Paul Manafort, Michael Cohen & Latest From Mueller Probe

FEATURING KEVIN GOSZTOLA – President Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen appeared in court on Thursday morning and made a surprising guilty plea to a charge by the Special Counsel’s team. According to Associated Press he, “is pleading guilty to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate deal in Russia,” and, “admitted to making false statements in 2017 to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.” Earlier this year Mr. Cohen had pled guilty to charges that involved bank fraud and election interference.

The news comes a day after the New York Times reported that former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort’s lawyers had briefed the President’s attorneys during the period that Manafort was being questioned. The breach of secrecy is likely the reason why Robert Mueller’s team made a court filing on Monday saying Manafort had broken the terms of his plea agreement. There is speculation that Manafort’s lawyers spoke to Trump’s lawyers in hopes of a Presidential pardon.

Trump has been increasingly jittery about the Special Counsel investigation, posting a barrage of incoherent and desperate-sounding tweets filled with lies and misinformation, indicating his fear over what may be revealed.

Kevin Gosztola, managing editor of Shadowproof.com. He also produces and co-hosts the weekly podcast, Unauthorized Disclosure.