Now, so he will not be charged with violating lobby laws, Michael Cohen is a "consultant".

[kentuck]

Who could not deliver what he promised.

AT&T's CEO said it was "a mistake" to hire Michael Cohen. Why would he say that?

What kind of help were they looking for? They never had anything to say about it until it became public?

I guess it was "a mistake" because they got caught dealing with the devil?

[C_U_L8R]

1. So it's fraud?

Sounds like an unregistered lobbyist as well.

[unblock]

6. if cohen promised access with no intention of ever giving it, that would be fraud.

very hard to prove, because promising access and instead simply neglecting to give that access is not fraud, but merely breach of contract. he might have to return the money, but no crime is involved.

the most obvious apparent crime here is that the companies certainly appear to have been attempting to bribe a public official. legalized bribery is paid into campaigns and pacs, not into slush funds.

slightly less obvious, but certainly appears likely, is that cohen solicited these bribes, and possibly failed to register as a lobbyist, if indeed he passed anything on to donnie or other government officials.

even less clear, but certainly could be proven with bank records and other evidence, is if donnie was in on it, in which case he's in legal hot soup as well.

personally, while it's possible that cohen decided to go out on his own enterprising grift, i rather think that donnie had to at least get a cut, if not the lion's share.

[kentuck]

7. I doubt that Cohen went out on his own with this scam?

Without giving the trump his cut? He would know better.

[unblock]

9. in terms of what actually happened, i agree. hard to see him going rogue.

but the white house is clearly throwing him under the bus and claiming complete ignorance of these activities.

the question becomes, what can be proven in a court of law.

[HopeAgain]

2. Novartis said they were looking for "access"

I thought that was a violation right there unless Cohen is registered as a lobbyist?

[DemocratSinceBirth]

3. Lobbyists have to register.

[unblock]

4. they can't prove he violated lobbying laws if they can't prove he asked donnie for favors

or set up meetings with donnie or other federal officials.

because, yeah, we're supposed to believe that at&t and novartis and others paid amounts way above market for mere "consulting", to someone who's *only* clear value was a close contact with donnie, and this was done without any hope of passing along a request for favorable treatment to donnie or any other government official.

right.

lordy, i hope there are tapes.

[RandySF]

5. Hang tight

Let’s see what Mueller and SDNY have.

[asiliveandbreathe]

8. Could the sign in log at the WH show who, when made a visit???

Do they still have sign-in?? - I know, I know - how naïve ...

[Initech]

10. The double standard for the GOP is getting fucking ridiculous.

They cannot keep getting away with this! At some point they will have to answer for their crimes!