The Trump & Rudy Show

It must be really uncomfortable to be Michael Cohen right now. That discomfort has to be increasing in intensity each and every day. I wonder what he is thinking about when he sees his wife and children. Do they talk about the day's news? Do they understand just how much trouble he is in? Does he?

If his wife watches the news, she probably thinks that his options are to either silently accept incarceration, to protect Donald Trump, or to cooperate with the federal investigators, with hopes of avoiding a lengthy prison sentence. She may even be saying this to him late at night, when his constant pacing about keeps her from sleeping. He cannot explain to her that there are factors he is unable to share with her. For she is, by definition, a “mafia wife,” unaware of the full nature of the trap Michael finally realizes he is in.

Let's take a look at some of the dynamics that are just beneath the surface of what is being reported in the media. And, to be sure, most of the journalists and experts they speak to are aware of these issues. But, at this point, they are only able to toss out a few hints. For example, Cohen likes to identify with a fictional tough guy from television. Or, more importantly, he has told some associates that he is connected with the Russian mafia. For years, he believed he was grooming a reputation that allowed him to intimidate others.

It wasn't as if Cohen could intimidate others with his intellect. He's clearly not in a league with Michael Avenatti, for example. In fact, he wasn't smart enough to recognize that the Russian mobsters were actually grooming him, to exploit as one of several pathways to influence Donald Trump. (Paul Manafort is an example of another pathway.)

They played Cohen in a classic manner: they moved him into debt to them. Real mobsters are good at doing this to businessmen, lawyers, politicians, and even judges. More, in doing so, they are able to compromise some individuals in law enforcement. For a couple of historic examples of this, consider the book (and movie) “Serpico,” or how Whitey Bulger played FBI agent John Connolly.

Some law enforcement officials further compromise themselves by transitioning into post-retirement positions where they work for either mobsters, or others they have compromised. While they, like Cohen, imagine themselves as cinematic players, they tend to be more like Dr. Simone Bar Sinister's sidekick, Cad Lackey, in the “Underdog” cartoons. I imagine that at this point, readers are thinking of Keith Schiller. Or the nest of vipers in New York, connected to the Trump & Rudy show. (Consider the implications, from the summer of 2016 to Rudy's recent unhinged Fox appearances, and the implications per why these people are desparate to protect Trump.)

For Michael Cohen to cooperate with the investigators from the Southern District to the level they demand, he would not only have to turn on Donald Trump ….he would have to testify honestly about his connections with the Russian mob. Thus, he is not simply being pressured from two different sides – the FBI and Trump. He is under triangulated pressures.

Sucks to be him.

Have a good day, and a better weekend!
H2) Man