SAYS CONSULTATIONS DID NOT INVOLVE “THIRD PARTY”
by Sharon Rondeau
(Apr. 16, 2018) — A tweet-storm on Monday afternoon catapulted Fox News Channel host Sean Hannity to the first-place position on Twitter over the news emanating from a New York federal court that he has been a “client” of Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen.
Cohen’s offices, home and hotel room were raided one week ago by the FBI, purportedly seeking records which would show whether or not Cohen violated any laws in connection with his law practice or business enterprises.
A judge on Monday reportedly ordered Cohen’s attorney to release the name of a mystery third client in court, according to CNN. Cohen’s attorneys attempted to demur but were ordered to reveal it, at which point one of them said the name, “Sean Hannity.”
On Friday, Cohen’s attorneys had filed an emergency motion asking that the records be barred from release to federal officials tasked with reviewing them to determine whether or not they are germane to the investigation.
Just before 4:00 p.m. EDT on Monday, what appeared to be a pre-recorded statement by Hannity was played on his radio show, which can be heard here: https://www.iheart.com/live/the-sean-hannity-show-247-6706/
Hannity’s radio show airs from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, and his FNC show broadcasts at 9:00 p.m. ET weeknights.
The recorded statement from Hannity said that he had never received a bill nor formally consulted with Cohen, but rather, had occasionally consulted with Cohen regarding legal questions on an informal basis.
Many on Twitter criticized Hannity for showing indignation about last week’s raid on air while failing to reveal that he had been a “client” of Cohen’s, while some speculated that Hannity’s relationship with Cohen involved an extramarital affair.
Hannity’s statement included the claim that his consultations with Cohen did not include “a third party,” as was the case with former RNC fundraiser Eliott Broidy, who reportedly contracted with Cohen to pay a woman with whom he had had an affair $1.6 million.
Trump decried the raid last week on Twitter, claiming that attorney-client privilege was destroyed by the raid.
Following a break for news and advertisements, Hannity returned to the radio at 4:09 p.m. with guest Alan Dershowitz, who discussed the Trump-Russia “dossier,” the FBI, and its former director, James Comey, whose much-anticipated interview with ABC News’s George Stephanopoulos aired last night at 10:00 p.m. EDT.
Dershowitz said that Comey’s “speculation” that parts of the dossier, used to obtain a FISA warrant to spy on former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page, were “possibly” true was inappropriate for a former director of the Federal Bureau of Investigaton.
At approximately 4:00 p.m., Hannity repeated the “third-party” claim on Twitter:
