Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty to several charges relating to campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and bank fraud. He turned himself into the FBI on Tuesday, then later appeared before a judge. As part of his plea deal he is expected to spend between 3-5 years behind bars. One of the bombshells from the hearing came as Cohen seemed to implicate the president.
Cohen committed crimes "In co-ordination with, and at the direction of" @realDonaldTrump . Thus, President appears to be co-conspirator and/or aider and abettor of a federal crime.
— Jeffrey Toobin (@JeffreyToobin) August 21, 2018
“President Donald Trump’s former longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, appeared in a federal courtroom in Manhattan Tuesday to plead guilty to eight charges of campaign finance, bank fraud and tax evasion charges.
Wearing a dark suit and a gold tie, Cohen told Judge William H. Pauley III that he’d had a glass of 12-year-old Glenlivet Scotch on the rocks the previous night but was now sober and aware of what he was doing.”
https://twitter.com/justinsink/status/1032006096859410432
BLOOMBERG:
-COHEN SAYS HE ACTED FOR PURPOSE OF INFLUENCING ELECTION
-COHEN PAID $130K, WAS LATER REIMBURSED BY CANDIDATE, HE SAYS
-COHEN FAILED TO REPORT $4M IN TAXES— Joshua Green (JoshuaGreen.bsky.social on 🟦) (@JoshuaGreen) August 21, 2018
Five words Donald Trump never wanted to hear: Michael Cohen Takes Plea Deal.
— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 21, 2018
Cohen’s ties to Trump run deep. His relationship with Trump started around 2007. He was not only Trump’s personal attorney for years, but he also served as a vice president in the Trump organization and was a board member of Eric Trump’s foundation.
He also served as the Republican National Committee’s deputy finance chairman.
Less than one year ago Cohen told Vanity Fair. “I’m the guy who protects the president and the family. I’m the guy who would take a bullet for the president.” But since Cohen’s office was raided back in April things have deteriorated rather quickly. With Trump making it obvious back in July that he was not happy with Cohen.
What kind of a lawyer would tape a client? So sad! Is this a first, never heard of it before? Why was the tape so abruptly terminated (cut) while I was presumably saying positive things? I hear there are other clients and many reporters that are taped – can this be so? Too bad!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 25, 2018
Meanwhile, the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee say they now want to hear more from Cohen.
Senate Intel Chairman Richard Burr says the committee recently “re-engaged” Michael Cohen in hopes that he could shed new light on the Trump Tower meeting. They hope Cohen’s plea won’t stop him from coming before the committee in the future. https://t.co/4akNLhTlNH
— Marianna Sotomayor (@MariannaReports) August 21, 2018