Michael Cohen Under Investigation For Bank Fraud Over $20 Million In Loans

Michael Cohen Image by Getty Images (8)

By Alyssa Fisher August 20, 2018

Federal authorities investigating whether President Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen committed tax fraud are focusing on more than $20 million in loans collected by taxi businesses that he and his family own, the New York Times reported.

The bank loans came from Sterling National Bank and the Melrose Credit Union, two New York financial institutions that cater to the taxi industry, according to business records and people familiar with the matter, including a banker who reviewed the transactions.

Investigators are examining whether Cohen misrepresented the value of his assets to secure the loans. The probe includes how he handled the income from his taxi medallions and whether he failed to report it to the Internal Revenue Service.

There is no indication that either bank suffered a loss. Nevertheless, the potential bank fraud could be charged in conjunction with other crimes — which may be what happens in Cohen’s case, the Times reported.

Investigators are also looking into whether Cohen violated campaign finance or other laws by helping to arrange financial deals to silence the women alleging they had affairs with Trump. The case is in its final stage, the Times reported, and prosecutors could file charges by the end of August.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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