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Michael Cohen Probed for $20 Million in Bank, Tax Fraud: Report

Prosecutors hope to file charges in coming weeks, The New York Times reports.

President Trump’s longtime lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen is under investigation for allegedly committing bank and tax fraud exceeding $20 million, according to a Sunday report from The New York Times. The Times reports investigators are looking into loans obtained by taxi businesses owned by Cohen and his family, as well as allegations that Cohen violated campaign-finance laws by paying to silence women who claimed they had affairs with Trump. Specifically, investigators are examining loans paid to Cohen’s businesses by two New York banks in an attempt to determine whether Cohen “misrepresented the value of his assets” while obtaining them. They are also working to determine whether he failed to report income to the IRS. Two sources told the Times the investigation “has entered the final stage” and that charges could be filed in the coming weeks—but if charges are not filed before August, prosecutors will likely wait until after the election to avoid influencing voters. The Times adds that Cohen still could plead guilty or make a deal requiring his cooperation with the Mueller probe.