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Comedian Tom Arnold is linked to a bizarre relationship between Michael Cohen and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. that led to an endorsement of Donald Trump in 2016.
Cohen, who was Donald Trump's former "fixer," and who is currently behind bars for lying to Congress and federal campaign violations, recalled a conversation with the conservative Christian leader seeking consult for racy photographs.
The conversation was covertly recorded by Arnold on March 25 and was obtained by the Wall Street Journal.
According to Reuters, Falwell, who is the president of the ultra-Christian Liberty University, hired Cohen in 2015 to help keep "a bunch of photographs, personal photographs" from being exposed to the public months before endorsing Trump in the 2016 presidential election.
Cohen was Trump's personal lawyer at the time and also worked for the Trump organization.
The nature of Falwell's photographs were described to be kept "between husband and wife."
New report from @Reuters: Before evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. endorsed candidate #Trump during the election… https://t.co/leS12WUw4w— Robert Holguin (@Robert Holguin) 1557266698.0
Cohen told Arnold, "I actually have one of the photos," and described the image as "terrible" without going into specifics.
‘I actually have one of the photos. It’s terrible’: Michael Cohen says he helped the Falwells keep racy 'personal'… https://t.co/dcCW07KFWu— Reuters (@Reuters) 1557266452.0
As crazy as the Jerry Falwell scoop from @AramRoston is, this is by far the most bizarre part… https://t.co/29qpQLkr7t— Ben Jacobs (@Ben Jacobs) 1557265316.0
@Bencjacobs @AramRoston He might not be the hero we want...but he's probably the hero we deserve.— MericanDaddy (@MericanDaddy) 1557273024.0
@Bencjacobs @AramRoston Boy, Tom Arnold gets around, he has more tapes than Universal Studios!!— Mistry (@Mistry) 1557272318.0
Reuters mentioned how a source "familiar with Cohen's thinking" described the corrupt attorney's handling of the scandal.
"The source said Cohen flew to Florida and soon met with an attorney for the person with the photographs. Cohen spoke with the attorney, telling the lawyer that his client was committing a crime, and that law enforcement authorities would be called if the demands didn't stop, the source said."
It was dealt swiftly, and the public's eyes were spared.
"The matter was soon resolved, the source said, and the lawyer told Cohen that all of the photographs were destroyed."
@eorden Ah HA, so he’s an “Evangenital”, I knew it!! #JerryFalwelljr— LIBERTY23 (@LIBERTY23) 1557273441.0
@eorden I kind of figured those pics would be between husband and wife and pool-boy-who-also-runs-a-hostel.— Maric Potter (@Maric Potter) 1557272867.0
Of course he kept one. Michael Cohen is a person we NEED to deal with Trump's lifelong criminality, and the odiousn… https://t.co/YbcId0ccxs— Guy Gavriel Kay (@Guy Gavriel Kay) 1557268826.0
Two sources told Reuters that Cohen convinced Falwell to endorse then-candidate Donald Trump before the Iowa caucuses, and the sources added that the endorsement was an isolated request apart from the racy photographs.
Falwell's endorsement of Trump in 2016 was instrumental in gaining favor from evangelicals during the campaign.
Christians formerly concerned about Trump's unholy behavior from the past forgave him as a repentant sinner.
Cohen was a link between Trump and Falwell https://t.co/TYyH87B14q— Maggie Haberman (@Maggie Haberman) 1557268166.0
@mckaycoppins @AramRoston Ruh-roh. But are we surprised about someone who enables Trump with such fervor ?— Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin (@Jennifer 'pro-voting' Rubin) 1557265859.0
If the "personal" photos are somewhere out there, we have but one request.
@maggieNYT @notbern PLEASE DON'T PUBLISH THE PHOTOS!!— la langue de bois (@la langue de bois) 1557269444.0
Our sanity depends on it.