Let’s go ahead and nominate the lawyer for the Pulitzer. Michael Avenatti, attorney for porn star Stormy Daniels, started it all this afternoon when he reported that Michael Cohen had received $500,000 from a very rich Russian.
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
That report was soon confirmed by the New York Times.
Shell Co Cohen used for Stormy Daniels deal also received payments totaling $1 million from U.S. co. linked to Russian oligarch, interviews, records reviewed by NYT, confirms much of @MichaelAvenatti report https://t.co/bWJbDRIV0p
— jimrutenberg (@jimrutenberg) May 8, 2018
But the $1 million soon turned into much more. From The Times:
- “Financial records reviewed by The New York Times show that Mr. Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer and longtime fixer, used the shell company, Essential Consultants L.L.C., for an array of business activities that went far beyond what was publicly known.”
- “Transactions adding up to at least $4.4 million flowed through Essential Consultants starting shortly before Mr. Trump was elected president and continuing to this January, the records show.”
Besides the wealthy Russian, where did Michael Cohen’s money come from? Corporate America looking to win friends in the new White House. How about $200K from AT&T which was seeking to merge with Time Warner.
AT&T paid Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen for "insights into understanding the new administration" — while seeking government approval for its acquisition of Time Warner. Here's our full story on @CNNMoney https://t.co/pGepOFn7Fe
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) May 8, 2018
But AT&T was just the beginning. Drug giant Novartis gave $400K for “consulting.”
NEW: Pharma-Giant @Novartis spokesperson tells me "any agreements with Essential Consultants were entered before our current CEO taking office in February of this year and have expired."
According to @MichaelAvenatti, Novartis paid $399k to Michael Cohen's consulting firm.
— Michael Cappetta (@MCappetta) May 8, 2018
Among the other payments to Michael Cohen’s shell company Essential Consultants LLC were 4 for $99,980 each between Oct 2017 and Jan 2018 by Novartis and 4 payments totaling $200,000 from AT&T, whose proposed merger w/ Time Warner is pending before the DOJ – PAY TO PLAY.#Maddow https://t.co/xlgXqnONHt
— Polly Sigh (@dcpoll) May 9, 2018
“Michael Cohen should not be selling access to the President of United States.” -Stormy Daniels' lawyer on report that Mueller's team has questioned a Russian oligarch about payments his company's US affiliate made to President Trump's personal attorney https://t.co/qf7ennyfFv pic.twitter.com/vFyHPty8l4
— CNN (@CNN) May 9, 2018
Also, multiple outlets are reporting that Robert Mueller has interviewed the Russian oligarch who sent Cohen the cash.
