Treasury Launches Probe How Cohen's Bank Records Were Leaked To Stormy Daniels' Lawyer

[Swordsmyth]

When we commented earlier on the latest document leak (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-09/novartis-explains-why-it-covertly-paid-michael-cohen-1-million)involving Stormy Daniels' lawyer and former Rahm Emanuel opposition researcher (https://www.truthorfiction.com/michael-avenatti-rahm-emanuel-democratic-campaigns/), Michael Avenatti, who "somehow" had gotten access to Michael Cohen's wire transfer documents obtained by Richard Mueller as part of his investigation into Russian collusion, we asked just how it was possible that this critical piece of Mueller's probe had been strategically leaked to the man who is now leading the legal charge against President Trump.

It appears we were not the only ones to ask that question because less than a day after Avenatti unveiled he had access to Cohen's bank records... (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-08/stormy-daniels-lawyer-claims-putin-linked-oligarch-reimbursed-cohen-hush-payment)

After significant investigation, we have discovered that Mr. Trump’s atty Mr. Cohen received approximately $500,000 in the mos. after the election from a company controlled by a Russian Oligarc with close ties to Mr. Putin. These monies may have reimbursed the $130k payment.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 8, 2018 (https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/993959992762994688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
... (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-08/stormy-daniels-lawyer-claims-putin-linked-oligarch-reimbursed-cohen-hush-payment)the WaPo reported that the Treasury Department’s inspector general has begun an investigation whether and how the confidential banking information for Essential Consultants LLC, the company controlled by President Trump’s personal attorney, was leaked.

Rich Delmar, counsel to the inspector general, said that in response to media reports the office is “inquiring into allegations” that Suspicious Activity Reports on Cohen’s banking transactions were “improperly disseminated.”
Bloomberg confirmed:


TREASURY INQUIRY ON HOW BANK-SECRECY ACT DATA GOT TO THE PRESS
U.S. TREASURY SAYS PROBING POSSIBLE LEAK OF COHEN BANK DETAILS

For those who missed yesterday's main event (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-08/stormy-daniels-lawyer-claims-putin-linked-oligarch-reimbursed-cohen-hush-payment), here is another recap from WaPo:

On Twitter, Avenatti circulated a dossier that purports to show that Cohen was hired last year by the U.S.-based affiliate of a Russian company owned by Viktor Vekselberg, a Russian business magnate who attended Trump’s inauguration and was recently subjected to sanctions by the U.S. government. The affiliate, New York investment firm Columbus Nova, confirmed the payment, saying it was for consulting on investments and other matters, but denied any involvement by Vekselberg.

Avenatti’s dossier also alleged that, after Trump’s inauguration, Cohen’s company Essential Consultants had received payments from several others with business considerations before the federal government, including telecommunications giant AT&T, aircraft manufacturer Korea Aerospace Industries and pharmaceutical company Novartis. All three companies subsequently confirmed the payments.

When he was reached by WaPo, Avenatti predictably refused to disclose his source:

“The source or sources of our information is our work product, and nobody’s business,” Avenatti said. “They can investigate all they want, but what they should be doing is releasing to the American public the three Suspicious Activity Reports filed on Michael Cohen’s account. Why are they hiding this information?”
Amusingly, Avenatti preempted this probe just last night, when he told CNN’s Anderson Cooper: "There’s been some criticism of our media strategy and how often I’m on CNN and how often I’ve been on your show and other networks. It’s working. It’s working in spades. Because we’re so out front on this, people send us information, people want to help our cause. People contact us with information."
What was left unsaid is that it was not "people" who sent Avenatti the Cohen bank records, it was most likely someone deep inside Mueller's probe who is leaking confidential information, making what was already a politicized probe, even more so.

And with the past 1.5 years of the Trump administration marked almost entirely by leaks, traditionally of the NSA/CIA/FBI to WaPo/NYT variety, it was long overdue that someone decided to finally took a look.

https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-09/treasury-launches-probe-how-cohens-bank-records-were-leaked-avenatti

[Swordsmyth]

Update: Michael Cohen's attorneys - based on the Avenatti's errors that we lay out below, confusing one 'Cohen' with another; as well as questioning the legitimacy of how the bank records were obtained - are disputing Michael Avenatti's report, demanding that Stormy Daniels motion to intervene not be granted.
* * *

We are just getting started...
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 8, 2018 (https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/993992084217581569?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Two men named Michael Cohen with no relation to President Trump are fuming after porn star Stormy Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, wrongly accused them of receiving "possibly fraudulent" payments. https://www.zerohedge.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/5ad51038146e711e008b4ad8-750-375.jpg
Avenatti released a seven-page dossier on Tuesday containing various claims of financial malfeasance by President Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen. "But there is one problem with the document," writes the Daily Caller's Chuck Ross...

two of the allegedly “fraudulent” payments were made to men named Michael Cohen who have no affiliation with Trump.
Avenatti’s report includes a section listing “possible fraudulent and illegal financial transactions” involving Trump’s lawyer. One of the payments is a $4,250 wire transfer from a Malaysian company, Actuarial Partners, to a bank in Toronto.
The other is a $980 transfer from a Kenyan bank to Bank Hapoalim — the largest bank in Israel. -Daily Caller (http://dailycaller.com/2018/05/09/avenatti-michael-cohen-israel/)
In an email sent by one of the misidentified Michael Cohens to the Daily Caller, Avenetti is excoriated for not doing more research before releasing information.
“You are surely aware of the fact that this is an extremely common name and would request that you take care before involving innocent parries [sic] in this sordid affair,” wrote Cohen, who told Avenatti he is an international consultant who was paid by Actuarial Partners for work on a project in Tanzania. (Chuck Ross, Daily Caller)
“Actuarial Partners have already received inquiries from the press in this regard, and we would like to see this scurrilous rumour spiked as soon as possible.”

Full email from a Canadian Michael Cohen to Avenatti regarding Avenatti's flagging of "suspicious" wire transfers. https://t.co/DKfhFvnWfA @dailycaller (https://twitter.com/DailyCaller?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) pic.twitter.com/4iOqQ4VilV (https://t.co/4iOqQ4VilV)
— Chuck Ross (@ChuckRossDC) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/ChuckRossDC/status/994292811146125317?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Israeli news outlet Haaretz found (https://www.haaretz.com/israel-news/.premium-trump-stormy-daniels-and-the-israeli-connection-1.6073490) the other Cohen which Avenatti misidentified.
“Mr. Cohen received one wire transfer in the amount of $980.00 from a Kenyan bank from account holders Netanel Cohen and Stav Hayun to an account in Israel at Bank Hapoalim,” Avenatti wrote in his dossier.
“I’ve never heard of Michael Cohen, and I have no connection to this affair,” said Netanel Cohen - who acknowledged to Haaretz that he transferred money to his brother, Michael Cohen, from his Kenyan bank account.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-09/avenetti-screws-stormys-lawyer-wrongly-accuses-two-michael-cohens-fraudlent

[TheCount]

Oh good, Zerohedge

[Swordsmyth]

Oh good, Zerohedge
"When the facts are against you kill the messenger"

[timosman]

Darwin Awards?:confused:

[TheCount]

"When the facts are against you kill the messenger"
You mean like what Cohen and zerohedge are doing?

[enhanced_deficit]

Good probe, where did porn star's attorney get this info from?


According to Avenatti's memo, pharmaceutical company Novartis made four separate payments of $99,980 to the Essential Consultants bank account in late 2017 to early 2018;
"Following these payments, reports surfaced that Mr. Trump took a dinner with the incoming CEO of Novartis before Mr. Trump's speech at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland in late January 2018," Avenatti's report said.

Cohen established the firm Essential Consultants in the weeks leading up to Election Day to make a $130,000 payment to Daniels, as a part of an agreement to prevent the porn star from discussing her alleged affair with Trump.




Stormy Daniels' lawyer: US company linked to Russian oligarch paid $500,000 to Cohen (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?522075-Media-trying-to-paint-POTUS-as-swamp&p=6626811&viewfull=1#post6626811)

[Swordsmyth]

After appearing on CNN 59 times to claim the moral high ground over President Trump's alleged decade-old affair with Daniels, skeletons in Avenatti's closet are now beginning to pour out.
Questions have emerged over who's funding Avenatti (http://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/387088-who-is-paying-michael-avenatti), how he was privy to Trump attorney Michael Cohen's bank records (https://www.thedailybeast.com/experts-leaking-michael-cohens-bank-records-could-be-illegal?ref=home) - and how exactly did he obtain banking transactions for two men also named Michael Cohen, who he wrongly accused (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-09/avenetti-screws-stormys-lawyer-wrongly-accuses-two-michael-cohens-fraudlent) in a seven-page "dossier" released this week.
Other questions have come to light over a bankrupt coffee chain Avenatti left in smoldering ashes with $5 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS, an alleged $160,000 owed for unpaid coffee, and over 45 lawsuits filed in connection with the failed venture.
Bitter coffee deal
As outlined in a legal complaint seeking Avenatti's disbarment, the balding provocateur "bought a company out of bankruptcy and then used it for a "pump and dump" scheme to deprive federal and state taxing authorities of millions of dollars," which left over $5 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS.

Avenatti purchased Tully's out of bankruptcy in 2013, in partnership with actor Patrick Dempsey, who is best known for his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in the TV show "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey sued Avenatti in August 2013 to break off the partnership.
Since then, Tully's has significantly struggled. More than 45 lawsuits have been filed against the chain's parent company, which Avenatti says he no longer owns. In 2017, the company owed roughly $5 million in unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. And, in March, the coffee chain abruptly closed all locations. -Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-lawyer-michael-avenatti-tullys-coffee-lawsuits-2018-5)

Not everybody owes $5M+ in federal taxes...meet Michael Avenatti... pic.twitter.com/6TLLN7oJIC (https://t.co/6TLLN7oJIC)
— Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/994022932685864960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) According to Dempsey, Avenatti was supposed to bankroll the deal through his company, Global Baristas, but didn't have the funds - instead borrowing $2 million at an "exorbitant" 15% to close on the transaction. The actor sued to get out of the partnership after he claimed "Avenatti concealed the Loan and the Security Agreement from Dempsey."
Since 2013, 46 cases have been filed against Global Baristas US LLC and its parent company, Global Baristas LLC in Washington's King County Superior Court.
One of the companies left in Avenatti's wake is Dillanos Coffee Roasters, which CEO David Morris says is owed over $160,000 for beans.

@seanhannity (https://twitter.com/seanhannity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) @FoxNews (https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) So @StormyDaniels (https://twitter.com/StormyDaniels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) hot shot lawyer @MichaelAvenatti (https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) , owes my small company @Dillanos (https://twitter.com/Dillanos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) $160,179 for coffee. He talks a big talk about integrity. We trusted him. Retweet if you think he should pay up! #Tullyscoffee (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tullyscoffee?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
— David J. Morris (@coffeemaverick) May 8, 2018 (https://twitter.com/coffeemaverick/status/993933530764795905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Pay your coffee bill boy! Geeeesh������������ pic.twitter.com/UeqCDA5TBX (https://t.co/UeqCDA5TBX)
— TrumpGirlFierce���� (@j3nnp4c3) May 10, 2018 (https://twitter.com/j3nnp4c3/status/994415309229580288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Speaking of back taxes, Avenatti reportedly paid himself $1.85 million in 2015 and 2016 while his law firm racked up over $1.5 million iun back taxes.

Court documents:

Why was Michael Avenatti paying himself $1.85 million in 2015-2016 while his law firm ran up over $1.5 million in back taxes? pic.twitter.com/2i9FjUQGdx (https://t.co/2i9FjUQGdx)
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/994211093601050624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
#Avenatti (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Avenatti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is reportedly under a rather massive California State Bar inquiry; there is a good chance he gets disbarred. https://t.co/EyoLDRPNl4
— Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/994309626999980032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) Read the bar complaint against Avenatti here (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches)


Who's funding Avenatti?
Last but not least are questions swirling over exactly who is funding Michael Avenatti's crusade.
After Stormy Daniels admitted over Twitter that she's not paying for his services, rumors began to swirl that his efforts could be bankrolled by everyone from George Soros to Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches




(https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches)

[TheCount]

After appearing on CNN 59 times to claim the moral high ground over President Trump's alleged decade-old affair with Daniels, skeletons in Avenatti's closet are now beginning to pour out.
Questions have emerged over who's funding Avenatti (http://thehill.com/opinion/judiciary/387088-who-is-paying-michael-avenatti), how he was privy to Trump attorney Michael Cohen's bank records (https://www.thedailybeast.com/experts-leaking-michael-cohens-bank-records-could-be-illegal?ref=home) - and how exactly did he obtain banking transactions for two men also named Michael Cohen, who he wrongly accused (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-09/avenetti-screws-stormys-lawyer-wrongly-accuses-two-michael-cohens-fraudlent) in a seven-page "dossier" released this week.
Other questions have come to light over a bankrupt coffee chain Avenatti left in smoldering ashes with $5 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS, an alleged $160,000 owed for unpaid coffee, and over 45 lawsuits filed in connection with the failed venture.
Bitter coffee deal
As outlined in a legal complaint seeking Avenatti's disbarment, the balding provocateur "bought a company out of bankruptcy and then used it for a "pump and dump" scheme to deprive federal and state taxing authorities of millions of dollars," which left over $5 million in unpaid taxes to the IRS.
Avenatti purchased Tully's out of bankruptcy in 2013, in partnership with actor Patrick Dempsey, who is best known for his role as Derek "McDreamy" Shepherd in the TV show "Grey's Anatomy." Dempsey sued Avenatti in August 2013 to break off the partnership.
Since then, Tully's has significantly struggled. More than 45 lawsuits have been filed against the chain's parent company, which Avenatti says he no longer owns. In 2017, the company owed roughly $5 million in unpaid taxes to the Internal Revenue Service. And, in March, the coffee chain abruptly closed all locations. -Business Insider (http://www.businessinsider.com/stormy-daniels-lawyer-michael-avenatti-tullys-coffee-lawsuits-2018-5)


Not everybody owes $5M+ in federal taxes...meet Michael Avenatti... pic.twitter.com/6TLLN7oJIC (https://t.co/6TLLN7oJIC)
— Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/994022932685864960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
According to Dempsey, Avenatti was supposed to bankroll the deal through his company, Global Baristas, but didn't have the funds - instead borrowing $2 million at an "exorbitant" 15% to close on the transaction. The actor sued to get out of the partnership after he claimed "Avenatti concealed the Loan and the Security Agreement from Dempsey."
Since 2013, 46 cases have been filed against Global Baristas US LLC and its parent company, Global Baristas LLC in Washington's King County Superior Court.
One of the companies left in Avenatti's wake is Dillanos Coffee Roasters, which CEO David Morris says is owed over $160,000 for beans.
@seanhannity (https://twitter.com/seanhannity?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) @FoxNews (https://twitter.com/FoxNews?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) So @StormyDaniels (https://twitter.com/StormyDaniels?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) hot shot lawyer @MichaelAvenatti (https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) , owes my small company @Dillanos (https://twitter.com/Dillanos?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) $160,179 for coffee. He talks a big talk about integrity. We trusted him. Retweet if you think he should pay up! #Tullyscoffee (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Tullyscoffee?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
— David J. Morris (@coffeemaverick) May 8, 2018 (https://twitter.com/coffeemaverick/status/993933530764795905?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

Pay your coffee bill boy! Geeeesh������������ pic.twitter.com/UeqCDA5TBX (https://t.co/UeqCDA5TBX)
— TrumpGirlFierce���� (@j3nnp4c3) May 10, 2018 (https://twitter.com/j3nnp4c3/status/994415309229580288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Speaking of back taxes, Avenatti reportedly paid himself $1.85 million in 2015 and 2016 while his law firm racked up over $1.5 million iun back taxes.
Court documents:

Why was Michael Avenatti paying himself $1.85 million in 2015-2016 while his law firm ran up over $1.5 million in back taxes? pic.twitter.com/2i9FjUQGdx (https://t.co/2i9FjUQGdx)
— Techno Fog (@Techno_Fog) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Techno_Fog/status/994211093601050624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)

#Avenatti (https://twitter.com/hashtag/Avenatti?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw) is reportedly under a rather massive California State Bar inquiry; there is a good chance he gets disbarred. https://t.co/EyoLDRPNl4
— Robert Barnes (@Barnes_Law) May 9, 2018 (https://twitter.com/Barnes_Law/status/994309626999980032?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw)
Read the bar complaint against Avenatti here (https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches)


Who's funding Avenatti?
Last but not least are questions swirling over exactly who is funding Michael Avenatti's crusade.
After Stormy Daniels admitted over Twitter that she's not paying for his services, rumors began to swirl that his efforts could be bankrolled by everyone from George Soros to Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.

More at: https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches
(https://www.zerohedge.com/news/2018-05-10/avenatti-exposed-stormys-lawyer-may-face-disbarrment-legal-action-past-catches)

What ever happened to this:


"When the facts are against you kill the messenger"

[enhanced_deficit]

Who's funding Avenatti?
Last but not least are questions swirling over exactly who is funding Michael Avenatti's crusade.
After Stormy Daniels admitted over Twitter that she's not paying for his services, rumors began to swirl that his efforts could be bankrolled by everyone from George Soros to Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal.



If Soros is, is he has financial ties to both sides?

Trump Adviser Kushner’s Undisclosed Partners Include Goldman and Soros
May 3, 2017
https://www.wsj.com/articles/trump-adviser-jared-kushner-didnt-disclose-startup-stake-1493717405


Saudi Prince ABT might have some motivation as famous zionist Sheldon Adelson was funding Trump apparently.

Dec 5, 2017 - Casino mogul and Trump mega-donor Sheldon Adelson with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in the West Bank settlement of Ariel, June 28, ... support for Israel is Adelson's “central value,” according to Newt Gingrich in 2012, when Adelson was funding his presidential campaign's Super PAC.
From: Is Sheldon Adelson behind Trump's decision on Jerusalem?


But it's all speculation, let's wait till investigations are completed and all the facts come out (AFCO).




Edit to add:

Michael Avenatti Reveals Who’s Paying for His Stormy Daniels Work After Questions About Anti-Trump Financing

By Jessica Kwong On 5/10/18 at 3:07 PM

“Once again (for at least the 20th time)–ALL fees and expenses of this case have either been funded by our client, Ms. Stephanie Clifford, or by donations from our crowdjustice.com page,” Avenatti wrote in a statement he linked to a tweet through Dropbox (https://www.dropbox.com/s/bwmfocdimn2uegn/Statement%20re%20Legal%20Fees.pdf?dl=0).

“Further, no political party or PAC is funding this effort. No left wing conspiracy group is behind this. And no big fat cat political donors are leading the charge,” Avenatti added. “Get over it.”

http://www.newsweek.com/michael-avenatti-reveals-whos-paying-his-stormy-daniels-work-after-accusations-920008

https://cdn.crowdfundinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/03/Stormy-Daniels-CrowdJustice-.jpg




That was in news few weeks ago, now they have raised almost half a Mil apparently:



5 days to go

$440,185
pledged of $850,000 stretch target by 13,101 people

https://www.crowdjustice.com/case/stormy/

[dannno]

You mean like what Cohen and zerohedge are doing?

No, it really isn't.

Look at it from your perspective.

If somebody killed somebody, and as a result they got some information about Hillary Clinton - like, say, she wore a blue dress last Thursday, then they went out and were like, "Hey, Hillary Clinton wore a blue dress last Thursday, just like Monica Lewinsky that one time!!" and then, you were like, "Ya, but you murdered somebody to get that information, how about let's indict you!!" and then they were all like, "Oh, ok, why don't you kill the messenger??!"

Does that make much sense?

No. Because Hillary Clinton wearing a blue dress is not important. What is important is that somebody committed murder.

What is important here is that there were illegal means used to spy on Trump's attorney. Nobody gives a rats ass about Stormy Daniels, unless they have TDS.

[Swordsmyth]

What ever happened to this:

The facts aren't against me. (or Trump for that matter)

I will happily watch this swamp creature hoist on his own petard.

[Swordsmyth]

If Soros is, is he has financial ties to both sides?

That wouldn't be unusual.

[enhanced_deficit]

That wouldn't be unusual.

True and that somewhat makes such a question less vital for underlying case. Question of funding had greater significance when it is tied to what the funding is being used for wrt corruption etc.

As stated elsewhere, Team Trump-Cohen have to move fast to get counter narrative out quickly before Dems hijack the 'Drain the swamp' just in time for midterms.
..................


Media is running fast with this narrative, Trump should have some ally (not Giuliani) get out in the media and counter this narrative soon before it gets too out of control.




We’re Supposed to Believe Michael Cohen’s One-Person Shell Company Provided “Consulting” Services Worth Millions of Dollars

By Ben Mathis-Lilley
May 09, 2018

• Korean Aerospace Industries, a defense contractor, said it paid $150,000 to Essential Consultants for “legal consulting concerning accounting standards on production costs” and told the Washington Post (https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/mueller-questioned-payment-to-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen/2018/05/09/6ad3a7d6-538d-11e8-a551-5b648abe29ef_story.html?utm_term=.f5aa50126144) that it was not aware that Cohen had a connection to Donald Trump. (Cohen has represented the Trump Organization and Trump personally for more than a decade, in which time he has also acted as a Trump spokesman and campaign surrogate.)

• AT&T said in a statement (https://www.dallasnews.com/business/att/2018/05/09/want-know-facts-att-emails-employees-wake-trump-lawyer-payment-controversy) that it paid Cohen “to help us understand how the President and his administration might approach a wide range of policy issues important to the company, including regulatory reform at the FCC, corporate tax reform and antitrust enforcement.” Cohen reportedly received $600,000 (https://twitter.com/ceciliakang/status/994300689475145730) from the company.

• The Swiss pharmaceutical company Novartis says it hired Cohen to “advise the company as to how the Trump administration might approach certain U.S. healthcare policy matters, including the Affordable Care Act.” Amazingly, Novartis says, it agreed to a $1.2 million contract with Cohen in February 2017 but didn’t even meet with him until a month later, at which point it “determined that [he] would be unable to provide the services that Novartis had anticipated related to U.S. healthcare policy matters” and made the decision not to “engage further” with him. (A Novartis employee told the health care publication Stat (https://www.statnews.com/pharmalot/2018/05/09/trumps-lawyer-cohen-fixer-novartis/) that Cohen contacted the company’s former CEO around the time of Trump’s inauguration and offered his services helping obtain “access” to Trump and his advisers. Stat notes dryly that “the employee could not explain why Novartis would have agreed to a deal with a lawyer with no background in health care and without deep Washington ties.” A spokesman for the company called its involvement with Cohen “a mistake.”)

• Columbus Nova, a New York investment firm, paid Cohen $500,000 to work as “a business consultant regarding potential sources of capital and potential investments in real estate and other ventures.” Columbus Nova’s CEO is the cousin of a Russian billionaire named Viktor Vekselberg who controls a holding company called the Renova Group.

So, these four entities paid a former personal-injury lawyer’s zero-employee paper company millions of dollars for advice about accounting standards, telecom reform, tax policy, antitrust law, the Affordable Care Act, and high-end investment opportunities in the same period that said company was also involved in nondisclosure payments to a pornographic actress and a Playboy playmate (https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/08/how-money-flowed-through-michael-cohens-multi-purpose-shell-company/?utm_term=.ccc74fe003bd).



Media trying to paint POTUS as 'swamp'? (http://www.ronpaulforums.com/showthread.php?522075-Media-trying-to-paint-POTUS-as-swamp&)

[timosman]

True and that somewhat makes such a question less vital for underlying case. Question of funding had greater significance when it is tied to what the funding is being used for wrt corruption etc.

As stated elsewhere, Team Trump-Cohen have to move fast to get counter narrative out quickly before Dems hijack the 'Drain the swamp' just in time for midterms.
..................


Media is running fast with this narrative, Trump should have some ally (not Giuliani) get out in the media and counter this narrative soon before it gets too out of control.

They are running with "Plan B" narrative at the moment - Trump has No Plan B on Iran—Except War - https://www.thenation.com/article/trump-has-no-plan-b-on-iran-except-war/

[TheCount]

and then, you were like, "Ya, but..."

Exactly.

[TheCount]

The facts aren't against me.

The fact that no one is arguing against them says everything.


I will happily watch this swamp creature hoist on his own petard.

A porn star's lawyer is part of the swamp now?


Wasn't the swamp supposed to be full of lobbyists and people using government to profit off of their fellow man? Y'know, such as the other lawyer, who was taking bribes in exchange for promises of favorable government treatment?

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

Oh good, Zerohedge


Oh good; paid poster.

[TheCount]

Oh good; paid poster.

It's good that you're being up front with us about it now that Bolton is official.

[dannno]

Wasn't the swamp supposed to be full of lobbyists and people using government to profit off of their fellow man? Y'know, such as the other lawyer, who was taking bribes in exchange for promises of favorable government treatment?

Nope. Look in the mirror. The swamp is the deep state and their enablers.

[Raginfridus]

A porn star's lawyer is part of the swamp now?The Deep Dish has many disguises.

[NorthCarolinaLiberty]

It's good that you're being up front with us about it now that Bolton is official.

"Us." LOL. Dude, you are the worst infiltrator here of all-time. But keep commenting so everyone can get to know you!

[TheCount]

Nope. Look in the mirror. The swamp is the deep state and their enablers.

Nope. You and Trump might have already put 'drain the swamp' in the memory hole, but it turns out that we weren't always at war with Eastasia.

https://web.archive.org/web/20161018032642/https://www.donaldjtrump.com/press-releases/donald-j.-trumps-five-point-plan-for-ethics-reform


DONALD J. TRUMP’S FIVE-POINT PLAN FOR ETHICS REFORM

“It’s Time To Drain The Swamp In Washington, D.C. That’s Why I’m Proposing A Package Of Ethics Reforms To Make Our Government Honest Once Again.” - Donald J. Trump


First: I am going to re-institute a 5-year ban on all executive branch officials lobbying the government for 5 years after they leave government service. I am going to ask Congress to pass this ban into law so that it cannot be lifted by executive order.

Second: I am going to ask Congress to institute its own 5-year ban on lobbying by former members of Congress and their staffs.

Third: I am going to expand the definition of lobbyist so we close all the loopholes that former government officials use by labeling themselves consultants and advisors when we all know they are lobbyists.

Fourth: I am going to issue a lifetime ban against senior executive branch officials lobbying on behalf of a foreign government.

Fifth: I am going to ask Congress to pass a campaign finance reform that prevents registered foreign lobbyists from raising money in American elections.

Not only will we end our government corruption, but we will end the economic stagnation.


I'm sure that there's a reason that all five of the points mention lobbyists even though it's not about lobbyists, and that there's no mention whatsoever about the deep state even though it's all about the deep state.