The F.B.I. on Monday raided the office of President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, seizing records related to several topics including payments to a pornographic-film actress.
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained the search warrant after receiving a referral from the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, according to Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, who called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary.” The search does not appear to be directly related to Mr. Mueller’s investigation, but likely resulted from information he had uncovered and gave to prosecutors in New York.
“Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York executed a series of search warrants and seized the privileged communications between my client, Michael Cohen, and his clients,” said Stephen Ryan, his lawyer. “I have been advised by federal prosecutors that the New York action is, in part, a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller.”
Mr. Cohen plays a role in aspects of the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He also recently said he paid $130,000 to a pornographic-film actress, Stephanie Clifford, who said she had an affair with Mr. Trump. Ms. Clifford is known as Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Ryan said Mr. Cohen has cooperated with authorities and turned over thousands of documents to congressional investigators looking into Russian election meddling.
The payments to Ms. Clifford are only one of many topics being investigated, according to a person briefed on the search. The F.B.I. also seized emails, tax documents and business records, the person said.
The seized records include communications between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen, which would likely require a special team of agents to review because conversations between lawyers and clients are protected from scrutiny in most instances.
what if the plot twist is that the infamous pee tape that the russians had on Trump also starred Stormy...
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
There is no level of sucking we haven't seen; in fact, I'm pretty sure we hold the patents on a few levels of sucking NOBODY had seen until the past few years.
There is some talk/disagreement that a standing POTUS cannot be tried in federal court, due to Executive Privilege. Being charged by the State of New York negates any such privilege. It should also be noted that he's also being investigated by the State of Virginia for other allegations.
Three prongs of the trident. One of them is bound to leave a hole.
The only thing funnier than this being the result of Trump forgetting to sign the NDA is that Cohen got the $130K paid out to Daniels from re-mortgaging his house, which he then funneled through the Trump campaign, for some inexplicable reason.
Trump reacts angrily to the raid on his lawyer’s office. “It’s a disgraceful situation,” he said. “I have this witch hunt constantly going on.” He added that “it’s an attack on our country."
"Raiding my incompetent lawyer's office because I was too senile to sign an NDA that would've kept us safe from bank fraud and campaign money laundering? That's an attack on *all* of us, folks, OK?"
To get a no knock warrant approved on the president's lawyer is amazing. The evidence presented to the Judge must be quite compelling. It's very hard to get a warrant on a lawyer.
Yeah, I was just reading up on this. You've got to have some bulletproof stuff to void lawyer/client privilege.
It's not surprising in the sense that Trump and his cronies are incompetent and messy about it, but honestly I've been in the camp that thinks a lot of the Mueller investigation is a waste of time.
This moron going down because his incompetent attorney neglected to get him to sign off on the hush money paid to a porn star via his lawyer taking out a second mortgage and then funneling it through his campaign would really be incredibly fitting.
(I don't think this will take him down, but the possibility is there and the incompetence on display is breathtaking).
Mueller referred this to Southern District NY. I think he is out to prove a crime that will allow piercing the attorney/client privilege for Trump and or family. If that happens and Mueller has enough to sweat this attorney, then he can flip him.
The only other reason is there was a ton of OTHER evidence showing he was involved in a crime.
The SDNY AG was appointed and personally interviewed by the President also. Also the US Attorneys manual states great care must be taken to be least instrusive to a practicing law attorney.
If least instrusive is raid the guys business address.... This is a big deal.
The SDNY AG was appointed and personally interviewed by the President also. Also the US Attorneys manual states great care must be taken to be least instrusive to a practicing law attorney.
If least instrusive is raid the guys business address.... This is a big deal.
The raided his home, office, and hotel room where the family is staying during renovations. I agree, this is very big. This wasn't done without significant OTHER evidence.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
The last time you posted this was when everyone made fun of you for trying to argue that Trump- who once ran out of the room screaming in panic when an elderly man had a heart attack - would've ran into Parkland High School unarmed to fight the shooter.
The cherry on top of this hilarity is that you're posting it in a thread detailing Trump's legal woes because he was too senile to sign an NDA with a porn star who clearly runs circles around him when it comes to intellect.
He's had nothing to actually say in this thread because Hannity hasn't addressed it yet.
This thread shows an appalling lack of diversity. You godless libs should be more inclusive/welcoming. I dare say that your esteemed friends on the Right aren't being made to feel welcomed here. Must be your fault.
Cohen is also the deputy national finance chair of the RNC.
Oh boy.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
So, if Trump paid money to a porn star, that itself isn’t illegal.
But if he directed Cohen to use campaign funds to pay hush money? Uh oh.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Keep thinking it’s that simple. You keep getting proven wrong ever raid and indictment that drops.
Geoffrey Berman, the guy who signed off on the warrant to raid Cohen, is a republican.
Guess who he worked under? Rudy Giuliani, a republican.
Guess who he was appointed by? Trump, a republican.
Guess who rosenstein is? A republican, appointed by trump, a republican, who appointed mueller, a republican, to investigate trump, a republican, who fired Comey, a republican.
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
“To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”
Swish... can yyou u explain what the big deal is with paying off a former porn star to not talk?
Collusion with the Russians I get and is a huge deal.... but I don't get the big deal of paying off a porn star to cover up an affair...what am I missing?
