Cohen Resigns From RNC Finance Committee Over Criminal Probe

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Michael Cohen leaves Federal Court after his hearing on the FBI raid of his hotel room and office on April 16, 2018 in New York City. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Michael Cohen, longtime personal lawyer and confidante for President Donald Trump, leaves Federal Court after his hearing at the United States District Court Southern District of New York Apr... NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 16: Michael Cohen, longtime personal lawyer and confidante for President Donald Trump, leaves Federal Court after his hearing at the United States District Court Southern District of New York April 16, 2018 in New York City. Cohen and lawyers representing President Trump are asking the court to block Justice Department officials from reading documents and materials related to his Cohen's relationship with President Trump that they believe should be protected by attorney-client privilege. Officials with the FBI, armed with a search warrant, raided Cohen's office and two private residences last week. (Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images) MORE LESS
Start your day with TPM.
Sign up for the Morning Memo newsletter

Michael Cohen, the longtime lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump, resigned from his position on the Republican National Committee’s finance arm, ABC News reported Wednesday.

According to sources close to the RNC and a copy of the letter obtained by ABC, Cohen said special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe and the investigation into his financial dealings were preventing him from doing the work he needed to do as deputy finance chair of the finance committee.

“This important role requires the full time attention and dedication of each member. Given the ongoing Mueller and SDNY investigations, that simply is impossible for me to do,” he reportedly wrote in the letter addressed to RNC chair Ronna McDaniel.

In the letter, Cohen also attempted to detach himself from Trump for the first time, reportedly calling the separation of families at the U.S. border “heart wrenching.”‘

“As the son of a Polish holocaust survivor, the images and sounds of this family separation policy is heart wrenching,” Cohen wrote, according to ABC.  “While I strongly support measures that will secure our porous borders, children should never be used as bargaining chips.”

Just this week, Cohen hired a new lawyer to represent him in the Southern District of New York’s criminal probe into Cohen’s potential finance crimes. The FBI raided Cohen’s home, hotel and office in April, obtaining financial and business documents, including records related to a $130,000 payment he made to porn actress Stormy Daniels just before the 2016 election.

Cohen has not yet been charged of any crimes, but is reportedly concerned that he will be arrested soon.

Latest Livewire

Notable Replies

  1. Cohen told the RNC in a separate communication he will be unable to fundraise for them from prison.

  2. Ronna Romney McDaniel works fast.

    Remind me not to order a pizza from the RNC.

  3. “As the son of a Polish holocaust survivor, the images and sounds of this family separation policy is heart wrenching,” Cohen wrote, according to ABC. “While I strongly support measures that will secure our porous borders, children should never be used as bargaining chips.”

    That’s a start, now tell us what else you know from working with the Mr. Trump.

  4. Unless they are willing to accept contributions in the form of cigarettes.

  5. He’s flipping? Sez who! Sez who!

Continue the discussion at forums.talkingpointsmemo.com

57 more replies

Participants

Avatar for daled Avatar for austin_dave Avatar for damiana Avatar for squirreltown Avatar for rollinnolan Avatar for becca656 Avatar for bluinmaine Avatar for sniffit Avatar for chuckberryisgod Avatar for alyoshakaramazov1 Avatar for shystr Avatar for ottnott Avatar for geofu54 Avatar for gharlane Avatar for thunderclapnewman Avatar for established_1781 Avatar for gusfabriani Avatar for rickjones Avatar for dannydorko Avatar for erik_t Avatar for demosthenes59 Avatar for quickq Avatar for rascal_crone Avatar for dogmaalsocatma

Continue Discussion
Masthead Masthead
Founder & Editor-in-Chief:
Executive Editor:
Managing Editor:
Deputy Editor:
Editor at Large:
General Counsel:
Publisher:
Head of Product:
Director of Technology:
Associate Publisher:
Front End Developer:
Senior Designer: