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DonViejo

(60,536 posts) Tue Apr 24, 2018, 08:03 AM Apr 2018

Flipping Cohen against Trump may not be so easy [View all]

Secrecy issues make turning a lawyer against a client a legal minefield, experts say

By JOSH GERSTEIN 04/24/2018 05:00 AM EDT

Getting Michael Cohen to rat out President Donald Trump may not be as simple as it sounds.

Although Trump’s detractors are rooting for Trump's personal attorney to “flip” on the president and cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller to escape a potentially harsh prison sentence, legal obstacles make it difficult for lawyers to expose their clients’ guarded secrets.

Even if Cohen is determined to break his confidences with Trump, legal ethics might deter federal prosecutors from coaxing him to betray his professional confidences with Trump, legal veterans and experts say.

"This idea of 'flipping' Cohen—they can't just flip a lawyer to testify against a client," longtime defense attorney Harvey Silverglate said. “Even if Cohen doesn't know better, one would think the FBI and the prosecutors would know better."

more
https://www.politico.com/story/2018/04/24/cohen-trump-attorney-legal-minefield-546336

21 replies

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Flipping Cohen against Trump may not be so easy [View all] DonViejo Apr 2018 OP

Threatening Cohen with 100 years in the slammer should do wonders. InAbLuEsTaTe Apr 2018 #1

Except if he was not acting as a lawyer or was committing legal acts. hlthe2b Apr 2018 #2

I don't think it counts if they commit felonies together. eom docgee Apr 2018 #3

That would make sense, Mr. Silverglate, except that Cohen is not his "lawyer" Goodheart Apr 2018 #4

The ratting out may need only to consist of "Is this or is it not your handwriting?" Orsino Apr 2018 #5

I'd be surprised if he flipped NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #6

Then he would still HAVE to testify leftynyc Apr 2018 #9

he still takes the 5th NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #10

LOL leftynyc Apr 2018 #15

It may come to the Supreme Court NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #16

Or just have Eric Schneiderman leftynyc Apr 2018 #17

Schreiderman has only just started that process NewJeffCT Apr 2018 #18

That's not correct leftynyc Apr 2018 #19

This is a poorly written article PJMcK Apr 2018 #7

You are right on the mark with Wellstone ruled Apr 2018 #12

Thanks PJMcK Apr 2018 #14

Sounds like Mr.Cohen will be Wellstone ruled Apr 2018 #21

I don't think his trip to Prague edhopper Apr 2018 #8

It would probably depend on the charges? kentuck Apr 2018 #11

Let's hope genxlib Apr 2018 #13

Being vulnerable to both Federal and State charges makes it hard to flip Cohen FarCenter Apr 2018 #20