In a revealing testimony, Michael Cohen shed light on his introduction to Robert Costello, a criminal defense attorney with deep ties to Rudy Giuliani and, by extension, Donald Trump. This introduction came at a pivotal moment in 2018, following an FBI raid on Cohen’s home.
Costello’s alleged pitch was that his connections to Giuliani would provide a direct line of communication to the President, ensuring Cohen’s security and favor legal scrutiny.
This promise of a “backchannel” to Trump was reinforced through a series of emails, in which Costello repeatedly emphasized that Trump and Giuliani were aware of their discussions and were supportive of Cohen’s potential retention of Costello as his attorney.
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The emails, presented by prosecutors, revealed a pattern of reassurance from Costello, with statements like “You are loved” and “You have friends in high places.” These messages coincided with Trump’s public tweets of support for Cohen, claiming that prosecutors were trying to “flip” him.
Cohen interpreted these gestures as a sign that he remained important to the Trump camp and that the President had his back.
Robert Costello’s involvement in Trump-related dramas is a recurring theme, having represented Giuliani in criminal matters, Steve Bannon in contempt charges, and even playing a role in obtaining and disseminating Hunter Biden’s laptop.
His latest move? Suing Bannon for unpaid legal bills. As the web of connections and alliances continues to unravel, the importance of Costello’s role in these events becomes increasingly clear.
