Photo: Alamy
President Donald Trump shared new evidence that could have a major impact on the Manhattan District Attorney’s “witch hunt” court case regarding former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen’s payment to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election.
“Wow, look what was just found—A Letter from Cohen’s Lawyer to the Federal Election Commission,” Trump said in a statement on Truth Social.
“This is totally exculpatory, and must end the Manhattan District Attorney’s Witch Hunt, immediately. Cohen admits that he did it himself,” he added. “The D.A. should get on with prosecuting violent criminals, so people can walk down the sidewalks of New York without being murdered!”
Over the past week, news outlets have reported that Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg is close to indicting the 45th president for his alleged role in Cohen’s $130,000 “hush-money payment” to Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election to keep Daniels silent regarding an alleged “sexual encounter” with Trump in 2006.
In a letter from Stephen M. Ryan, Counsel for Michael Cohen, to the Federal Election Commission Office of Complaints Examination and Legal Administration, Ryan wrote, “In a private transaction in 2016, before the U.S. presidential election, Mr. Cohen used his own personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Ms. Stephanie Clifford. Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed Mr. Cohen for the payment directly or indirectly.”
Trump and other Republican leaders have repeatedly pushed back against Bragg’s investigation, citing “election interference,” as the DA appears to be weaponizing the justice system to prevent Trump from becoming president again in 2024. Despite Bragg’s investigation, Trump has maintained, “there was no crime, period.”
“Contrary to the allegations in the complaint, which are entirely speculative, neither Mr. Cohen nor Essential Consultants LLC made any in-kind contributions to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., or any other presidential campaign committee,” Ryan wrote in his 2018 letter to the FEC.
“Mr Cohen has not been a government employee during any of the relevant time period. The payment in question does not constitute a campaign contribution or expenditure, therefore, the FEC lacks jurisdiction over this matter. The complaints have not and cannot present any evidence to the contrary. Accordingly, the complaint should be dismissed,” he continued.
On Wednesday, Fox News also reported that Bragg’s office canceled the grand jury meeting that was originally scheduled to take place, citing “major dissension.”
The new evidence presented by the 45th president could play a major role in determining whether or not Bragg will move to indict Trump.