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MelissaB

(16,420 posts)
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:01 PM Apr 2018

NEW: Sean Hannity revealed as secret owner behind shell companies that have spent $90m buying 870+ h

NEW: Sean Hannity revealed as secret owner behind shell companies that have spent $90m buying 870+ homes across the US – with help from HUD and foreclosures



Michael Cohen case shines light on Sean Hannity's property empire

Fox News host who said Trump’s fixer ‘knows real estate’ has a portfolio that includes support from Department of Housing and Urban Development, a fact he did not mention when interviewing secretary Ben Carson last year


When Sean Hannity was named in court this week as a client of Donald Trump’s embattled legal fixer Michael Cohen, the Fox News host insisted their discussions had been limited to the subject of buying property.

“I’ve said many times on my radio show: I hate the stock market, I prefer real estate. Michael knows real estate,” Hannity said on television, a few hours after the dramatic hearing in Manhattan, where Cohen is under criminal investigation.

Hannity’s chosen investment strategy is confirmed by thousands of pages of public records reviewed by the Guardian, which detail a real estate portfolio of remarkable scale that has not previously been reported.

The records link Hannity to a group of shell companies that spent at least $90m on more than 870 homes in seven states over the past decade. The properties range from luxurious mansions to rentals for low-income families. Hannity is the hidden owner behind some of the shell companies and his attorney did not dispute that he owns all of them.

More: https://www.theguardian.com/media/2018/apr/22/michael-cohen-sean-hannity-property-real-estate-ben-carson-hud?CMP=share_btn_tw
87 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
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NEW: Sean Hannity revealed as secret owner behind shell companies that have spent $90m buying 870+ h (Original Post) MelissaB Apr 2018 OP
A double grifter Angry Dragon Apr 2018 #1
+1 and Swamp Dweller. ffr Apr 2018 #23
He's just a fucking scumbag too. Probably works the auctions so his bids are the ones accepted. TheBlackAdder Apr 2018 #39
BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM! american_ideals Apr 2018 #2
This is huge malaise Apr 2018 #3
+1 american_ideals Apr 2018 #13
This can't be what Stormy Daniels was talking about FakeNoose Apr 2018 #18
Read Leghorn21's response below blue-wave Apr 2018 #33
They are called rental traps... pbmus Apr 2018 #38
Is This a Surprise High Card No Trump Apr 2018 #79
There's at least one neighborhood shanti Apr 2018 #84
Love it--John Brennan janx Apr 2018 #16
Not true malaise Apr 2018 #17
Well, OK-- janx Apr 2018 #22
Just googled kakistocracy, and it's the most PERFECT description of trump's regime: ecstatic Apr 2018 #30
The first person I remember using it here was TygrBright in May 2016 malaise Apr 2018 #32
Wow, the DU post was pretty much ecstatic Apr 2018 #35
Yes indeed malaise Apr 2018 #36
Why are these people not in prison, Malaise? WHY? ProudLib72 Apr 2018 #40
They will be malaise Apr 2018 #44
Kakistocracy is Government by the Very Worst People OMGWTF Apr 2018 #77
Woah Clarity2 Apr 2018 #4
Maybe some Russian money? Doodley Apr 2018 #26
Yes maybe he has a few Russian oligarchs as partners FakeNoose Apr 2018 #47
It would make sense that he played down his use of Michael Cohen. Doodley Apr 2018 #49
Exactly DeminPennswoods Apr 2018 #57
"Oh yeah I might have given Cohen $10 for some legal real estate advice" unblock Apr 2018 #5
+10000000 bronxiteforever Apr 2018 #9
You motherfucking pig. Leghorn21 Apr 2018 #6
Thats insulting. 47of74 Apr 2018 #19
Spot On!!!!! K&R blue-wave Apr 2018 #31
not to mention mnmoderatedem Apr 2018 #43
don't you know NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #78
Oh, it gets better... Exotica Apr 2018 #60
He is an evil rat bastard. What a lowlife. bronxiteforever Apr 2018 #7
r'd poboy2 Apr 2018 #8
K&R Scurrilous Apr 2018 #10
Peddling hatred to hide immoral greed thbobby Apr 2018 #11
Exactly. Peddling hatred to hide greed is the Republican way american_ideals Apr 2018 #15
The Guardian is a well respected source. janx Apr 2018 #12
I'm terrible at math, but if he rented 850 houses at $1K a month ??? procon Apr 2018 #14
It is far more than 850 units, multiple properties are apartment buildings Exotica Apr 2018 #61
Kick dalton99a Apr 2018 #20
Michael Avenatti stated that Hannity's involvement with Cohen would turn out to be more complicated wishstar Apr 2018 #21
Can you say "money laundering"? DeminPennswoods Apr 2018 #27
I hope Mueller is on the case! Doodley Apr 2018 #50
Heh, heh, heh! smirkymonkey Apr 2018 #51
ALL HAIL AVENATTI!! No Avenatti, no Cohen catastrophe. No Cohen catastrophe, no furious Leghorn21 Apr 2018 #52
I think this qualifies Hannity for the role of Hud Secretary if Trump fires Ben Carson. Doodley Apr 2018 #24
he is a shark, like the rest of them. Kurt V. Apr 2018 #25
Was Ben Carson involved? safeinOhio Apr 2018 #28
That's the big question. If that happened, you could get 3 ships with one torpedo ! OnDoutside Apr 2018 #71
republican grifter-propagandist Achilleaze Apr 2018 #29
I hope that there is enough to take the acumbag down. CentralMass Apr 2018 #34
$90 mil in property purchases from an estimated net worth of $70 mil Generic Brad Apr 2018 #37
Remember that GREAT quote by Michael Avenatti: calimary Apr 2018 #45
Great saying! "Those who have nothing to hide - hide nothing.' nt SWBTATTReg Apr 2018 #74
Indeed. One of the best, and so simple. Eight words. calimary Apr 2018 #87
How could he only have a net worth of $70m, if he's on $30m a year ? He signed a 100m deal in OnDoutside Apr 2018 #58
Net worth.com takes a best guess Generic Brad Apr 2018 #64
Spending it on property n/t blugbox Apr 2018 #76
If they were sold as HUD homes, they're supposed to be They_Live Apr 2018 #41
I thought so, too. How does this richy-rich qualify for government help? Why should he benefit from lindysalsagal Apr 2018 #46
The real money to be made is in over-priced rentals They_Live Apr 2018 #53
Wrong side of the transaction MosheFeingold Apr 2018 #81
WOW! That's a bombshell ! kentuck Apr 2018 #42
He's not a journalist, his lawyer isn't really his lawyer and I am sure these weren't real Doodley Apr 2018 #48
And his president is not a legitimate president. Elwood P Dowd Apr 2018 #55
Kimmel will be fun to watch Freethinker65 Apr 2018 #54
Food/tweets for thought...cause we just never know... Leghorn21 Apr 2018 #56
If Seanie has 870 properties, OnDoutside Apr 2018 #59
Carson could be HUGE Exotica Apr 2018 #62
Excellent ! OnDoutside Apr 2018 #68
My friend does this. He owns two in the Poconos and flipped 6 over the past 10 years. 3Hotdogs Apr 2018 #65
So it should be relatively easy for an investigative journalist to follow the trail ? OnDoutside Apr 2018 #67
Maybe that's how the Guardian compiled the research. 3Hotdogs Apr 2018 #69
Good point. Might be more to come from them so. OnDoutside Apr 2018 #70
I've bought HUD houses before and starphlo Apr 2018 #86
around here a number of the local gop pols have real estate holdings dembotoz Apr 2018 #63
typical republican grifter Achilleaze Apr 2018 #66
Is Hannity still claiming that "no third parties were involved" in his Cohen dealings? Orsino Apr 2018 #72
Scumbag. Nitram Apr 2018 #73
Last I saw, Trump had over 500 shell companies all over the world. kentuck Apr 2018 #75
While it may be sleazy NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #80
no suprise that he is a slumlord, con artist and liar. niyad Apr 2018 #82
Someone please 'splain to me: is this illegal? Beartracks Apr 2018 #83
He Was Buying $103,000 Houses? ProfessorGAC Apr 2018 #85

ffr

(22,644 posts)
23. +1 and Swamp Dweller.
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:58 PM
Apr 2018


Millions of fools eat his bullshit every week, then go to the polls to make him richer.

american_ideals

(613 posts)
2. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:04 PM
Apr 2018

Please please please can we also learn Ailes, Shine, Limbaugh, Levin, and Hewitt were in on the same deal?

Even if not, I’ll take it with just one propagandist. Hannity has hurt the country and deserves a big big fall.

american_ideals

(613 posts)
13. +1
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:21 PM
Apr 2018

This may not even be anything illegal. But it looks bad. Which is bad for Hannity. And good for America.

And I’d be shocked if the Hannity-Cohen connection contains nothing illegal.

FakeNoose

(32,328 posts)
18. This can't be what Stormy Daniels was talking about
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:37 PM
Apr 2018

She said there was something hugely embarrassing for Hannity that was about to come out.
This real estate thing is just telling us how he spends his money. Not embarrassing.
And as you say, it's probably nothing illegal either.

blue-wave

(4,313 posts)
33. Read Leghorn21's response below
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:45 PM
Apr 2018

It only begins to describe this guy. FYI Sociopaths don't get embarrassed​. They only destroy.

pbmus

(12,418 posts)
38. They are called rental traps...
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:08 PM
Apr 2018

After the 2008 crash when shell companies bought properties , rented them at twice, three times mortgage, never to be sold...

These companies include Ah4R, and many others...

shanti

(21,670 posts)
84. There's at least one neighborhood
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:45 PM
Apr 2018

in Roseville, CA where all of the homes are owned by one company and rented out. These are NEW homes. I never knew that it was a thing until recently.

malaise

(267,784 posts)
17. Not true
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:31 PM
Apr 2018

Many of us at DU have been using it long before him - from the early days of these goons.

janx

(24,128 posts)
22. Well, OK--
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:52 PM
Apr 2018

and plenty of people recognize KAKA, but I still credit Brennan with introducing it to many people who had not heard the term before.

ecstatic

(32,566 posts)
30. Just googled kakistocracy, and it's the most PERFECT description of trump's regime:
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:30 PM
Apr 2018
A kakistocracy is a system of government which is run by the worst, least qualified, or most unscrupulous citizens.


I wonder if Ben Carson gave Hannity some sweetheart deals (at trump's request, no doubt)?

malaise

(267,784 posts)
32. The first person I remember using it here was TygrBright in May 2016
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:44 PM
Apr 2018
https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=7818839

and then others started using it more in 2017. Krugman used it in a February 2018 NYT February article
and since then Brennan and others are using it.

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/opinion/gop-character-bad-faith.html


Why do you think they put Ben Carson there - you think he even knows what they are doing around him - he's a fugging corrupt figurehead buying expensive tables. Trinkets are fine for him - the bigger boys understand the meaning of looting for profit.

add

ProudLib72

(17,984 posts)
40. Why are these people not in prison, Malaise? WHY?
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:11 PM
Apr 2018

Ben Carson can sleep the rest of his life away in a nice cell, and Hannity can tell himself all sorts of conspiracy theories while he rots. But why are they free? I do not understand it. It's just so obvious!

OMGWTF

(3,891 posts)
77. Kakistocracy is Government by the Very Worst People
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 11:40 AM
Apr 2018

This abomination of an adminstration will be studied as the textbook example of what NOT to do to run the country properly.

Clarity2

(1,009 posts)
4. Woah
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:08 PM
Apr 2018

Why would anyone buy real estate through shell companies unless you’re trying to hide something.

I smell a washing machine. Thoughts and prayers Hannity.

FakeNoose

(32,328 posts)
47. Yes maybe he has a few Russian oligarchs as partners
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:45 PM
Apr 2018

I have no idea if this is true, but it would be a reason for Hannity to hide his involvement if that were the case.

The oligarchs have been laundering their money in US real estate ever since the communist regime fell in early 1990's. Trump (and maybe Hannity) have been helping them buy real estate off the books. If Hannity is helping Russians launder their money - and participating in their activities - he's probably also hiding profits from Uncle Sam.

It's not against the law to own real estate, a lot of very wealthy people are doing that. However Stormy Daniels hinted that Hannity is involved in something really shady that's he doesn't want the rest of us to know about.

It would be a good reason to start BOYCOTTING HANNITY right about now!


DeminPennswoods

(15,246 posts)
57. Exactly
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:22 AM
Apr 2018

Josh Marshall over at TPM has been digging info on and writing about Cohen for over a year now. The latest is from a book by Seth Hennetta on Trump/Russia where Hennetta writes about Cohen's father-in-law being a big player in the Russian mob and the conduit for a lot of Russian money into NYC/US real estate. The obvious conclusion is at least some of that cash is money being laundered. IMHO, if Hannity's real estate deals were on the up and up, he wouldn't be discussing them - a lot or a little - with Michael Cohen. I'm sure there are plenty of qualified, honest real estate lawyers in NYC he could have used instead.

unblock

(51,973 posts)
5. "Oh yeah I might have given Cohen $10 for some legal real estate advice"
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:09 PM
Apr 2018

Yeah that's totally believable in the context of a $90 million and 870 houses

Leghorn21

(13,520 posts)
6. You motherfucking pig.
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:10 PM
Apr 2018
Dozens of the properties were bought at a discount in 2013, after banks foreclosed on their previous owners for defaulting on mortgages. Before and after then, Hannity sharply criticised Barack Obama for the US foreclosure rate. In January 2016, Hannity said there were “millions more Americans suffering under this president” partly because of foreclosures.

blue-wave

(4,313 posts)
31. Spot On!!!!! K&R
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 08:40 PM
Apr 2018

The guy is scum. America was suffering and he was laughing all the way to the bank. He's lower than the pond scum downhill from a pig pen.

mnmoderatedem

(3,706 posts)
43. not to mention
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:19 PM
Apr 2018

the housing crisis had nothing to do with Obama.

not that facts ever matter to Hannity....

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
78. don't you know
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 12:26 PM
Apr 2018

Obama had a time machine and went back in time and caused the housing crisis. Didn't some other Republican blame Obama for 9/11 as well a few years back? Same thing.

 

Exotica

(1,461 posts)
60. Oh, it gets better...
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:49 AM
Apr 2018

From the Guardian article...

Carson does, however, have the authority to allow Hannity from 2019 to convert the rental complexes into condominiums for sale, which could be lucrative for the television host.



He could end up making tens of millions just from turning his rentals to condos, all with Carson's help

thbobby

(1,474 posts)
11. Peddling hatred to hide immoral greed
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:19 PM
Apr 2018

Hannity. Well, GOP in a nutshell. Greedy bastards promoting hatred. Pretend Christians enabling slaughter of American Youth. Traitors colluding with Russia to enrich themselves. And a large part of Americans so blinded by racial hatred that they can't see or don't care they are being robbed and slaughtered.

trump, making America great again. Actually, just exposing what the GOP has been for decades.

american_ideals

(613 posts)
15. Exactly. Peddling hatred to hide greed is the Republican way
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:22 PM
Apr 2018

That’s the whole mission of their party. Good phrase

procon

(15,805 posts)
14. I'm terrible at math, but if he rented 850 houses at $1K a month ???
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 07:21 PM
Apr 2018

Kinda makes his claim that he only talked Michael Cohen for "minor real estate advice" sound suspicious.

 

Exotica

(1,461 posts)
61. It is far more than 850 units, multiple properties are apartment buildings
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:56 AM
Apr 2018

If he is renting every house and unit he could be looking at a gross revenue stream in the multiple millions a month, no clue what the net is.

Leghorn21

(13,520 posts)
52. ALL HAIL AVENATTI!! No Avenatti, no Cohen catastrophe. No Cohen catastrophe, no furious
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 10:12 PM
Apr 2018

tweets from Spanky45 about what a great businessman Cohen is and how lovely his family is, and also Comey Mueller Pardons Witches Leakers and so forth, endlessly.

Anyway, all hail Avenatti, and here’s what he said on Real Time, star:

Stormy Daniels’s lawyer Michael Avenatti told HBO's “Real Time” host Bill Maher that Fox News host Sean Hannity will be embarrassed by what is found in the documents of President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

“Here’s what I think: I think that when the documents actually come out, and there are documents — there’s no question in my mind, there are documents with Sean Hannity’s name on them — the extent of that relationship, I think, will be very embarrassing to Sean Hannity,” Avenatti told Maher on Friday.


Generic Brad

(14,270 posts)
37. $90 mil in property purchases from an estimated net worth of $70 mil
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:03 PM
Apr 2018

Sounds like a little tax evasion may be ripe for discovery. If this was on the up and up he would not have hidden behind multiple shell companies.

OnDoutside

(19,905 posts)
58. How could he only have a net worth of $70m, if he's on $30m a year ? He signed a 100m deal in
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:36 AM
Apr 2018

2008 alone.

They_Live

(3,222 posts)
41. If they were sold as HUD homes, they're supposed to be
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:17 PM
Apr 2018

your primary residence, right? At least, for a certain amount of time (2 years?). Unless the rules changed since I bought mine in 1992 (?). That is you're not supposed to be able to buy hundreds of HUD homes at once. Foreclosures, yes. HUD, no.

lindysalsagal

(20,433 posts)
46. I thought so, too. How does this richy-rich qualify for government help? Why should he benefit from
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:34 PM
Apr 2018

a government program that protects his investments?

Now, someone will have to find proof Hannity broke that law, (many times over) and someone helped him break it. I think that someone is Cohen. Maybe Cohen gets the russian filthy money and the U.S. HUD employee who looks the other way, and gets a kick-back from the Russian.

It's all too perfect: Hannity never takes any risk, spends other people's money, and then takes the profits, and a russian mobster cleans the money, maybe even buying and re-selling to his friends.

I hope there are reporters crawling all over this.

They_Live

(3,222 posts)
53. The real money to be made is in over-priced rentals
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 10:12 PM
Apr 2018

in a property bought for a fraction of what it is worth. Cash flow...

MosheFeingold

(3,051 posts)
81. Wrong side of the transaction
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 01:14 PM
Apr 2018

He worked on the developer side; renovating homes that qualified for buyers like you.

It's not illegal or even bad. It's a needed business and puts people in good homes.

The issue is he took advantage of a system he claims is bad.

Hypocrisy, thy name is Sean.

kentuck

(110,947 posts)
42. WOW! That's a bombshell !
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:18 PM
Apr 2018

"I may have talked to him a little about real estate....I may have given him $10 to hide all my money in shell companies so I could evade paying taxes and then I could buy all these properties under an assumed name or company and I could be just like my hero, Donald Trump..."

Uh-huh...

Doodley

(8,976 posts)
48. He's not a journalist, his lawyer isn't really his lawyer and I am sure these weren't real
Sun Apr 22, 2018, 09:52 PM
Apr 2018

real estate deals.

Leghorn21

(13,520 posts)
56. Food/tweets for thought...cause we just never know...
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 12:41 AM
Apr 2018
Weren’t you @stevenmnuchin1 involved with 90,000 foreclosed homes during the housing crisis?

Imagine that #SeanHannity #Hannity



Hi @JamesFourM @ninaandtito @ericgarland @lauferlaw @DrDenaGrayson @LincolnsBible @aliasvaughn

Imagine that huh?



?s=20

Indeed he was. Foreclosing on grandmas and vets over fractions of cents.
Brings the next question: If El Caribe Cohen was mobbing-up Hannity, who was mobbing-up Mnuchin?



?s=20

OnDoutside

(19,905 posts)
59. If Seanie has 870 properties,
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 06:39 AM
Apr 2018

Who gave him the inside track on purchasing these properties ?

How much under value did he buy them for ?

What has he done with them since ?

Did he sell any to, or rent them through, HUD ?

What influence did Ben Carson have in these ?

3Hotdogs

(12,197 posts)
65. My friend does this. He owns two in the Poconos and flipped 6 over the past 10 years.
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 07:31 AM
Apr 2018

They are listed in local papers. It is no secret when they are at auction.

starphlo

(25 posts)
86. I've bought HUD houses before and
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 07:17 PM
Apr 2018

it isn't a secret but there could be tricks going on, like getting an inside scoop before they are listed, being awarded ownership at lower prices or when others outbid you, etc. He has done something dirty.

dembotoz

(16,734 posts)
63. around here a number of the local gop pols have real estate holdings
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 07:23 AM
Apr 2018

be careful who your landlord is

Orsino

(37,428 posts)
72. Is Hannity still claiming that "no third parties were involved" in his Cohen dealings?
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 08:00 AM
Apr 2018

Because that sounds impossible.

kentuck

(110,947 posts)
75. Last I saw, Trump had over 500 shell companies all over the world.
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 09:48 AM
Apr 2018

If only they had demanded his tax returns.... we may have saved ourselves this tragic disaster?

NewJeffCT

(56,827 posts)
80. While it may be sleazy
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 01:10 PM
Apr 2018

what did he do that was illegal? HUD and foreclosure properties come up for sale all the time - he sets up a shell company to limit his liability in case the property continues to lose value. Not something the average Joe can do, but it's not exactly illegal.

ProfessorGAC

(64,413 posts)
85. He Was Buying $103,000 Houses?
Mon Apr 23, 2018, 07:17 PM
Apr 2018

Sounds like someone planning on gentrifying and flipping.
That's not investing, it's scamming!
Color me shocked!

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