Few client communications found so far in Michael Cohen documents - judge

[rooster59]

Few client communications found so far in Michael Cohen documents - judge

By Brendan Pierson

 

FILE PHOTO - U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen arrives at his hotel in New York City, U.S., June 20, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

 

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A review of documents seized from U.S. President Donald Trump's longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen has so far turned up only a handful of communications between Cohen and his clients, a federal judge said in a written order on Friday.

 

Cohen's home and office were raided in April as part of a criminal investigation by Manhattan federal prosecutors. He has not been charged with any crime.

 

Out of nearly 300,000 items reviewed so far, 161 are privileged and seven of them are communications between Cohen and a client containing legal advice, according to an order from U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood on Friday confirming findings by the special master. The order said most of the documents were communications between Cohen and his lawyers.

 

Lawyers for Cohen and Trump could not immediately be reached for comment.

 

Wood appointed a special master to review the documents before turning them over to prosecutors after lawyers for Cohen and Trump said they might include privileged attorney-client communications, which prosecutors are normally not allowed to see.

 

Prosecutors said in an April court filing that they believed Cohen was "performing little to no legal work" and that they were primarily investigating his personal business dealings.

 

Most of the roughly 3.7 million items seized from Cohen are still under review.

 

On Friday, Wood ordered Cohen's lawyers to identify for the special master, former federal judge Barbara Jones, by June 27 any remaining items they believe are privileged.

 

The probe into Cohen's dealings stems in part from a referral by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign.

 

Trump has denied that there was any collusion, and Russia has denied meddling in the election.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-06-23

[mtls2005]

For once I'm glad to hear someone was a "hoarder".

 

The National Enquirer (AMI/David Pecker*) "angle" is interesting. (* the Enquirer's publisher's real name, and a close personal friend of Trump)

 

On the plus side, Trump is losing some weight via heavy sweating.

 

 

National Enquirer Reportedly Sent Drafts Of Trump-Related Articles To Michael Cohen

 

During the 2016 presidential campaign, executives at the National Enquirer routinely sent drafts of articles and images related to Donald Trump to his attorney, Michael Cohen, for approval, The Washington Post reported Thursday.

 

The Post spoke with three people familiar with the process who described a close relationship between Cohen and the tabloid. David Pecker, the chief executive of American Media, Inc., the Enquirer’s parent company, is a close friend of the president and has often spoken or acted to defend Trump.

 

https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/national-enquirer-trump-michael-cohen_us_5b2c9429e4b0040e27416b43

 

 

 

 

 

[Basil B]

Well the shredders were working overtime.

 

But there again there ain't enough hours in a day, keep digging boys... 

[Tug]

Hopefully they will at least flip Cohen and better yet find something strong enough to convince trumps base to see trump for what he is btw once the midterms are over the real republicans won’t be afraid to speak up 

[stevenl]

9 minutes ago, Tug said:

Hopefully they will at least flip Cohen and better yet find something strong enough to convince trumps base to see trump for what he is btw once the midterms are over the real republicans won’t be afraid to speak up 

No chance to get his base to see the light. As he said himself, he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and they won't care.

[Tug]

Yea guess I’m dreaming but after the midterms it will be a different ball game whoever’s party has majorly and as the economy falters after trumps mismanagement he is a goner + muller is back there in the shadows getting closer and closer 

[JCauto]

What this article fails to mention however is the revelation from a couple of months ago that Cohen typically would record and keep all of his conversations with his clients. When one does this, probably little need to document them. But oh boy, what a treasure trove those recordings are likely to be.

[Trouble]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

Yea guess I’m dreaming but after the midterms it will be a different ball game whoever’s party has majorly and as the economy falters after trumps mismanagement he is a goner + muller is back there in the shadows getting closer and closer 

Closer to what?  

[Tug]

The boot up that draft dodging pow insulting racist incoptent grifting traitor that sits in the white House that’s what

[sirineou]

3 hours ago, stevenl said:

No chance to get his base to see the light. As he said himself, he could shoot someone on 5th avenue and they won't care.

I love to see him walk on 5th av, or any other street for that matter.

It  will not end well for him.

 

[Expatthailover]

If any of you care to 'google' tom arnold and Michael Cohen together you might get a different slant.

Arnold claims Cohen has reams and reams of spoken, video and written documentation about this disgraceful, deceitful, venal president and his greedy leech like family.

Expect to hear devious don screeching 'fake news' very soon

Edited June 24, 2018 by Expatthailover

[Andaman Al]

1 hour ago, Expatthailover said:

If any of you care to 'google' tom arnold and Michael Cohen together you might get a different slant.

Arnold claims Cohen has reams and reams of spoken, video and written documentation about this disgraceful, deceitful, venal president and his greedy leech like family.

Expect to hear devious don screeching 'fake news' very soon

Seen it. It's a great insight.

 

Remember what the judges comments above are saying is that it is very clear that Cohen has NOT been acting in the capacity of a lawyer...ergo client confidentiality does not exist. It means that whatever Cohen has is fair game and it is going to get ugly (beautiful for some of us), especially when Cohen tells Mueller and Co exactly where to look. Many seem to think that the information in the Cohen files has nothing of consequence because of the Judges comments. On the contrary it is the best news the prosecution could have heard. Popcorn !!!!!

[stevenl]

47 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

Seen it. It's a great insight.

 

Remember what the judges comments above are saying is that it is very clear that Cohen has NOT been acting in the capacity of a lawyer...ergo client confidentiality does not exist. It means that whatever Cohen has is fair game and it is going to get ugly (beautiful for some of us), especially when Cohen tells Mueller and Co exactly where to look. Many seem to think that the information in the Cohen files has nothing of consequence because of the Judges comments. On the contrary it is the best news the prosecution could have heard. Popcorn !!!!!

That's what I was thinking, this confirms the prosecution's contention he was not doing much legal work.

Edited June 24, 2018 by stevenl

[Redline]

Exactly why they have organized crime experts on the team 

[thaibeachlovers]

On ‎6‎/‎24‎/‎2018 at 12:01 AM, JCauto said:

What this article fails to mention however is the revelation from a couple of months ago that Cohen typically would record and keep all of his conversations with his clients. When one does this, probably little need to document them. But oh boy, what a treasure trove those recordings are likely to be.

They would be privileged.

How many lawyers, assistants and time is needed to review 3.7 million documents?

[thaibeachlovers]

13 hours ago, Andaman Al said:

Seen it. It's a great insight.

 

Remember what the judges comments above are saying is that it is very clear that Cohen has NOT been acting in the capacity of a lawyer...ergo client confidentiality does not exist. It means that whatever Cohen has is fair game and it is going to get ugly (beautiful for some of us), especially when Cohen tells Mueller and Co exactly where to look. Many seem to think that the information in the Cohen files has nothing of consequence because of the Judges comments. On the contrary it is the best news the prosecution could have heard. Popcorn !!!!!

If he's paid by Trump he's in a lawyer/ client relationship. I doubt there's a law that says he has to have more than one client.

With 3.7 million documents that can all be disputed in court, don't expect a rapid end to this. Could take 3 to 7 years.

[JCauto]

5 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

They would be privileged.

How many lawyers, assistants and time is needed to review 3.7 million documents?

Except that the Judges appear to be siding with the view that there was no Attorney-Client privilege between Cohen and his clients as he was acting more as a "fixer" and a consultant than a lawyer. And as one is seldom as careful in speaking as one is in writing, I'm expecting pretty much everything to come out in the wash. Won't that be a dainty dish to set before your King?

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, JCauto said:

Except that the Judges appear to be siding with the view that there was no Attorney-Client privilege between Cohen and his clients as he was acting more as a "fixer" and a consultant than a lawyer. And as one is seldom as careful in speaking as one is in writing, I'm expecting pretty much everything to come out in the wash. Won't that be a dainty dish to set before your King?

Expect any claim that he wasn't acting as a lawyer to be litigated to the supreme court. That should take a few years.

[JCauto]

4 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If he's paid by Trump he's in a lawyer/ client relationship. I doubt there's a law that says he has to have more than one client.

With 3.7 million documents that can all be disputed in court, don't expect a rapid end to this. Could take 3 to 7 years.

Nope. That would be too too easy for criminals to use as a means of circumventing the law - you have a Law Degree, therefore I can use you as a mobile ATM and criminal favour dealer so long as I pay you. The basis upon which they're determining whether there was an Attorney-Client privilege is the substance of the discussions and work undertaken. If it were questions and answers regarding the legality of this or that, billings for preparation of contracts or other regular lawyerly stuff, no worries, covered.

 

If Trump though was using Cohen as a Front Man to funnel cash to and from various shell companies to pay off various people who he done wrong, channeling contacts and funds through him as a blind to conceal his relationships with foreign entities helping his campaign, and various other activities that appear far more within his purview, then he's not acting as a lawyer, but as a co-conspirator. Don't worry so much about this taking 3 years, not even a hope of that happening although you have a point that if they were to follow everything and wrap all the different leads up prior to indictment it would probably take that long. Instead, Trump and his Brass Band are ratcheting up the pressure so that they'll be forced to bring charges earlier to avoid the risk of the public being incited to end the investigation prior to its completion. Now that Cohen's flipped, and he has Manafort locked up and a string of witnesses tying numerous players and organizations under Trump's control or supporting him to Russia and others abroad, it shouldn't take too much longer to be rid of this plague of fools.

[JCauto]

6 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Expect any claim that he wasn't acting as a lawyer to be litigated to the supreme court. That should take a few years.

Oh sure, there will be an instantaneous clamour to issue stays and otherwise drag out the investigation. But given that it's a sitting President, it will come down quite quickly to the substance of what Mueller's got. If he's managed to compile a case that is very strong and artfully presents it such that the non-Base agree that it's compelling or even an "open and shut" case of gross misconduct, then fuggedaboudit ever getting through a normal slow and careful legal process. It will come down to emergency measures and a constitutional crisis. Which is of course where we're going inevitably.

[thaibeachlovers]

Just now, JCauto said:

Oh sure, there will be an instantaneous clamour to issue stays and otherwise drag out the investigation. But given that it's a sitting President, it will come down quite quickly to the substance of what Mueller's got. If he's managed to compile a case that is very strong and artfully presents it such that the non-Base agree that it's compelling or even an "open and shut" case of gross misconduct, then fuggedaboudit ever getting through a normal slow and careful legal process. It will come down to emergency measures and a constitutional crisis. Which is of course where we're going inevitably.

So far Mueller hasn't come out with any indictments as to Trump, so seems wishful thinking that there is any there, there. Glad you included an IF.

As long as the GOP holds the house, and it's looking good for November, Trump probably isn't going to be impeached, regardless. The GOP isn't going to approve "emergency measures". As far as the Justice department is concerned, they ain't gonna move against Trump as long as he's POTUS, for the obvious reasons.

[thaibeachlovers]

19 minutes ago, JCauto said:

Now that Cohen's flipped, and he has Manafort locked up and a string of witnesses tying numerous players and organizations under Trump's control or supporting him to Russia and others abroad

Who said Cohen has flipped?

 

witnesses tying numerous players and organizations under Trump's control or supporting him to Russia

Like who? The Russian FBI informant that tried to entrap Stone and others, the British agent that was sacked by the FBI, the FBI agents that have been sacked? 

 

Edited June 24, 2018 by thaibeachlovers

[JCauto]

13 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

So far Mueller hasn't come out with any indictments as to Trump, so seems wishful thinking that there is any there, there. Glad you included an IF.

As long as the GOP holds the house, and it's looking good for November, Trump probably isn't going to be impeached, regardless. The GOP isn't going to approve "emergency measures". As far as the Justice department is concerned, they ain't gonna move against Trump as long as he's POTUS, for the obvious reasons.

Well of course, I am not in favour of prosecuting or jailing Trump for things he hasn't done. But given his history, it seems quite unlikely that he hasn't broken the law on numerous occasions, we'll just have to see what the most serious charges they can irrefutably tie him to are. I suspect he'll claim (with strong justification) that whatever he's been recorded saying was a lie and as he's demonstrated that he will almost constantly lie on almost any issue and even on both sides of the same issue at different times (even in the same speech), that will be a strong argument I suppose. This is where the constant attacks on truth and facts in general lead. But of course no indictments of the top of the pyramid have come out, that's not how it works. You build cases by getting the little guys who then peach out the next up the line of command until you reach the top. Wishful thinking? Well, are we up to 19 indictments so far or what is the current number? How many people have been indicted during the five-year investigation of Hillary and Benghazi?

 

I agree that if the GOP holds the House and Senate, then this is going nowhere and it shouldn't if that's the case. Because it will have demonstrated that the American people are so apathetic, hopeless, or ineffectual on the opposition side or significantly more people than we understand actually approve  of what's going on and are just pretending to give a crap. And yes, I'll pretty much have to give up on much progress happening in the USA for a while. That would be a very dark day for democracy, the environment, women and human rights. Personally, I believe that this disastrous administration will ultimately motivate the Center of American Politics to come out in November and turf them out. Once this becomes apparent due to polling in September, I expect a shooting war to erupt in the Middle East as a last-ditch effort to win the Mid-Terms and complete the bankrupting of the Social Security system. Imagine what a paradise you'll be in then! All your dreams come true!

[JCauto]

16 minutes ago, thaibeachlovers said:

Who said Cohen has flipped?

 

witnesses tying numerous players and organizations under Trump's control or supporting him to Russia

Like who? The Russian FBI informant that tried to entrap Stone and others, the British agent that was sacked by the FBI, the FBI agents that have been sacked? 

 

Do keep up, happened last week more or less. Don't expect an announcement, that's not how it works.

 

You really don't think that there is more to the Russia thing than a single informant? Okay, sure, whatever.

[thaibeachlovers]

1 minute ago, JCauto said:

Do keep up, happened last week more or less. Don't expect an announcement, that's not how it works.

 

You really don't think that there is more to the Russia thing than a single informant? Okay, sure, whatever.

If it hasn't been announced how can you say anything other than opinion? 

I think there isn't anything to the Russia thing, given it's over a year and all the indictments so far have nothing to do with Russia collusion. Meanwhile, the FBI team that was investigating the Russian collusion thing are being sacked, losing security clearances, and probably going to be facing charges of crimes relating to their investigation.

[JCauto]

3 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If it hasn't been announced how can you say anything other than opinion? 

I think there isn't anything to the Russia thing, given it's over a year and all the indictments so far have nothing to do with Russia collusion. Meanwhile, the FBI team that was investigating the Russian collusion thing are being sacked, losing security clearances, and probably going to be facing charges of crimes relating to their investigation.

I'm not an insider, so yes, it's opinion but there appears to be lots of evidence to support it. There's little doubt that Trump and Giuliani floating Presidential Pardons was another bit of signalling desperately that they need the Cohens of this world to not flip. But Cohen will at the very least understand that the Presidential Pardons only apply to Federal crimes, and they've got him dead to rights on State crimes too, so that's not going to help him. 

 

Not surprisingly, Mueller and his team haven't shown their hand with respect to the Russia investigation, but they're working their way methodically up the ladder. You believe that one year from now, we'll be watching the spectacle of a number of career FBI people being put on trial for deliberate malfeasance. I believe that one year from now, the Donald and a number of his cronies will be in the dock . Let's see who is more accurate. I would say that you may be right that the Russia investigation may well end up ambiguous and unsatisfactory - a conclusion for example that Russia interfered, numerous Trump acolytes were trying very hard to get them to cooperate, but that they interfered on their own more or less while working to compromise the election, the integrity of the process and the two political parties that Americans vote for. On the other hand, in their detailed examination of Trump world, they're almost inevitably going to stumble upon decades of criminal activity that have made the Donald what he is today. They ARE allowed to pursue leads to criminal activity that they come across during the Russia investigation, and I have no doubt whatsoever they'll find so many examples of mafia-like behaviour they'll wonder how they hadn't ever had this guy behind bars in the first place. 

[Andaman Al]

8 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

If he's paid by Trump he's in a lawyer/ client relationship. I doubt there's a law that says he has to have more than one client.

 

When you have no idea what you are talking about it's better to be silent and thought a fool than to open your mouth and confirm it.