According to the New York Times, Federal authorities investigating Michael Cohen have focused in on over $20 million in loans obtained by taxi businesses that he and his family own. Investigators are interested in finding out whether Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer committed bank and tax fraud as he built his shadowy business empire.
1. Feds looking into $20 million in bank fraud by Cohen
2. Still looking into campaign finance violations
3. Whether Cohen failed to report income from taxi medallions to IRS
4. They may file charges as soon as late August @maggieNYT @WRashbaum scoophttps://t.co/0AkdrCS3WP— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) August 19, 2018
Criminal charges against Mr. Cohen would inflict a significant blow to the president since Cohen worked the Trump Organization for more than a decade. He was also one of Donald Trump’s most loyal and visible aides, although Trump tried to distance himself from Cohen after raids on his office in April.
MSNBC reports that Trump said, “Michael is in business, he is really a businessman, a fairly big business, as I understand it. I don’t know his business, but [the investigation] doesn’t have to do with me.”
Cohen handles only “a tiny, tiny little fraction” of Trump’s “overall legal work” but “represents me on some things … like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal.”
Cohen (and his business partners) controversies, according to Axios:
Cohen’s taxi partnerships faced a number of legal issues, and both Freidman and Garber were forced to “pay more than $1 million for overcharging their drivers.”
They’ve also been accused of “forging signatures, stiffing lawyers and dodging debt collection efforts.”
Since the rise of ride-sharing services, Cohen’s businesses have fallen behind on their taxes, owing more than $375,000.
And even still, with a federal investigation ongoing, Cohen has continued to engage in “financial maneuvering,” the Times reports, borrowing and lending millions.
The current inquiry has entered the final stage and prosecutors are considering filing charges by the end of August.
Cleaning up the country, one rich entitled fat-ass-kisser at a time. Could be faster process, sure, but it still works for me…
You can follow me on Twitter @Mayme Barth
