Michael Cohen has seven more “clients” beyond Donald Trump and Sean Hannity
In the last several days, revelations that Sean Hannity was the third client of Michael Cohen listed as someone who “directed Mr. Cohen not to reveal the identity publicly” has been the focus of the matter in the Southern District of New York. However, in the letter response from Mr. Cohen’s lawyers, they outline his legal career and employment from 1991 to present.
Included in that time frame is his service to the Trump Organization as Executive Vice President and Special Counsel to Donald J. Trump from 2007 to January 2017. This period may be relevant for activities and conduct of Cohen while employed by the organization. Lawyers representing corporations are deemed to be representing their employer and not individual owners and employees. The investigation may look at these items to determine what if any attorney-client privilege exists. Also, the deals with Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal took place in 2016, when Cohen was an employee of the Trump Organization.
From 2017 to present, Cohen maintained his own solo practice. It is during his time that he disclosed through his lawyers the three clients for whom he performed “more traditional legal tasks” and for which there might be attorney-client protections. One item lost in the focus on those three (Trump, Broidy and Hannity) is the following disclosure by his attorneys: “For seven clients the work appears to be providing strategic advice and business consulting, for which privilege would not attach.”
Michael Cohen’s lawyers offered to provide the names of these seven if a Special Master were to be appointed, although these seven are alleged to not be responsive to the Attachment A of the search warrant. One would expect these seven clients to eventually be disclosed, whether in camera or disclosed to the public. These seven may give additional insights into the type of services and work that Cohen provides. The Feds are trying to portray Cohen as a fixer and not a traditional lawyer, and one of his personal attorneys has made very similar comments on television. Determining what “strategic advice and business consulting” means may provide a more definitive answer to that question.
Daniel is a lawyer writing and teaching about SCOTUS, and is the author of the book “The Chief Justices” about the SCOTUS as seen through the center seat.