Another Porno Star

[ClydeR]

Although the signs themselves are real and not the product of digital manipulation, they are not authentic promotional material for Cohen. The fake ads are the product of a prankster’s wry take on Cohen’s widespread reputation as a loyal and discreet attorney for Donald Trump — and who has also represented Fox News host Sean Hannity, while his own business dealings are the subject of an ongoing federal investigation.

The web site and phone number listed on the advertising posters are both functional. Calls to “The Fixer” are greeted with a voicemail message that states: “Got problems? You’ve reached Michael Cohen, The Fixer. Press one if you need a hush payment made. Press two if you need someone threatened with physical violence. Press three if you are the President of the United States. Otherwise, stay on the line and please leave a message.”

More...

Not true, says Snopes.

[time4fun]

Looks like our good friend Cohen IS, in fact, going to plead the 5th in the Stormy Daniels civil suit:

President Trump's personal lawyer says he'll use his Fifth Amendment rights in the lawsuit filed by adult film star Stephanie Clifford against him and Mr. Trump, citing the FBI's ongoing criminal investigation into him. A person testifying can invoke the Fifth Amendment to protect against self-incrimination.

Cohen, in a court declaration made to a California federal court Wednesday, cited the ongoing federal criminal investigation into him and FBI raids of his home, office and hotel room as the reason for his decision to plead the fifth. Cohen claimed that FBI officials "seized various electronic devices and documents in my possession, which contain information relating to the $130,000 payment to plaintiff Stephanie Clifford at the center of this case, and my communications with counsel, Brent Blakely, relating to this action." Cohen said he made the decision at the advice of his counsel.

This was almost certainly the right thing to do, but unfortunately for Cohen it's potentially risky to plead the 5th in civil cases.

[Androidpk]

Trump in September 2016: "The mob takes the Fifth. If you’re innocent, why are you taking the Fifth Amendment?"

Even funnier considering Cohen's mob ties.

[Candor]

This was almost certainly the right thing to do, but unfortunately for Cohen it's potentially risky to plead the 5th in civil cases.

This isn't unexpected - I would have been rather surprised if Cohen had not done so.

Should make for an interesting case. Someone should televise it, but I expect that's illegal one way or another. Too bad.

[time4fun]

This isn't unexpected - I would have been rather surprised if Cohen had not done so.

Should make for an interesting case. Someone should televise it, but I expect that's illegal one way or another. Too bad.

Yeah, it's standard in a situation like this. But, like I said earlier, in a civil suit it carries risks that aren't there in a criminal one.

[time4fun]

Giuliani just went on Fox News and stated that Trump DID reimburse Cohen for the Stormy Daniels payment.

It seems that this might have been done intentionally to try to make this not a campaign finance issue- which would mean that the Government might not be able to subpoena Trump campaign records.

But Cohen still gave the money, which is illegal. And in this instance, Giuliani basically just told the world that Trump knew about the campaign finance violation.

But this is way out of my comfort zone with campaign finance law.

[time4fun]

Okay, it looks like the FEC has documentation on this:

Personal gifts and loans

If any person, including a relative or friend of the candidate, gives or loans the candidate money “for the purpose of influencing any election for federal office,” the funds are not considered personal funds of the candidate even if they are given to the candidate directly. Instead, the gift or loan is considered a contribution from the donor to the campaign, subject to the per-election limit and reportable by the campaign. This is true even if the candidate uses the funds for personal living expenses while campaigning.

also

When candidates use their personal funds for campaign purposes, they are making contributions to their campaigns. Unlike other contributions, these candidate contributions are not subject to any limits. They must, however, be reported.

Having said that, the FEC has its own guidelines about which violations they go after and which they don't. I wonder if a situation like this would fall outside of what they normally commit resources to?

It's all very confounding.

[ClydeR]

Giuliani just went on Fox News and stated that Trump DID reimburse Cohen for the Stormy Daniels payment.

After the interview, Giuliani said that Trump was "very pleased" with the interview. If that is true, then Trump will continue to put Giuliani on teevee. If not, he'll start sending somebody else.

[time4fun]

After the interview, Giuliani said that Trump was "very pleased" with the interview. If that is true, then Trump will continue to put Giuliani on teevee. If not, he'll start sending somebody else.

Oh it's very true. I wrote about this in the Russia thread. There are good reasons why he went on TV and said that

[Parkbandit]

But this is way out of my comfort zone with campaign finance law.

Oh stop. Don't ever think that.

Just explain to us that you were once a campaign finance lawyer on a campaign for someone in California.. and you can just pretend you are the authority.