Trump Campaign Has Spent Nearly $228,000 On Cohen’s Legal Fees

President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign-style rally at Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, W.Va., Thursday, Aug. 3, 2017. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) — In this Aug. 3, 2017, photo, President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign-style rally at Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, W.Va. After six months of infighting, investigations and legislative failure... In this Aug. 3, 2017, photo, President Donald Trump arrives to speak at a campaign-style rally at Big Sandy Superstore Arena in Huntington, W.Va. After six months of infighting, investigations and legislative failures, President Donald Trump is trying to combat new signs of weakness in his Republican base and re-energize his staunchest supporters. White House officials have been urging the president to refocus on immigration and other issues that resonate with the conservatives, evangelicals and working-class whites who propelled him to the Oval Office. The president has ramped up his media-bashing via Tweet, long a successful tactic for Trump, and asked his base to rally to his defense.(AP Photo/Susan Walsh) MORE LESS

May 1, 2018 7:24 a.m.

Start your day with TPM.

The Trump campaign has spent almost $228,000 to pay some of Michael Cohen’s legal fees, according to a Monday ABC report.

According to FEC records, there are reportedly three payments for “legal consulting” listed to McDermott Will and Emery, where Cohen’s attorney, Stephen Ryan, is a partner. As Cohen says he never had a formal role in the Trump campaign, these payments may be campaign finance violations.

Per ABC, it is unclear exactly what legal work the payments funded, as Ryan has represented Cohen in both Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing Trump-Russia probe and the hush money case with Stormy Daniels.

Start your day with TPM.

Kate Riga (@Kate_Riga24) is a D.C. reporter for TPM and cohost of the Josh Marshall Podcast.

Have a tip? Send it Here!

Comments Continue Discussion

Notable Replies

jmacaz says:

May 1, 2018
So which way is it?
1. Trump Turns on Michael “Misha 10 Units” Cohen
2. Trump Campaign Has Spent Nearly $228,000 On Cohen’s Legal Fees
Enquiring minds want to know
jeffreys says:

May 1, 2018

Trump is endlessly fundraising.

I signed up to some right wing list to see what they were up to during 2016. Now I get an daily email from Trump begging for money. “Send a dollar, make a recurring payment, etc.” It’s often keyed to the news cycle, “Trump did this to MAGA…send money” Every day, sometimes several times a day Trump is fundraising.

That’s why one of his first acts after getting sworn in was to start his 2020 campaign. Endless fundraising.
sickneffintired says:

May 1, 2018

jeffreys:

That’s why one of his first acts after getting sworn in was to start his 2020 campaign. Endless fundraising.

Grifters gotta hold tent revivals
Gifters gotta grift
That’s why the evangelicals love him
They recognize the business model
busdrivermike says:

May 1, 2018

I’d like to point out that we are now moving out of the residual effects of the Obama economy, while feeling the full force of the Trump economy.

Hang on to your butts.
dr_coyote says:

May 1, 2018

Ummm…I’m thinking that’s illegal?