As the feds’ scrutiny on Michael Cohen heated up, Cohen met with a lawyer, Robert Costello.
Cohen tells the court they discussed opening a “back channel” to then-President Trump which involved Rudy Giuliani.
The back channel would be Costello to Giuliani, and Giuliani would relay information to Trump, Cohen testifies.
The same would work in reverse.
The court is shown emails between Cohen and Costello discussing the back channel, and positive sentiments that Giuliani was purportedly relaying from the White House.
As we review another email, Cohen adds that he had not yet retained Costello as of June 2018, but Costello was – in Cohen’s understanding – demonstrating that he was in Giuliani’s proximity and could serve as a connection to the White House.
