Cohen's banking records Not missing -- Treasury Dept has buried them

[Me.]

“A new report from BuzzFeed News’ Jason Leopold claims that the Treasury Department has restricted law enforcement’s ability to access Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) filed on longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen.

Three sources tell Leopold that Treasury Department officials have taken what they describe as a “highly unusual” step of restricting access to two Cohen-related SARs, which means that even “certain law enforcement agencies” will not have access to them. What’s more, they say that such restrictions could have only come from the top of the Treasury Department.

A whistleblower who works at an unspecified law enforcement agency this week told the New Yorker’s Ronan Farrow that they leaked out information about a Cohen-related SAR because they were highly disturbed that they could not access two other SARs that they claimed contained even more explosive information than the one report that was leaked out.

The source speculated that the records had been deleted, although it now appears from Leopold’s report that the records have simply been restricted rather than removed outright.”

https://www.rawstory.com/2018/05/michael-cohens-banking-records-arent-missing-trumps-treasury-dept-buried-report/

[OnDoutside]

1. What a way to blow a career. Noble as he was.

[PJMcK]

2. Do you think the whistleblower will be found?

Maybe they were careful and won't be found. I hope so. Bravery and nobility are qualities missing in far too many Americans today.

By the way, I noticed that Mr. Farrow's report was very careful to not disclose the gender of the whistleblower.

[Me.]

5. Nice Catch On The Gender Thing

[Shanti Mama]

3. Can you say Mnuchin?

[Me.]

4. Bingo

[Danascot]

11. Oh Goodie!

An obstruction of justice charge for Mnushbag!

[Orsino]

6. Still waiting for Leopold's Rove indictment.

I'm glad that he's claiming three sources for this story, but am not going to get excited just yet.

[NewJeffCT]

15. good point

until other sources (like, you know, Ronan Farrow) start saying similar, I won't get too excited.

[triron]

7. Hope Nichole talks about this today.

[Me.]

8. Me Too

[House of Roberts]

12. Nichole Sandler?

I have her chat open atm.

[triron]

18. Sorry no; Nicole Wallace.

[House of Roberts]

22. I don't watch MSNBC except after Brian Williams.

I catch Rachel's replay and a bit of Lawrence and I go to sleep somewhere in there.

I always listen to Thom Hartmann followed by Nicole Sandler on her website (she is played on delay on Progressive Voices on Tune In).

[Pobeka]

9. Does this now become obstruction of justice by the sec of treasury?

Given an ongoing investigation of criminal activity by Cohen, seems implausible the sec of treasury can withhold this info, I would guess Mueller can get court orders easily to have the records turned over, if he doesn't already have those orders.

[Me.]

10. THat's My Thinking

[RVN VET71]

13. It almost certainly is obstruction

It almost certainly will not result in a charge. The "richies" have taken control and the remaining 99% of us do not have a say in what they do. Mueller is doing a fantastic job, but whether he has enough authority to get records that Mnuchin is hiding remains to be seen. Whether he is permitted to complete the investigation he was brought it to do also remains to be seen.

[B2G]

16. Meuller probably already has the records.

In fact, he probably ordered they be protected.

[duforsure]

14. His future looking bad

If he was instructed to make these files go away, and Mueller will surely know that answer. They really put themselves in worse trouble for obstruction.

[B2G]

17. Huge assumption.

Meuller was investigating Cohen's finances last year. It's far more likely Meuller himself had them protected.

[SoCalDem]

19. a suggestion..

next time they are removing/sequestering records, how about putting a notice of restriction in their place. so when people search, they don't freak out & think that Munchkin & friends have destroyed them????

seems simpler and safer too..

[Me.]

20. Good Suggestion

But I think they didn't do anything like that because they thought they could get away with hiding the records and no one would notice.

[B2G]

21. Better suggestion.

How about people take their concerns to someone within Treasury instead of leaking what records they can find to the media and lawyers, thus avoiding criminal prosecution and tipping off those that are being investigated?