Johnston Comments on Possible Bank Fraud Case Against Trump Lawyer

Partner Pamela Johnston was quoted in an article in CNN Money, “Is there a bank fraud case against Michael Cohen? Lawyers aren’t sure,” about attorney Michael Avenatti’s charge that Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, probably committed bank fraud when he opened a bank account for what he allegedly claimed was a real estate consulting company shortly before the 2016 election.

Johnston said such a case would certainly warrant investigation, but would not necessarily be a slam dunk. “The bank doesn’t appear to be at risk. But they appear to have been deceived,” she said. ‘And then the question is, have they been deceived in some manner that’s important to them?

She added: “It’s not the nice clean charge you would like as a prosecutor to take to court.”