Cohen claims Trump knew in advance of 2016 Trump Tower meeting

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: CNN

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, claims that then-candidate Trump knew in advance about the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton, sources with knowledge tell CNN. Cohen is willing to make that assertion to special counsel Robert Mueller, the sources said.

Cohen's claim would contradict repeated denials by Trump, Donald Trump Jr., their lawyers and other administration officials who have said that the President knew nothing about the Trump Tower meeting until he was approached about it by The New York Times in July 2017.

Cohen alleges that he was present, along with several others, when Trump was informed of the Russians' offer by Trump Jr. By Cohen's account, Trump approved going ahead with the meeting with the Russians, according to sources.

To be clear, these sources said Cohen does not have evidence, such as audio recordings, to corroborate his claim, but he is willing to attest to his account.

Cohen privately testified last year to two Congressional committees investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election. A source familiar with Cohen's House testimony said he did not testify that Trump had advance knowledge. Cohen's claims weren't mentioned in separate reports issued by Republicans and Democrats on the House Intelligence Committee.

Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/07/26/politics/michael-cohen-donald-trump-june-2016-meeting-knowledge/index.html

[mobeau69]

1. Damn, that means he still hasn't flipped.

he's just begging Mueller to make him an offer.

[Grasswire2]

3. former prosecutors on MSNBC have been saying..

....that he'd better flip now, or he will lose the opportunity to do so.

[mobeau69]

5. He needs a deal from Mueller before he can flip.

These kind of statements from Cohen are something Mueller doesn't like or need.

[bettyellen]

17. His lawyer said Trumps side is leaking this- not them. I've heard speculation

That they’re trying to spoil the deal for Cohen.

[Grasswire2]

31. Lanny Davis denies that the statements are from Cohen.

Trump team apparently engaging in ratf*ckery to devalue Cohen and harm his chance of getting a deal with Mueller.

[mobeau69]

33. What a shit show.

We have a clown running our country. No knowledge, no skills and no abilities. I'm thinking Sarah Palin or Oily Tatz would be an improvement at this point.

[Glamrock]

2. Tomorrow night on FOX

"Okay, so Trump knew. But it wasn't illegal."

Next week? "Who hasn't bent the rules I mean, cmon."

[bitterross]

9. Yep. You got it. /nt

[babylonsister]

11. Exactly. nt

[SummerSnow]

4. Damn, no audiotape. That would have been wonderful

[mobeau69]

6. Did he say he didn't have a recording?

Hope springs eternal!

[Midnight Writer]

7. Trump jr.'s phone records may help here. He made a couple of "mystery calls" around this time.

[highplainsdem]

8. This story got a baby cannon BOOM from Benjamin Wittes:

Link to tweet

[Julian Englis]

10. Anyone want to bet that Mueller already has solid proof of this? I'd give 5-1 that Mueller does. nt

[htuttle]

12. I agree

[C_U_L8R]

13. Seems like everyone in that room

has perjured themselves. Strike up the band for the March of the Frogs.

[Miles Archer]

23. Literally cannot wait for the Don Jr. indictment

[SunSeeker]

25. What a putrid bag of meat that guy is.

[Totally Tunsie]

28. Hey, Kimberly loves him! LOL

[riversedge]

14. msnbc says Cohen ready to flip!! Maddow reporting on this right now.

[sarcasmo]

16. Dolt 45 will be rage Tweeting soon.

[riversedge]

15. Rudy G: JUST NOW: "He has lied all his life." (speaking of Cohen)

John Berman
?Verified account @JohnBerman

JUST NOW: “He has lied all his life.”

Rudy Giuliani on Michael Cohen now saying @realDonaldTrump knew of Trump Tower meeting beforehand.

It’s on.
8:19 PM - 26 Jul 2018

Link to tweet

Jason @JaR45
7m7 minutes ago
Replying to @JohnBerman @realDonaldTrump

So Rudy is saying Cohen lied in all the years he was Trump’s lawyer...🤔
0 replies 2 retweets 6 likes

[Major Nikon]

19. Trump always has the best people

[riversedge]

21. Rudy likes the limelight too much to be of help to Trump IMHO

[Harker]

22. He's a real delight.

I couldn't be happier that he's so vocal a member of Team Trumpsky.

[Doodley]

18. It is almost inconceivable that Trump didn't know, as he claims. Jr was having a

meeting to get dirt on Hilary Clinton and didn't mention it to Trump? That doesn't wash. Cohen is more credible than all the Trumps who said it was about adopting babies.

[jcgoldie]

20. So someone explain to me why Trump turned his back on Cohen

That guy seems to have a lot of his dirty laundry and he seemed "ready to take a bullet for him". Why would you leave him dangling out there?

[Harker]

24. Pretty early on

he went from "personal lawyer" to "fixer" and "consiglieri."

Still, Trumpsky had to know that freezing him out could be catastrophic. I hope we get the answer to that question soon.

[turbinetree]

26. I think it is time to stop all judges being confirmed in the senate, remove any judges

that have been put on the bench since this traitor has been in office.

David Corn on Lawrence O'Donnell nailed it, this is collusion, end of story, and the other(s) and the opinion writer guest from the Washington Post, which escapes me right now, in her name said that everything that this person (I will be nice) is doing is basically illegitimate.................and he is not a legitimate president..............

And both guest congressmen laid this right at the feet of Paul "ayn rand" Ryan and the turtle in their comments..............

[AKing]

27. George Papadopoulos will probably cooborate this,then it's the beginning of the end.

[Totally Tunsie]

29. Grab your popcorn, Folks.

The show is about to begin.

[flibbitygiblets]

30. This is a special occasion. I'm going for the chocolate covered pretzels!

[Gothmog]

32. From Prof. Tribe

Link to tweet