Michael Cohen was Donald Trump's lawyer, and was involved in paying off/silencing women who have claimed to have had affairs with Trump in the past. Back on April 9th, it was reported that the FBI had gone to David Cohen's office and seized records, including tape recordings, as part of Robert Mueller's investigation. Given that Cohen was one of Trump's primary lawyers (reportedly his main personal lawyer), the question of attorney/client privilege regarding records has been an issue, but that privilege is not complete, despite what popular opinion may be.
It is now being reported that there exists a tape where Cohen discusses a payment to Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model/playmate and playmate of the year. Said payment to ensure reports of an affair were not reported during the election campaign. The tapes are being reported as having been "secretly recorded," although it's really not clear if Trump himself was or was not aware of the practice, or the particular recording. Just what other tapes may exist with regards to Trump, or what other records and documentation may exist is an open question. It's not terribly clear how this information went public, but Rudy Giuliani isn't disputing their existence, but rather trying to spin the information on the tape as being exculpatory of any wrongdoing on the part of Trump.
I find myself wondering how this sort of information gets out, and whether it is part of a larger strategy. It seems difficult to think otherwise, and it does leave open the question as to whether more important information is being left out of the public eye, to be revealed at a more opportune, or dramatic time. It is rather fascinating to watch.
- Trump Charity lawsuit by New York Attorney General
- FBI investigation (it keeps being called a Russian Collusion investigation, but I'm pretty sure more to it than that at this point)
- North Korea
- The Space Force
- The Border Wall
- Alien Children Detention/family separation
- Presidential Pardons
- Civil War Monuments
- Muslim Travel Ban
- China Tariffs/Trade
- Canada-G7 Tariffs/Trade
- NAFTA
- Puerto Rico response
- Military Parade in Washington
- World Trade Organization
- Covfefe Syndrome
- NATO
- Russia/Putin relationship
- Stormy Daniels Lawsuit
Giuliani still there as Lawyer
John F. Kelly still there as Chief of Staff - 6-29-2018 Trump says "Things Happen."
Jeff Sessions still there as Attorney General
Sarah Huckabee Sanders still there as Press Secretary, rumors continue to be denied.
Mike Pompeo - Secretary of State
John Bolton - National Security Advisor
Marc Short - White House Legislative Affairs Director - no denial of plans regarding his departure prior to the 2018 midterms.
Kirstjen Nielsen - Homeland Security Secretary
Joe Hagin - White House deputy Chief of Staff is resigning.- reported June 19th
Scott Pruitt - EPA Director - Resigned 7-5-2018
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