The president says Michael Cohen represented him in Stormy Daniels case & @MichaelAvenatti reacts pic.twitter.com/AOi82PGwEe
— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) April 26, 2018
In an early morning call in to one of his favorite programs, President Donald Trump told the hosts of Fox & Friends that lawyer Michael Cohen represented him in his deal with Stephanie Clifford, who worked under the stage name Stormy Daniels.
Michael (Cohen) would represent me and represent me on some things, he represents me like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal he represented me and ya know from what I see he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this."
The hosts of MSNBC's Morning Joe then played the Fox & Friends video for Clifford's lawyer, Michael Avenatti.
In a discussion about the president's habit of making candid statements against his own interest, Avenatti stated this morning's admission, that there was a deal with Clifford and Trump's personal attorney Cohen represented him in the matter, is very damaging for Trump's defense against his client.
"Another gift from the heavens in this case," Aventti remarked. "They keep coming. I don't know how I've fallen into such good luck in this case, but I'm gonna take it."
I mean, that's a very damaging... it's a hugely damaging admission by the president because according to what he said on Air Force One a few weeks ago, he didn't know anything about the agreement, he didn't know anything about the payment, Michael Cohen went off and did this on a lark and Mr. Trump knew nothing about it."
"We now find out," continued Avenatti speaking to the Morning Joe hosts, "that that's bogus."
That was a lie on Air Force One because he's now just admitted, and he tripped himself up, he's just admitted that fact Michael Cohen represented him in connection with the Stormy Daniels situation."
In a response to another panelist's question about the admissibility of the president's comments, Avenatti responded, "It's called a party admission."
"So when you're a party to a lawsuit it doesn't matter if you're under oath or not, when you make a statement whether it be to your family member or a neighbor or someone you meet on the street whether it's recorded or not, it's called a party admission."
The thing is, usually it's difficult to prove those party admissions because you don't videotape or audiotape but in this case we have video and audiotape of the president making these damaging admissions which makes them even more powerful."
Avenatti later went on to Twitter, where the president conducts much of his communication with the public, and thanked Fox & Friends for having the president as a call in guest.
"Thank you (Fox & Friends) for having Mr. Trump on this morning to discuss Michael Cohen and out case," Avenatti posted.
He added it was "Very informative."
Thank you @foxandfriends for having Mr. Trump on this morning to discuss Michael Cohen and our case. Very informative.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) April 26, 2018
Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen previously represented to the American people that Mr. Cohen acted on his own and Mr. Trump knew nothing about the agreement with my client, the $130k payment, etc. As I predicted, that has now been shown to be completely false. #basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) April 26, 2018
Avenatti was not the only one with something to say about the president's reversal of prior claims that Cohen was not acting on his behalf while dealing with Stephanie Clifford.
Cause the best way to strengthen your case for attorney/client privilege is to go on national TV and say that Michael Cohen is really more of a businessman than a lawyer and only did a modicum of legal work for you.
— 🇺🇸 PithyPacky 🇳🇱 (@pithypacky) April 26, 2018
And he represents you in the Stormy Daniels thing... pic.twitter.com/LxMA2026N1
— Sam, your Uncle (@Sam16734423) April 26, 2018
Which you professed to be completely unaware of for god knows how long.
— 🇺🇸 PithyPacky 🇳🇱 (@pithypacky) April 26, 2018
The sad part is that most Fox & Friends viewers won't even get your sarcasm here.
— Ed Krassenstein 💎 (@EdKrassen) April 26, 2018
pic.twitter.com/vLBQh1xYIT
— TruthIsLikeTheSun (@LostInAmerica77) April 26, 2018
Trump just keeps on digging that hole! pic.twitter.com/7TTd5oDdrv
— Science-based Sally (@SallyHawker12) April 26, 2018
Seriously. I do not recall him ever publicly admitting that Cohen repped him in the deal with Stormy until this am.
— Tina Tee (@TinaPB17) April 26, 2018
This admission came after he noted it was Melania's birthday and he hadn't gotten her a present. https://t.co/yQ5A5LaC57
— Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) April 26, 2018
Second best.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) April 26, 2018