Why would Michael Cohen say that he didn't tape the meeting with Trump and his son?

[louis c]

Michael Cohen says that Donald Trump, Donnie Jr. and a couple of others met to discuss the upcoming, infamous June 9 meeting with the Russians. In that meeting, Donnie Jr., according to Cohen, asked his father what he thought. Cohen contends that Trump Sr. thought it was a good idea, and to proceed.

Now, in the same report that leaked the fact that Cohen was ready to testify to that to the Mueller team, the report says that there is no tape of the meeting.

Why would you disclose that? Wouldn't it be better if the other participants didn't know whether or not they were recorded? Under those circumstances they wouldn't know how to testify. Tell the truth and hang one another or lie, and a recording would result in perjury.

Then, I thought, maybe there is a tape and Cohen (or the prosecutors) want the participants to think there isn't a recording, in which case they will perjure themselves.

This is getting very, very interesting.

[asiliveandbreathe]

1. We just don't know who leaked the information - thus be wary - there is no

tape..depends on who put this out!!!

[htuttle]

3. Exactly

Lanny Davis denied that they leaked the information.

They did not deny the truth of the information, however, which may lead one to believe that Cohen has already flipped, or is in negotiations to do so.

[Achilleaze]

2. That would be the double-dip, sneaky-whip, taping trip worthy of....

...KGOP republicans who have been tragically infected with notoriously duplitious republican family values.

[ksoze]

4. To trap all the others

They feel confident lying thinking it is he said, he said. Once they are under oath, bam the tape locks in perjury.

[asiliveandbreathe]

7. I like your thinking....BAM! Let's go Cohen!!!!

This whole saga can come screeching to a halt, NOW,,afa as I am concerned....

[Blue_true]

22. Couldn't they argue entrapment? nt

[PJMcK]

26. How would Robert Mueller be guilty of that?

Neither he nor his prosecutors said where was no tape of the meeting. Cohen's attorney says that they didn't leak that information.

Let's try a thought experiment. Which party in this mess always leaks? Why, of course! It's Trump himself!

I think Trump is muddying the waters, as usual.

[Blue_true]

28. You're likely right. Would not put anything past those scumbags. nt

[redstateblues]

5. I thought that Trump's team had access to all the evidence the Feds got in the

raid of Cohen’s home and office in order to determine what was covered under attorney/client privilege.

[louis c]

9. No. I think the master got it all...

...and only the ones that were attorney-client privileged were given back to the Cohen/Trump team.

The master then gave the rest back to the prosecution team.

The Cohen/Trump team won't see the rest until discovery. That won't happen until after someone is charged.

[oberliner]

21. No, the Trump organization has seen all of it

Trump Organization Must End Cohen Document Review by July 5

The Trump Organization has until July 5 to complete its review of the last of the 4 million files seized by the FBI from Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former lawyer and personal fixer.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-06-26/trump-organization-has-until-july-5-for-cohen-document-review

[bettyellen]

6. Trump or someone else w allegiance to Russia leaked this- probably falsifying details

In order to confuse people and help their agenda.

[triron]

8. Seriously doubt that.

[bettyellen]

12. It's hard to know who to believe. And that is by design.

But there is nothing in it for Cohen, and Russia benefits more than anyone by piling in the lies and confusion.

[Grasswire2]

11. CNN had a responsibility to verify the story. They didn't.

Now it's nearly impossible to correct in the public discourse.

I'm kinda pissed about that. Irresponsible. Or someone at CNN is a stooge.

[bettyellen]

17. Is t that assuming it came from Cohen? I think others must be in a position to know.

[brush]

20. What are you pissed about? Every sentient being knows trump knew about that meeting...

along with Mueller who also knows who the blocked humber belongs to which Jr. called before and after the meeting.

Take a guess who got those calls.

I'm glad the info is out there. It may no be "ballgame" but the closer is getting ready to come in from the bullpin with a list of all the others in the meeting.

[Grasswire2]

24. Pissed at CNN for falling for a Giuliani ratf*cking in order to have a scoop.

It's impossible to put the horse back in the barn. The narrative is wrong. Cohen DIDN'T make that claim last night. Giuliani made that up as a sort of nutball strategy.

[uponit7771]

16. +1

[brush]

18. Not sure what you mean? "Falsifying detail" meaning Cohen didn't hear Jr. tell...

tump with witnesses present about the upcoming TT meeting, or that he said he didn't tape the meeting where trump was told?

Cohen probably was more discreet in his taping than to do it in front of several witnesses he didn't want in on it.

[bettyellen]

25. Well, if it's coming from a trump or Russia ally, I'd expect a mix of the truth and a lie...

It’s often what they do to confuse and exhaust people. So my feeling is, while the main part maybe true, some details like “no tapes” could easily be a lie. If tapes show up, it gives them a basis to discredit them as fake.
Cohen maybe willing to tell the truth about this now, but I don’t trust anyone else who knows what he knows. yNWIM?

[Grasswire2]

10. CNN really blew that story last night.

Lanny Davis denied it was released by Cohen or his team.

And yet it's everywhere today that "Cohen claims...."

CNN ran with that story without verifying it??? That's scary.

[JenniferJuniper]

13. In fact, John Dean on CNN

said, "MSNBC is reporting tonight that the Trump camp released it", and he was more or less told to shut up by the host. (Cuomo, I think?)

Interesting.

[lagomorph777]

14. Oh snap!

[brush]

19. Nobody said the trump people were the sharpest knives in the drawer.

By releasing it, they admitted to collusion.

"Take that, Cuomo. That'll teach you."

[Grasswire2]

23. WOW

The problem may be Cuomo's ego, then.

[uponit7771]

15. Damn !!! This does not help

[CincyDem]

27. The epitome of an upside down world...I'm actually rooting for Cohen these days ??? n/t

[42bambi]

29. Donald Trump, Donnie Jr. and a couple

of others met to discuss -- could be the meeting Cohen was referring to.

[beachbum bob]

30. No indication that meeting was in cohens office