And it looks like Stormy Daniels’ lawyer was right – Michael Cohen will plead his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination in the Stormy Daniels’ lawsuit.
JUST IN: Trump lawyer Michael Cohen will assert Fifth Amendment right in all proceedings of Stormy Daniels case - filing pic.twitter.com/Sz4XRclgq4
— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) April 25, 2018
This was in response to the judge in the matter telling him he needed to get back to the court by midnight tonight:
A federal judge has ordered Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to submit a declaration on whether he plans to assert his 5th Am. rights in @StormyDaniels' lawsuit. pic.twitter.com/brL5lmajyg
— Brad Heath (@bradheath) April 25, 2018
Thirteen days ago, Cohen’s lawyer said he was not intending to plead the fifth:
But attorney Brent Blakely, who’s representing Cohen in Daniels’ lawsuit, told The Daily Beast: “The statements by Mr. Avenatti are not accurate and continue to be reckless—no decision has been made for Mr. Cohen to assert his Fifth Amendment rights. No questions have even been posed. The civil case filed by Stephanie Clifford involves issues that overlap with a pending criminal investigation. It is common for a civil case to be stayed under these circumstances, and that is what we will be requesting of the U.S. district court tomorrow. We remain confident in the merits of the case and believe that once the stay is lifted, Ms. Clifford’s frivolous defamation claim against Mr. Cohen will be dismissed, and the rest of the case will be compelled to arbitration.”
Daniels’ lawyer posted it this morning:
It will be very interesting to attempt to square the declaration Michael Cohen is required to file today in court regarding his Fifth Amendment rights with his position in this article. #bastahttps://t.co/e1GOQlNGX5 via @thedailybeast.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) April 25, 2018
But don’t worry – if he gets in trouble, Trump sounds like he’s eager to pardon people who stay loyal to him…