The Department of Justice is investigating the leak of Michael Cohen’s bank information, which revealed that he was making money off of his White House access, according to a Wednesday CNN report.
The U.S. attorney’s office in the Northern District of California is reportedly leading the investigation, and criminal charges may be coming soon.
The bank records in question became public knowledge when lawyer Michael Avenatti posted them online; Avenatti has not revealed his source. He has hinted, though, that the transactions were listed on a suspicious activity report, or SAR.
Per CNN, banks give SARs to the Treasury Department to flag possible criminal activity.
Cohen was charged last year on campaign finance violations, among other things, but nothing related to Avenatti’s Twitter disclosure. He will begin a three-year prison sentence in March.
Charges against whom?? Cohen? Avenatti? Someone else??
C’mon TPM, this is just lazy writing.
The person who leaked the SAR’s will be simultaneously charged, and given a medal.
The full CNN story provides more context. The SAR’s must have been released by someone who had access to them, but was not legally entitled to release them, i.e., someone in law enforcement or Treasury. I don’t believe Avenatti would be at risk, and certainly not Cohen.
Breaking news: Something may happen to someone. And at some point!
And consequences!!