Page:Report On The Investigation Into Russian Interference In The 2016 Presidential Election.pdf/358

 stand for." Cohen said that after the searches he was concerned that he was "an open book," that he did not want issues arising from the payments to women to "come out," and that his false statements to Congress were "a big concern."

A few days after the searches, the President called Cohen. According to Cohen, the President said he wanted to "check in" and asked if Cohen was okay, and the President encouraged Cohen to "hang in there" and "stay strong." Cohen also recalled that following the searches he heard from individuals who were in touch with the President and relayed to Cohen the President's support for him. Cohen recalled that, a friend of the President's, reached out to say that he was with "the Boss" in Mar-a-Lago and the President had said "he loves you" and not to worry. Cohen recalled that for the Trump Organization, told him, "the boss loves you." And Cohen said that, a friend of the President's, told him, "everyone knows the boss has your back."

On or about April 17, 2018, Cohen began speaking with an attorney, Robert Costello, who had a close relationship with Rudolph Giuliani, one of the President's personal lawyers. Costello told Cohen that he had a "back channel of communication" to Giuliani, and that Giuliani had said the "channel" was "crucial" and "must be maintained." On April 20, 2018, the New York Times published an article about the President's relationship with and treatment of Cohen. The President responded with a series of tweets predicting that Cohen would not "flip":

The New York Times and a third rate reporter are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will 'flip.' They use non-existent 'sources' and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even