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AT&T paid Michael Cohen's Essential Consulting for 'insights' on Trump administration

Category: Politics
FILE - In this Monday, Oct. 24, 2016, file photo, the AT&T logo is positioned above one of its retail stores, in New York. AT&T Inc. reports earnings Tuesday, April 25, 2017. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)

One of America’s biggest companies confirmed Tuesday evening that it had paid a company owned by President Trump’s personal lawyer in 2017.

In a statement to CNBC and other news outlets, AT&T[1] said it paid Essential Consulting LLC[2], which was wholly owned by Michael Cohen[3], as an entry into dealing with the Trump administration[4].

“Essential Consulting[5] was one of several firms we engaged in early 2017 to provide insights into understanding the new administration[6]. They did no legal or lobbying work for us, and the contract ended in December 2017,” AT&T[7] said.

BREAKING: @ATT[8] confirms payments to Cohen LLC >>

Full Stmt: “Essential Consulting[9] was one of several firms we engaged in early 2017 to provide insights into understanding the new administration[10]. They did no legal or lobbying work for us, and the contract ended in December 2017”...

— Christina Wilkie (@christinawilkie)
May 8, 2018[11] Although AT&T[12] did not say how much it had paid Mr. Cohen[13] for his “insights” on the Trump administration[14], the lawyer for Stormy Daniels said earlier Tuesday that the amount was $200,000. Michael Avenatti released a report on Mr. Cohen[15]’s finances, saying he received that amount from AT&T[16], a half-million from a Russian oligarch now under U.S. sanction, $400,000 from drug giant Novartis, and $150,000 from Korea Aerospace. Those other two companies did not confirm the payments, but the money from Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg has reportedly been the object of questioning from special counsel Robert Mueller. Mr. Avenatti notes that those payments all came in the months after Mr. Cohen[17] paid $130,000 to his adult-film client, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. The Washington Times Comment Policy The Washington Times is switching its third-party commenting system from Disqus to Spot.IM. You will need to either create an account with Spot.im or if you wish to use your Disqus account look under the Conversation for the link "Have a Disqus Account?". Please read our Comment Policy[18] before commenting.References^ AT&T (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Essential Consulting LLC (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Michael Cohen (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Trump administration (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Essential Consulting (www.washingtontimes.com)^ new administration (www.washingtontimes.com)^ AT&T (www.washingtontimes.com)^ @ATT (twitter.com)^ Essential Consulting (www.washingtontimes.com)^ new administration (www.washingtontimes.com)^ May 8, 2018 (twitter.com)^ AT&T (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Mr. Cohen (www.washingtontimes.com)^ Trump administration (www.washingtontimes.com)^

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