A letter from Michael Cohen’s attorney might be game-changing evidence in the prospective criminal prosecution of former President Donald Trump by the Manhattan District Attorney.
The letter, issued by Cohen’s legal counsel to the Federal Election Commission, implies that Cohen was exclusively responsible for a $130,000 payment to pornographic artist Stormy Daniels.
Wednesday, the document was obtained by the Daily Mail.
BREAKING: A 2018 Letter from Michael Cohen’s lawyer states that Cohen used his own personal funds to pay $130,000 to Stormy Daniels and that the Trump Org nor Campaign was a party to the transaction did not reimburse Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly. pic.twitter.com/ZaHMndvQIT
— ALX 🇺🇸 (@alx) March 22, 2023
“Mr. Cohen used his own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford,” Cohen lawyer Stephen M. Ryan says in the letter, using Daniels’ legal name.
Ryan continues by stating that neither Trump nor his organization repaid Cohen for the payment.
“Neither the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly.”
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg’s possible case against Trump hinges on the alleged payment paid to Daniels, which the prosecution would likely contend constitutes an unreported campaign expenditure.
According to the Department of Justice, Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to campaign finance crimes involving the payment.
Cohen has asserted that he was representing then-candidate Trump as his attorney at the time of the payment and that he made the money at his instruction.
According to the Daily Mail, the longtime Trump confidant stated in congressional testimony one year after his guilty plea that Trump instructed him to pay off Daniels.
Wednesday, Cohen was seen attending grand jury sessions in Manhattan.
On Thursday, prosecutors are anticipated to subpoena one more witness. It is unknown whether or when the grand jury will announce any indictments.