Saturday, May 26, 2018

BBC: Cohen Got Hefty Secret Payment To Arrange Trump-Ukraine Meeting

Talking Points Memo

Sources in Ukraine told the BBC that Michael Cohen received a hefty secret payment to set up talks between the Ukrainian president and President Trump last year. Cohen denies it.

According to the BBC’s Wednesday report, intermediaries for Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko arranged the payment to Cohen for his help in establishing a back channel to Trump. One source told the BBC Cohen received $400,000; another put the total at $600,00.

The BBC report cited “sources in Kiev close to those involved,” including a “high-ranking Ukrainian intelligence officer.”

The Ukrainians were ultimately dissatisfied with the brief sit-down between the two leaders held at the White House last June, saying Cohen had accepted “hundreds of thousands” of dollars but failed to deliver a substantial meeting, according to the BBC.

Cohen denied to the BBC that he received the payment. The story notes that there is “no suggestion” Trump was aware of any payment.

The BBC’s report has not yet been confirmed by other outlets.

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