New York subpoenas ex-Trump attorney Cohen in Trump Foundation probe

[webfact]

New York subpoenas ex-Trump attorney Cohen in Trump Foundation probe

By Karen Freifeld

 

FILE PHOTO: U.S. President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen walks out of court in New York City, New York, U.S., August 21, 2018. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - New York state sent a subpoena on Wednesday to U.S. President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen in connection with a probe of the Trump Foundation charity, a New York state official said.

 

The subpoena was issued by the New York state tax department after Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, made comments about Cohen having information regarding the Trump Foundation, which is based in the state, said the official, who requested anonymity.

 

New York state tax department spokesman James Gazzale said the agency would be working with the New York attorney general and Manhattan district attorney as appropriate.

 

Neither Davis nor Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani responded to requests for comment on the subpoena.

 

The state’s attorney general, Barbara Underwood, filed a lawsuit against President Donald Trump, three of his children and his foundation in June, saying Trump had illegally used the nonprofit as a personal “checkbook” for his own benefit, including his 2016 presidential campaign.

 

"We cannot comment on potential or ongoing investigations," Amy Spitalnick, a spokeswoman for the attorney general, said on Wednesday.

 

"As our lawsuit against the Trump Foundation illustrates, we will hold Donald Trump and his associates accountable for violations of state law, and will seek a criminal referral from the appropriate state agency as necessary," Spitalnick said.

Danny Frost, a spokesman for Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance, declined to comment.

 

The subpoena was first reported by the Associated Press.

 

On Tuesday, Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan to eight criminal charges, including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.

 

In interviews after the plea, Cohen's lawyer Davis said his client had information of interest to New York state authorities probing the Trump Foundation. He also said Cohen had information of interest to special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 presidential election.

 

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told reporters at a state fair on Wednesday that Davis had gone "out of his way to say Cohen would be forthcoming on both federal and state investigations."

 

(Reporting by David Alexander; Editing by Richard Chang, Toni Reinhold)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-08-23

[AlexRich]

Mr Drain-The-Swamp turns out to be the swampiest snake oil salesman ever to hold office ... lock him up!

[Chomper Higgot]

This is the start of stripping Trump and his family of their money.

 

It will continue until they are penniless.

[Briggsy]

41 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This is the start of stripping Trump and his family of their money.

 

It will continue until they are penniless.

Whilst this Trump Foundation investigation has already uncovered clear evidence of criminal behaviour by various members of the Trump clan and is extremely interesting, I think your leap of logic is too far. Trump has proved adept at the tactical bankruptcy and there is no reason that other members of the clan won't do the same. Indeed it has already been mooted that Jared Kushner may go down this route. In addition, the Trump clan have assets and money-laundering / money-hiding friends and opportunities spread around the globe, particularly in Russia. Penniless they will never be.

 

But, to reiterate, the Trump Foundation investigation promises to be very interesting and should result in prosecutions or a heavy settlement.

[Chomper Higgot]

50 minutes ago, Briggsy said:

Whilst this Trump Foundation investigation has already uncovered clear evidence of criminal behaviour by various members of the Trump clan and is extremely interesting, I think your leap of logic is too far. Trump has proved adept at the tactical bankruptcy and there is no reason that other members of the clan won't do the same. Indeed it has already been mooted that Jared Kushner may go down this route. In addition, the Trump clan have assets and money-laundering / money-hiding friends and opportunities spread around the globe, particularly in Russia. Penniless they will never be.

 

But, to reiterate, the Trump Foundation investigation promises to be very interesting and should result in prosecutions or a heavy settlement.

Trump has a great deal of offshore debt, his ‘wealth’ has to be verified.

[mtls2005]

And tRUmp though getting rid of Schneiderman would solve all his "State" problems.

 

Every non-red state where there is a tRUmp "operation" will be investigating his propensity to undervalue the property for tax purposes, and over-value it to gain loans.

 

He's rueing the day he lost the popular vote.

 

He could have been tweeting about crooked President Clinton, reviving the Birther movement, egging on Nazis, golfing, paying going-rate for hookers, laundering cash for the Russian mob (and taking his skim). But no, he had to go and lose the popular vote. 

 

 

[Scott]

Troll post removed.  

 

[Credo]

 

Read the NY attorney general’s corruption lawsuit against the Trump Foundation

“For more than a decade, the Donald J. Trump foundation has operated in persistent violation of state and federal law governing New York State charities.”

 

https://qz.com/1305669/read-the-new-york-attorney-generals-lawsuit-against-donald-trump-and-the-trump-foundation/

[Becker]

I must admit that the last couple of days' headlines has given me an almost constant case of "the woods" making my wife a very happy camper!

[johnnybangkok]

And the noose tightens on the worst POTUS in history.

[zaphod reborn]

1 hour ago, Briggsy said:

Whilst this Trump Foundation investigation has already uncovered clear evidence of criminal behaviour by various members of the Trump clan and is extremely interesting, I think your leap of logic is too far. Trump has proved adept at the tactical bankruptcy and there is no reason that other members of the clan won't do the same. Indeed it has already been mooted that Jared Kushner may go down this route. In addition, the Trump clan have assets and money-laundering / money-hiding friends and opportunities spread around the globe, particularly in Russia. Penniless they will never be.

 

But, to reiterate, the Trump Foundation investigation promises to be very interesting and should result in prosecutions or a heavy settlement.

Just to be clear, the case against Trump Foundation brought by the NY State AG is civil, not criminal.  Judgments for actions brought by the state or federal government, whether civil or criminal, are not discharged by bankruptcy.  The debtor's assets are still subject to execution.  However, you are correct, as all of Trump's business dealings and his assets were backed by illegally laundered funds coming from Russia and Eastern Europe.  He has too many bankruptcies, lawsuits and unpaid creditors for anyone else to lend him money.  But, like Putin, he has tremendous wealth stashed away in offshore companies which will be almost impossible to seize.  

[Chomper Higgot]

16 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

Just to be clear, the case against Trump Foundation brought by the NY State AG is civil, not criminal.  Judgments for actions brought by the state or federal government, whether civil or criminal, are not discharged by bankruptcy.  The debtor's assets are still subject to execution.  However, you are correct, as all of Trump's business dealings and his assets were backed by illegally laundered funds coming from Russia and Eastern Europe.  He has too many bankruptcies, lawsuits and unpaid creditors for anyone else to lend him money.  But, like Putin, he has tremendous wealth stashed away in offshore companies which will be almost impossible to seize.  

Companies he will not be able to access from the slammer.

[Tug]

Go after them by all means possible that man was handed a precious gift the presidency with both houses held by his party he chose to devide attack allies insult and bulley he needs to at least be neutered to minimize the damage till his term is over

[zaphod reborn]

35 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Companies he will not be able to access from the slammer.

I don't see him or his family landing in prison, although that is the proper place for them to spend the rest of their lives.  I anticipate Mueller accepting a settlement for resignation or an agreement not to run for re-election, in exchange for a global pardon.  I don't know, however, to what extent the NY State AG, who may be able to bring state criminal charges against all of them,  would buy into such an agreement.

 http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/who-will-be-the-next-attorney-general-of-new-york.html

[Chomper Higgot]

3 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

I don't see him or his family landing in prison, although that is the proper place for them to spend the rest of their lives.  I anticipate Mueller accepting a settlement for resignation or an agreement not to run for re-election, in exchange for a global pardon.  I don't know, however, to what extent the NY State AG, who may be able to bring state criminal charges against all of them,  would buy into such an agreement.

  http://nymag.com/daily/intelligencer/2018/05/who-will-be-the-next-attorney-general-of-new-york.html

Cohen is being investigated by the SDNY wrt the Trump Organization.

 

Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr have their fingerprints all over the Trump Organisation.

 

Cohen is spilling the beans, Ivanka and Donald jr are toast.

[zaphod reborn]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Cohen is being investigated by the SDNY wrt the Trump Organization.

 

Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr have their fingerprints all over the Trump Organisation.

 

Cohen is spilling the beans, Ivanka and Donald jr are toast.

SDNY would be bound by any settlement agreement entered into by Mueller and any presidential pardons.  The NY State AG would need to bring separate state criminal charges in order to get around any possible settlement.

[spidermike007]

It is just a matter of time till the piper comes calling, and Trump is implicated in the Russia scandal. There is no doubt in my mind he directed the entire episode.

 

This crime lord huckster, is as guilty as they come. When it comes to Trump, if there is smoke, there is fire nearby. If he says there is nothing to hide, the entire world can rest assured he is guilty, and he is lying. That is what he does. Nothing he says can ever be depended upon as truth. He and Rudy do not know what truth is, and if truth bit them on the butt, they would not know what happened, or be able to identify truth. 

 

What is exceptionally sad, is that this corrupt, lying, thieving, bankrupting, five time draft dodging, urine loving, serial statutory rapist, is defending a man who might go to prison for the rest of his life, for crimes he committed, without a doubt. The Mango Mussolini does not even know how ridiculous he sounds when he makes such emotionally charged statements. It is all about deflecting his own guilt, of which he is no doubt. He is not only the least dignified man in the history of American politics, he is probably one of the lowest class individuals, and one of the most heinous men in the history of the nation. Tiny Trump is a permanent stain on the face of America. He is a cartoon. A caricature of a man. A half man, half child, with less control of his emotions than most 12 years old possess. His thin skin speaks volumes about the miniature size of his heart, and his nearly complete lack of self esteem. A man in his position with even a shred of propriety and dignity would have refused to answer the question, and simply said answering the question is inappropriate. But, he does not know the definition of that term. The good men and women who protect and defend our nation are bad people in his opinion, and Manafort is a good person. What can one even say about this infantile moron? 

 

Tiny Don. Moving America backwards, every day of his presidency. 

•  

[Chomper Higgot]

19 minutes ago, zaphod reborn said:

SDNY would be bound by any settlement agreement entered into by Mueller and any presidential pardons.  The NY State AG would need to bring separate state criminal charges in order to get around any possible settlement.

How does that prevent Cohen exposing the Trump spawn to legal jeopardy?

[spidermike007]

14 hours ago, zaphod reborn said:

SDNY would be bound by any settlement agreement entered into by Mueller and any presidential pardons.  The NY State AG would need to bring separate state criminal charges in order to get around any possible settlement.

 

And due to the Cohen confessions that is exactly what is taking place right now. And Trump will not be able to pardon himself over state charges. He is going down like a lead brick. And he deserves everything that is coming to him. He has devoted his entire career to ruining lives. Now, his life is about to be ruined. His company will become radioactive. Nobody will touch a Trump property. His management deals will dry up, as have his deals to license his name already. memberships in his golf courses will be considered a huge embarrassment and liability. He is about to become a sorry footnote in history. He attempted to bring down the US. But, a battle is being waged to limit his foolishness. 

[Bluespunk]

6 hours ago, webfact said:

New York state sent a subpoena on Wednesday to U.S. President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen in connection with a probe of the Trump Foundation charity, a New York state official said.

 

The chickens are coming home to roost,

 

The feces is striking the fan,

 

The coming storm is on the horizon,

 

Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock...

[Berkshire]

9 minutes ago, spidermike007 said:

 

And due to the Cohen confessions that is exactly what is taking place right now. And Trump will not be able to pardon himself over state charges. He is going down like a lead brick. And he deserves everything that is coming to him. He has devoted his entire career to ruining lives. Now, his life is about to be ruined. His company will become radioactive. Nobody will touch a Trump property. His management deals will dry up, as have his deals to license his name already. memberships in his golf courses will be considered a huge embarrassment and liability. He is about to become a sorry footnote in history. He attempted to bring down the US. But, a battle is being waged to limit his foolishness. 

I believe that the reason the Mueller investigation is taking so long is because his team is trying to unravel the maze of financial shenanigans undertaken by the Trump organization, aka Trump Criminal Enterprise.  A good portion of that company was built through illicit money, e.g., laundered Russian cash.  Whether Manafort/Cohen can substantiate, doesn't really matter.  Mueller has an army of forensic accountants, financial experts, and investigators all over this.  We know about the scams that Trump has been involved with in the past, from Trump University, to his failed casinos, to stiffing contractors, to all kinds of other failed ventures.  He always managed to con his way out of it, but not this time.  Mr. Mueller will get to the bottom of this.  When this is all over and the Trump family are in jail, his company liquidated, history will not look kindly on those spineless Republicans who enabled Trump to commit fraud on the American public.  Robert Mueller will be a folk hero.    

[Nigel Garvie]

24 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

I believe that the reason the Mueller investigation is taking so long is because his team is trying to unravel the maze of financial shenanigans undertaken by the Trump organization, aka Trump Criminal Enterprise.  A good portion of that company was built through illicit money, e.g., laundered Russian cash.  Whether Manafort/Cohen can substantiate, doesn't really matter.  Mueller has an army of forensic accountants, financial experts, and investigators all over this.  We know about the scams that Trump has been involved with in the past, from Trump University, to his failed casinos, to stiffing contractors, to all kinds of other failed ventures.  He always managed to con his way out of it, but not this time.  Mr. Mueller will get to the bottom of this.  When this is all over and the Trump family are in jail, his company liquidated, history will not look kindly on those spineless Republicans who enabled Trump to commit fraud on the American public.  Robert Mueller will be a folk hero.    

For the almighty bawbag the bad news certainly looks to to be hitting the wind machine this time. Denials are getting harder and harder to make, and the US's answer to Sauron appears to be coming apart at the seams. Why did we have to wait so long? Can he be neutered before he nukes Iran to provide a distraction? My main worry is that too many of those, whom you correctly refer to as "Spineless Republicans", may get elected in November if a sufficient number of the people of the US are not bright enough to see, or honest enough to acknowledge, that they elected a criminal.

[Basil B]

It has been said that there is no chance if impeaching Trump while the republicans have control of the Senate and Congress but as the stink from the White House become so unbearable they can not pretend they can not smell it any more.  I can see them turning on him very soon just to save their own bacon, they probably sounding out to see who is onside and planing to pull the rug from underneath at the best time to influence the mid-term elections.

 

Wounder if Donald is looking at real estate in Dubai by any chance???

[mtls2005]

Two of my favorite tRUmp Foundation "donations" are:

 

Flagpole fiasco

 

When Trump in 2007 settled a $25 million lawsuit he filed against the town after it cited and fined him for erecting a flagpole at Mar-A-Lago that was nearly twice as high as allowed and doing so without a permit, he agreed to donate $100,000 to charity. He and town officials agreed the money would go to the Fisher House Foundation, which provides lodging for families of vets who are hospitalized. 

However, Underwood said, instead of dipping into personal funds or Mar-A-Lago’s accounts, Trump wrote a check to Fisher House using foundation money. A handwritten note, included in the lawsuit, shows Trump personally directed his accountant to take money from the foundation to settle the “flag issue in Palm Beach.”

 

 

Hole-in-One hoohah

 

He used the same tact when he settled a lawsuit a golfer filed against The Trump National Golf Club in Westchester County, N.Y. Martin Greenberg sued after he hit a hole-in-one on the 13th hole in a charity golf tournament and the club refused to award him the $1 million prize. 

 

Ultimately, Trump agreed to settle the lawsuit by contributing $158,000 to Greenberg’s foundation. But, Underwood said, in another example of self-dealing, Trump used foundation money instead of pulling cash out of his own wallet.

 

 

Trump Foundation lawsuit cites Palm Beach flag fight, Bondi donation

 

https://www.mypalmbeachpost.com/news/national-govt--politics/trump-foundation-lawsuit-cites-palm-beach-flag-fight-bondi-donation/8Z3CeDdQ9vu37M5JtTxMXI/

 

 

 

 

 

[Basil B]

15 hours ago, Chomper Higgot said:

This is the start of stripping Trump and his family of their money.

 

It will continue until they are penniless.

I would imagine if they were able get 99.999% of there wealth they still would have a better quality of life than you or me. 

[Scott]

Troll post removed along like replies.

 

[Chomper Higgot]

9 hours ago, Basil B said:

I would imagine if they were able get 99.999% of there wealth they still would have a better quality of life than you or me. 

The public understanding of Trump’s wealth is based entirely on how wealthy Trump says he is. He’s not known for telling the truth.

 

I calculate my own personal on the basis of Assets-Liabilities*, so should Trump.

 

We will shortly learn if Trump has been doing his math right.

 

(Liabilities can get complicated depending on the Lender’s ‘debt recovery’ methods).

[mtls2005]

3 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

The public understanding of Trump’s wealth is based entirely on how wealthy Trump says he is. He’s not known for telling the truth.

 

 

Unless he's playing the role of John Barron.

 

Ever tRUmpers love to brag that Fortune lists him as a BILLIONAIRE, and as you point out those are ASSETS. His LIABILITIES (and I don't mean his hair, IQ, family) are never listed.

 

https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/3867112-Trump-Financial-Disclosure-2017.html

[Becker]

10 hours ago, Basil B said:

I would imagine if they were able get 99.999% of there wealth they still would have a better quality of life than you or me. 

I would imagine that any amount of wealth will not matter much if you end up in jail which I fervently hope the man-child and his fellow bottom dwellers end up in when this farce of a presidency is over.

[Basil B]

6 hours ago, Becker said:

I would imagine that any amount of wealth will not matter much if you end up in jail which I fervently hope the man-child and his fellow bottom dwellers end up in when this farce of a presidency is over.

Even still I am sure he will use his wealth to ensure his stay inside is comfy... and he should not be able to pass on any inheritance when he goes to hell.