Michael Cohen, the lawyer for President Donald Trump, has received word from federal prosecutors that they are “preparing paperwork” that would lead to his arrest. (RELATED: Federal Investigators Tapped Phones of Trump’s Personal Lawyer – REPORT).
This, according to MSNBC reporter Katy Tur and alleged close confidantes of Cohen.
A Vanity Fair report indicates that the president’s former associate “expects to be arrested any day now,” while Tur is also reporting that he could be taken into custody “imminently.”
.@KatyTurNBC reports that her sources confirm @gabrielsherman‘s report that Michael Cohen expects to be arrested imminently (this wk).
According to Tur, a source close to Cohen says “his lawyers got a call from lawyers @ SDNY saying they were preparing paperwork” to arrest him. pic.twitter.com/Q4KUVqI7D0
— Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) June 13, 2018
The announcement that he is facing arrest comes as reports have circulated that Cohen dropped his legal team and is considering cooperating with officials.
“Michael Cohen is parting ways with his legal team just days before a critical deadline, in a move that could signal a new legal strategy or even a decision to cooperate with prosecutors,” the Daily Mail reported.
His legal shuffle comes just prior to a critical deadline for going through documents in an FBI raid of his home, office, and his hotel room in April.
BREAKING: Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen likely to cooperate with federal prosecutors in New York as his attorneys leave case, sources tell @ABC News. https://t.co/AHPYOLGt1Q pic.twitter.com/R0DjCZf2Tn
— ABC News (@ABC) June 13, 2018
“Cohen, who is under federal investigation now with no legal representation, is likely to cooperate with federal prosecutors in Manhattan, sources said,” according to an ABC report. “This development, which is believed to be imminent, will likely hit the White House, family members, staffers and counsels hard.”
Cohen is under criminal investigation for potential bank and wire fraud, as well as tax issues. He claimed to have used a home loan to wire a $130,000 ‘hush’ payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has alleged to have had an affair with the President.
Daily Wire editor-in-chief Ben Shapiro isn’t buying the speculation that Cohen would flip on the President, or that he even has anything worthy of flipping for.
“Here’s the problem with this report,” Shapiro explained, “we have no idea what Cohen knows or doesn’t know about the president. And just because Cohen has dirt on Trump doesn’t mean that dirt is criminal.”
Only time will tell.