Donald Trump’s now notorious “fixer” is in a world of trouble these days. In separate but equal investigations, Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the prosecutors of the U.S. Southern District Court of New York have years of files, audio recordings, digital communications and who knows what else that might sink both Michael Cohen and his client Donald Trump.
All of this is thanks to Stormy Daniels and her intrepid attorney Michael Avenatti. The pair have relentlessly pursued a release from the non-disclosure agreement she signed with Michael Cohen and Donald Trump (who never did sign the actual document). Daniels claims she was coerced and intimidated into signing.
One of the more curious elements arising from their legal pursuit was the news that other women also signed nondisclosure agreements about their extramarital affairs with Donald Trump. At least one other was represented by the same attorney, Keith Davidson. It has never been fully explained how Keith Davidson coincidentally came to represent these women in their dealings with Michael Cohen and Donald Trump.
Now Stormy Daniels is pursuing a new lawsuit claiming Davidson “colluded” with Michael Cohen. From NBC News:
The filing in Los Angeles Superior Court on Wednesday alleges that Trump attorney Michael Cohen "hatched a plan" and "colluded" with Beverly Hills lawyer Keith Davidson to get the adult film actress to go on Fox News a few months ago and falsely deny she had an affair with Trump more than a decade ago. Cohen even referred to Davidson as "pal" in one text cited in the complaint.
The lawsuit against Davidson and Cohen also claims that Trump was aware the two attorneys were communicating and coordinating for his benefit — unbeknownst to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford.
The suit further accuses Davidson of breaking client confidentiality and tipping off Cohen that Clifford was about to switch to a new lawyer and announce in court papers that she'd had sex with Trump and signed a $130,000 agreement to keep quiet about it just before the 2016 election
In fact, Talking Points Memo has a copy of the lawsuit and within that document are text messages alleged to be between Michael Cohen and Keith Davidson.
According to text messages between Davidson and Cohen published in the suit, Cohen told Davidson on the same day that In Touch Magazine published an old interview with Daniels that “I have her tentatively scheduled for Hannity tonight,” referring to a potential interview between Hannity and Daniels.
Cohen eventually told Davidson that “[t]he wise men all believe the story is dying and don’t think it’s smart for her to do any interviews.”
“100%” Davidson replies.
“Thanks pal,” Cohen says, adding in another text: “Just no interviews or statement unless through you.”
“Got it,” Davidson says.
Who are these “wise men” Cohen referred to? Does one of them rhyme with Ronald Pump? Does one rhyme with Don Scammity? Was Keith Davidson colluding with Michael Cohen from the start? In this case and possibly others? Stay tuned.
Former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti breaks down what this lawsuit likely means and his belief that Donald Trump could be called as a witness.
As Avenatti has said before, everyone associated with Michael Cohen should be worried. Buckle up, this isn’t going away anytime soon.
via GIPHY