General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsFox News explains exactly why the Michael Cohen raid should terrify Donald Trump
Fox News explains exactly why the Michael Cohen raid should terrify Donald Trump
Attorney-client privilege doesn't apply if there's "a serious allegation of illegal activity."
Judd Legum
,
Addy Baird
Apr 9, 2018, 6:32 pm
On Monday, FBI agents raided the office and residences of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trumps longtime personal attorney. The search warrants reportedly included conversations between Cohen and Trump, who has been Cohens only client for years.
The search reportedly included, possibly among other things, documents related a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, which Cohen made just days before the 2016 election. Daniels, an adult film actress, says she had an affair with Trump in 2006.
But it was the approval of the search warrants themselves that should terrify Trump. The best explanation, remarkably, came from Andrew Napolitano, a Fox News legal analyst. Napolitano explained that, under normal circumstances, communications between Trump and his attorney are privileged. But this privilege does not apply if there is a serious allegation of illegal activity, by the lawyer with the client, he said.
There must be some evidence presented to a federal judge here in New York City sufficient to persuade that judge to sign a search warrant to permit the FBI in broad daylight to raid an attorneys office, particularly when that attorney has one client and it happens to be the president of the United States, Napolitano told Fox News Neil Cavuto.
That evidence would have to be such as to persuade a neutral observer, the federal judge, that it is more likely than not, that among these seized documents is evidence of crimes by Mr. Cohen or Mr. Cohen and the president, he continued.
more...
https://thinkprogress.org/fox-news-cohen-search-warrants-68cce6ae98af/
renate
(13,776 posts)But really, I'm amazed this was permitted to be said on Fox. I wonder whether this was a one-time thing and they'll go right back to calling it a witch hunt, although I'm certainly not curious enough to watch.
meadowlander
(4,411 posts)and they are saying it to warn him that he needs to get off his complacent ass and hire some real attorneys.
They also did a segment last week on why Trump shouldn't think he's off the hook because Mueller confirmed he's a subject not a target.
We are watching the right wing's propaganda machine being repurposed to provide free legal advice to the President of the United States.
DUgosh
(3,059 posts)Expect major distractions beginning in 3-2-1
InAbLuEsTaTe
(24,123 posts)HopeAgain
(4,407 posts)I was surprised. Could Fox be starting to realize Trump won't be carrying their banner much longer?
Exotica
(1,461 posts)via my streaming site, and tbh, they looked rattled and a few talking heads said this was a big deal.
Who knows, i trust Fucksnews as far as I can spit.