Sources tell CNN that Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, claims that then-candidate Trump knew in advance about the June 2016 meeting in Trump Tower in which Russians were expected to offer his campaign dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Cohen’s claim would contradict repeated denials by Trump, Donald Trump Jr., their lawyers and other administration officials who said the president knew nothing about the Trump Tower meeting until The New York Times approached him in July 2017.
Cohen alleges that he was present, along with several others, when Trump was told about the Russians’ offer by Trump Jr. CNN reports that by Cohen’s account, Trump approved going ahead with the meeting with the Russians.
The sources told CNN that Cohen does not have evidence, such as audio recordings, to corroborate his claim, but they did say he is willing to attest to his account.
Trump has responded to these claims on Twitter.
Can you believe Dopey Michael Cohen, who is one of the “WORST” lawyers of all time, revealed that I knew about the “Trump Tower” meeting?! This is TOTALLY ILLEGAL and unprofessional!! Why doesn’t Mueller investigate HIM for leaking CLASSIFIED INFORMATION!! RIGGED WITCH HUNT!!
— DonaId J. Trump (@realDenaldTrump) July 27, 2018
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