procedures Act, the federal law governing the use of classified documents in criminal cases. “We are thrilled and lucky to have him on our team defending President Trump and all of our other clients.”
“Kendra is a brilliant lawyer and clients have trusted her for years,” Blanche continued, “and is providing the same excellent service to our team that has been her signature for many years."
Blanche’s hires coincide with Smith’s own addition to his team. He recently added Alex Whiting, a longtime war crimes prosecutor who worked as Smith’s deputy at the Hague.
While working as a federal prosecutor, Bove handled matters including the investigation of Guo Wengui, an ally of Steve Bannon who was indicted earlier this year on charges that he and his financier orchestrated a more than $1 billion fraud scheme.
Bove also worked on the prosecution of Cesar Sayoc Jr., who pleaded guilty to mailing pipe bombs to Trump critics. Bove is currently listed as a partner at Blanche’s firm, which notes his “extensive trial and appellate experience.”
Wharton spent a decade working at Blanche’s former firm, Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft, before launching her own in recent weeks. Before that, she spent four years working for Sen. Mitch McConnell as a legislative aide.
During her tenure at Cadwalader, Wharton defended companies and corporate executives in investigations led by the Justice Department, SEC and other federal agencies. She has also managed internal corporate investigations and their responses to congressional inquiries.
Who is Todd Blanche, Donald Trump's lawyer in his Stormy Daniels hush money trial?
DIGNITY AND REPUTATION
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Reporting by Luc Cohen in New York and Andrew Goudsward in Washington, D.C.; Editing by Scott Malone and David Gregorio
Before Trump, a witness from his past life. Behind him, his new political friends
'This was all about the campaign': ex-Trump aide Cohen testifies for prosecution
Seated before Donald Trump was a ghost from his past life, an erstwhile ally whose testimony could land him a criminal conviction for old misdeeds.
Seated behind him, in a courtroom, were his present-day allies — elected Republicans, including a potential vice-presidential pick.
Trump's amen corner entered the Manhattan courthouse on Monday to offer support during the most critical testimony of the felony criminal case against him.
Michael Cohen walked prosecutors through his decade of service as Trump's legal Mr. Fix It — a solver of problems often tangentially related to his professional title as lawyer.
Most crucially, Cohen is being asked to prove key pillars of the prosecution's case: that Trump knew of payments to conceal his fling with a porn star, that he intended to cover them up and that it was done primarily for electoral reasons.
As the court broke for lunch, Cohen was recalling a head-spinning week in the 2016 presidential election that is at the heart of this case.
He described his reaction when he learned that Stormy Daniels was shopping around her story, just days after the release of an explosive Access Hollywood tape that captured Trump describing crude, unwanted sexual advances against women.
"This was all about the campaign," Cohen said of the decision to pay $130,000 US to keep Daniels quiet.
Cohen is shown leaving his apartment building on his way to the criminal courthouse in New York City on Monday morning. Cohen testified for the prosecution at Trump's trial over charges that he falsified business records to conceal money paid to silence porn star Stormy Daniels in 2016. (Mike Segar/Reuters)
He recalled Trump's horrified reaction upon hearing, in October 2016, that Daniels was shopping around her story — a subject of old gossip the Trump team thought it had squelched years earlier.
Cohen testified that he remembered Trump telling him: "This is a disaster, a total disaster. Women will hate me. Guys — they'll think it's cool. But this is going to be a disaster for the campaign." He said Trump ordered him to deal with it and make sure it didn't emerge before the election.
Cohen testified he lied for Trump
That electoral element is fundamental: The only reason this case is being charged as a felony is because prosecutors alleged Trump falsified business records in order to skirt other laws, including a federal campaign-spending law.
Trump and Cohen barely acknowledged each other in the courtroom. It was a rare encounter between two allies who once spoke multiple times a day.
They were so close, in fact, that Cohen testified that he downloaded all of Trump's phone contacts into his own phone, to reach anyone, at any time, at Trump's request.
Cohen described lying for Trump, bullying people and encouraging Trump to run for president in 2012, even creating a now-expired website intended to drum up interest.
He told court that Trump decided to run years in advance of 2016 but took a pass on the previous race, in part because his contract had been renewed for the reality TV show The Apprentice. He recalled Trump saying at the time: "You don't leave Hollywood. Hollywood leaves you."
They are now such bitter foes that Cohen began his autobiography with the opinion that Trump probably wishes he were dead.
Trump did not turn to look at Cohen as he walked in. In fact, the former U.S. president had his eyes closed for stretches of Monday's hearing, prompting speculation about whether he'd been dozing off.
Cohen appeared to very furtively, briefly, shoot a glance in Trump's general direction as he sat down at the witness stand.
He recalled with fondness his decade-long work with Trump. His base salary started at $375,000. And he waxed nostalgic about getting to know Trump's children — Ivanka's office at Trump Tower even became his own.
"It was fantastic," recalled Cohen, who has described Trump as a father figure. "It was a big family."
But it's not family — at least not anymore.
Trump's entourage in courtroom
On Monday, Trump's actual son, Eric, was in that courtroom, seated behind the defendant. They were surrounded by the entourage that walked in with the former president, which included Trump's new political family.
The group consisted of Sen. J.D. Vance of Ohio, who has neither confirmed nor denied rampant rumours that he's being considered to become Trump's running mate in this fall's election.
While Cohen was working to elect Trump in 2016, Vance was publicly trashing him. Vance, who now says he's had a change of heart, is among the vice-presidential contenders who won't commit unconditionally to accepting the next election result.
Trump holds up some papers as he speaks to reporters with his lawyer, Todd Blanche, at court in New York on Monday. He faces 34 counts of falsifying business records. (Sarah Yenesel/Pool Photo/The Associated Press)
Several vice-presidential aspirants have made those sorts of comments as Trump seeks a replacement for his previous running mate. Mike Pence is another past ally now out of Trump's favour, because Pence certified the 2020 election.
Pence has also testified against his old boss in a criminal case. Just like Cohen.
But Trump is moving forward, leading the latest opinion polls, increasingly considered the favourite in this year's rematch with President Joe Biden.
Entering the courthouse on Monday, he fretted that this is the only reason he's on trial: to damage him politically in the election lead-up.
"This is election interference at a level that nobody in this country has ever seen before," he said. Behind him entering that courtroom were Vance, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville and congresswoman Nicole Malliotakis.
They all spent part of their day tweeting and doing interviews on his behalf — and denouncing the prosecution and witness.
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