Missing documents prompt release of Cohen financial info

Apparently the person that leaked Cohen’s financial information was motivated by missing documents.

When abnormal behavior takes place a bank files a report noting the suspicious activity. This is a CYA for banks.

One of the reports noting suspicious activity filed by Cohen’s bank referred to previous filed reports. A law enforcement official noticed the previous reports were not in this permanant database. This highly irregular. This database is a repository and the removal of reports essentially never happens.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...-leak-of-michael-cohens-financial-records/amp

iliveonramen said:

Apparently the person that leaked Cohen’s financial information was motivated by missing documents.

When abnormal behavior takes place a bank files a report noting the suspicious activity. This is a CYA for banks.

One of the reports noting suspicious activity filed by Cohen’s bank referred to previous filed reports. A law enforcement official noticed the previous reports were not in this permanant database. This highly irregular. This database is a repository and the removal of reports essentially never happens.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...-leak-of-michael-cohens-financial-records/amp

Click to expand...

The article that is the subject of the OP has red flags all through it relating to several banks and financial institutions. The fact that a number of institutions were independently concerned cannot be coincidental.

How the hell can two files be missing from permanent records? Who had them removed?

Clearly, Cohen is a sleazy person. Even his Essential Consultants LLC was not used for the purposes he stated when he applied to establish the LLC. No surprise about that now that we know more about him.

Cohen and Trump are very close and worked closely for years and years. That isn't surprising now either.

Very interesting.

Risky Thicket said:

The article that is the subject of the OP has red flags all through it relating to several banks and financial institutions. The fact that a number of institutions were independently concerned cannot be coincidental.

How the hell can two files be missing from permanent records? Who had them removed?

Clearly, Cohen is a sleazy person. Even his Essential Consultants LLC was not used for the purposes he stated when he applied to establish the LLC. No surprise about that now that we know more about him.

Cohen and Trump are very close and worked closely for years and years. That isn't surprising now either.

Very interesting.

Click to expand...

Yup, its a great article so I didn’t want to spoil what it does so well laying out.

It seems there are two most likely reasons for the reports to dissapear.

One could be Mueller’s team restricted access as the information contained includes VERY sensitive info regarding the case. Keep in mind the leaked doc wasn’t restricted and had some pretty big bombshells.

The other (and leas likely) would be Treasurt Dept coverup. Like I said, it is least likely but this is a treasury dept database.

what a mess

iliveonramen said:

Yup, its a great article so I didn’t want to spoil what it does so well laying out.

It seems there are two most likely reasons for the reports to dissapear.

One could be Mueller’s team restricted access as the information contained includes VERY sensitive info regarding the case. Keep in mind the leaked doc wasn’t restricted and had some pretty big bombshells.

The other (and leas likely) would be Treasurt Dept coverup. Like I said, it is least likely but this is a treasury dept database.

Click to expand...

When asked by the House Finance Committee if anyone in 45-world asked Treasury Sec. Mnuchin to obstruct, destroy or obscure records there was no response.

Parrish said:

When asked by the House Finance Committee if anyone in 45-world asked Treasury Sec. Mnuchin to obstruct, destroy or obscure records there was no response.

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Not saying that this is what happened, but I wouldn't trust Mnuchin as far as I could spit him.

But back to the topic, it's very possibly that someone in the FBI or other authorized agency actually already took the SAR or even blocked access to the SAR, long before the whistleblower realized it (or they) was missing.

The bank is required to keep a copy of all SARs they submit, and an authorized agency can block access to it on the FinCEN site if the person named in the SAR is under investigation. There are hundreds of SARs submitted to FinCEN every day. Most aren't "valid" "meaning that the activity is perfectly reasonable".

So again, I have no idea what happened here. It could be that someone removed the SAR from the FinCEN database, or it could be that someone removed it or blocked access to it because it was already part of an investigation.

Whatever the case may be, this sure is an interesting twist in an already fascinating story.

The bottom line is that what seems to be missing are two reports. These reports highlight financial activity that is unusual. The Mueller Team will have the financial information and all the transactions that said reports were based on. In all likelihood the Southern District of New York will also have this information.

The two missing reports are not a big deal in terms of the investigation. The 'law-enforcement official' who released the other reports did the wrong thing and will likely pay a price.

iliveonramen said:

Apparently the person that leaked Cohen’s financial information was motivated by missing documents.

When abnormal behavior takes place a bank files a report noting the suspicious activity. This is a CYA for banks.

One of the reports noting suspicious activity filed by Cohen’s bank referred to previous filed reports. A law enforcement official noticed the previous reports were not in this permanant database. This highly irregular. This database is a repository and the removal of reports essentially never happens.

https://www.newyorker.com/news/news...-leak-of-michael-cohens-financial-records/amp

Click to expand...

Won't keep the leaker out of jail.

You know...the proper course of action for this leaker would have been to report the missing files to someone with authority to follow up and investigate. But he didn't do that. Why?

As long as we are speculating, let's speculate about this question, eh? Perhaps he wasn't authorized to access this information? Perhaps he could have been fired if he followed the proper course of action? Perhaps he saw this as an opportunity to "stick it to Trump"?

In any case, the speculation that there are missing files won't excuse this leaker's action. His actions were illegal and, if he is identified, he should go to jail.

rjay said:

The bottom line is that what seems to be missing are two reports. These reports highlight financial activity that is unusual. The Mueller Team will have the financial information and all the transactions that said reports were based on. In all likelihood the Southern District of New York will also have this information.

The two missing reports are not a big deal in terms of the investigation. The 'law-enforcement official' who released the other reports did the wrong thing and will likely pay a price.

Click to expand...

I'm going to guess that the SDNY already had the missing SARs, which is why they were not "available" via FinCEN. Mueller may have them too - or he may have found them and turned them over to SDNY as part of his referral to them about the Cohen malfeasance.

Senator Wyden is asking the Inspector General to look into the matter of the missing suspicious activity reports.

https://twitter.com/timkmak/status/997145377785679873

FinCEN Spokesperson: “Under longstanding procedures, FinCEN will limit access to certain SARs when requested by law enforcement authorities in connection with an ongoing investigation."
-Ken Dilanian, intelligence and national security reporter for NBC News Investigative Unit

https://twitter.com/KenDilanianNBC/status/997211047575552006

I think the leaker may be in a fair amount of trouble.