| | | | 9 eyebrow-raising 'facts' about the Stormy Daniels saga | | It feels like we learn more about the story of Stormy Daniels -- and Trump lawyer/fixer Michael Cohen -- every day.
On Wednesday night, we found out that Jill Martin, a lawyer for the Trump Organization, was involved in the filing of a request for arbitration of a restraining order brought by Cohen against Daniels -- seemingly contradicting Cohen's past pledge that he acted entirely alone.
There's so much to unpack here. Here are nine things to remember about all this: - The Wall Street Journal reports in mid-January that Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence about the alleged affair.
- Cohen made the payment via a limited liability corporation that he established in Delaware -- a state known for its lax laws on corporate transparency -- 10 days before he transferred the money to Daniels. The LLC is known as "Essential Consultants."
- At the end of January, Cohen releases a statement ostensibly from Daniels denying any relationship with Trump. Asked about the statement -- and the fact that the signature on it doesn't look like Daniels' -- by late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, Daniels responds: "Hmm. Ha ha."
- In February, Cohen confirms that he did indeed make the payment -- out of his own pocket! He also insists he acted alone -- and not at the behest of Trump or anyone in his orbit -- and that he did not believe Daniels' claim of a relationship with Trump.
- Cohen -- with the help of Martin -- files for a restraining order to keep Daniels silent in late February.
- Daniels files suit in California, alleging that Trump broke the parameters of her "hush" agreement because he never signed it. We also learn that in that document Trump is referred to as "David Dennison" and Daniels as "Peggy Peterson" in an attempt to disguise their identities.
- White House press secretary Sarah Sanders is asked directly whether Trump knew of or authorized the payment by Cohen to Daniels. "Not that I'm aware of," she responds on March 7. "Anything beyond what I've already given you, I would refer you to the President's outside counsel."
- Cohen used a home equity line of credit to make the payment to Daniels. He also communicated with Daniels using his Trump Organization email address. "I sent emails from the Trump Org email address to my family, friends as well as Trump business emails," Cohen confirms. "I basically used it for everything. I am certain most people can relate."
- Martin's involvement in the filing of the arbitration case is revealed.
The Point: Any one of these things -- in isolation -- might not raise eyebrows. But taken together? Cohen's explanation strains credulity -- and cries out for a more fulsome response from Trump. If past is prologue, we won't get one.
-- Chris | | MUELLER SUBPOENAS NEW DOCS | | CNN's Pamela Brown, Evan Perez and Eli Watkins report:
"Special counsel Robert Mueller has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for business documents, a source familiar with the matter told CNN on Thursday. The New York Times, which first reported the development, said the subpoena included documents related to Russia. This marks the first publicly known time that Mueller has demanded documents related to President Donald Trump's businesses.
"The subpoena is a sign that the Mueller investigation continues to pick up steam, even as Trump decries remaining questions about potential coordination between his associates and Russia and denies any wrongdoing. Trump has said he would view any investigation of his or his family's personal finances that didn't involve Russia as a 'violation' by Mueller that crosses a red line."
Read more here. | | CNN's Ashley Killough covered Arizona Sen. Jeff Flake's speech at the National Press Club on Thursday. Flake, who was facing a tough re-election bid and decided not to run for a second term in the Senate, didn't shy away from criticizing Trump -- and Republicans as a whole. From Ashley's story:
"Flake argued that his party 'might not deserve to lead' given its support for President Donald Trump.
"'If we are going to cloister ourselves in the alternative truth of an erratic leader, if we are going to refuse to live in a world that everyone else lives in ... then my party might not deserve to lead,' the Republican senator said." (Read more in Ashley's full story here).
FYI: The speech comes just days after Flake was asked whether he thinks someone should challenge Trump in the 2020 Republican primary. "Yes, I do. I do," Flake told "Meet the Press" host Chuck Todd. "I mean, it would be a tough go in a Republican primary. The Republican Party is the Trump party right now. But that's not to say it will stay that way." | | A CLOSER LOOK AT PA SPECIAL ELECTION | | Check out this CNN map online here | | CNN's Aaron Kessler writes:
Democrat Conor Lamb's stunning upset in a district Donald Trump carried by nearly 20 points has already shaken up Washington Republicans, who are left wondering what it foreshadows for their chances in November.
If you look at just the precincts Lamb flipped to blue that Trump previously won in 2016 (above ) -- ones Republican Rick Saccone in normal times should likely have won – and add up the total votes? Lamb gained 5,085 votes over Saccone. Eight times the 600-vote current difference between the candidates district-wide, from those flipped precincts alone.
What's more, in addition to the ones Lamb outright flipped, there are another 10 precincts that Saccone won, but just barely. Two North Fayette Township precincts that Trump won by 27 and 23 points? Saccone scraped by Tuesday with 1.8 and 0.6 point wins. | | CNN's Brenna Williams writes: "Some members of Congress have gone a little mad -- March Mad, that is. (Sports jokes are fun.) Like the rest of us who filled out an NCAA tournament bracket, either by choice or by peer pressure, politicians are showing off who they think will win it all. As with any bracket selection, it was a battle of head versus heart.
"The best way to show you love your home district or state? To choose them to win it all, of course."
Brenna then highlighted the teams some lawmakers said they are rooting for. Read her story here. | | | Click on CNN Politics' Instagram story every Monday through Friday afternoon for more #content from Chris and Brenna. | |  | | H/T Brenna | | | Cheers! Enjoy the rest of your Thursday and please tell people to subscribe to The Point. | | We'd love to share our other newsletters with you. Follow this link for daily coverage of the world's top stories, savvy market insights, an insider's look into the media, and more. Our authors for The Point are Chris Cillizza and Saba Hamedy. Send your tips and thoughts via email to Chris or Saba. Follow on Twitter: Chris and Saba. | | | | | | |
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