If there was ever a question about where the relationship between President Donald Trump and his former lawyer Micheal Cohen stands, Trump made it clear on Saturday morning, less than 24 hours after it was revealed that Cohen secretly recorded phone conversations with then-client Trump.
Calling it “inconceivable” that a lawyer would record a client without their knowledge, Trump suggested the act was “perhaps illegal,” but clarified that he “did nothing wrong!” in an early morning tweet.
Inconceivable that the government would break into a lawyer’s office (early in the morning) – almost unheard of. Even more inconceivable that a lawyer would tape a client – totally unheard of & perhaps illegal. The good news is that your favorite President did nothing wrong!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) July 21, 2018
New York is a “one-party” consent state, meaning recordings can legally be made without anyone else’s knowledge.
CNN reported on Friday that Cohen — well known for quietly recording conversations — taped several discussions he had with Trump, including a phone call about a payment that was made to a former Playboy model who has said she had a longterm sexual relationship with Trump.
Trump reportedly did not know about the recordings, which are now in the FBI’s possession, and was hurt when he heard of their existence.
“I can’t believe Michael would do this to me.”
The recordings were seized in April when the FBI raided Cohen’s house, hotel and office. Cohen hasn’t been charged with any wrongdoing, but is under criminal investigation for a slew of potential crimes related to his financial and business dealings, including possible violations of campaign finance laws over the payments he made to the former Playboy model and porn actress Stormy Daniels.
It would seem that Trump has a problem with his words being recorded accurately …
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/white-house-stenographer-trump-lies_us_5b4f3d2de4b0de86f4888ff5
“From President Reagan through President Obama, the White House really utilized stenographers to make sure there was a record of everything the president said to the press,” she said, adding that Obama would often tell the press to “check the transcript” to understand the context of his comments.
But Dorey-Stein said that strategy was scrapped when Trump took office.
“President Trump, we quickly learned, does not like microphones near his face, which is difficult because as a stenographer, we often had to do that,” she said. “His White House and his press office often didn’t include us in meetings with the press … Even if there is a stenographer present, he doesn’t often say, ‘Check the transcript,’ because the transcript will reveal the truth.”
Speaking (per Butina) of “flight risks”
As ye sow, so shall ye reap.