In what would have been the main story for tomorrow’s newspapers until the tragic news of another school shooting, Reuters reports in an “exclusive” that Michael Cohen fixed a problem for Jerry Falwell, Jr., not long before Falwell endorsed Donald Trump for president. The problem? Supposedly someone had some rather embarrassing pictures of Falwell and Cohen, being the “fixer” that he is, fixed the problem.

Pardon me while I laugh, both at Cohen and Reuters, not to mention the other news agencies that have been quick to pick up the story. Even social media had to get in on the game.

Michael Cohen allegedly helped Trump ally and evangelical leader Jerry Falwell Jr. deal with "racy" photos, @Reuters reports. https://t.co/s1z9o2rmxS

— Twitter Moments (@TwitterMoments) May 7, 2019

According to Reuters, in a taped interview, Cohen said “someone” came into possession of photos Falwell explained were of the sort that would “typically be kept ‘between husband and wife.'” We can only speculate on what those photos might have been because Reuters hasn’t seen them. In fact, reading the article, the only so-called evidence we have that the photos actually existed is Cohen’s word.

And he’s such an upstanding and truthful person. I guess we’re supposed to take what he said at face value–not.

According to a source familiar with Cohen’s thinking, the person who possessed the photos destroyed them after Cohen intervened on the Falwells’ behalf.”

What source? That’s the question to be asked as you read the Reuters report. There are a number of references to people in the know, sources familiar with, etc., etc., etc. But there is no proof. Nothing except allegations, innuendos and yet more attempts to undermine Donald Trump.

Cohen would later prove successful in another matter involving Falwell, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. Cohen helped persuade Falwell to issue his endorsement of Trump’s presidential candidacy at a critical moment, they said: just before the Iowa caucuses. Falwell subsequently barnstormed with Trump and vouched for the candidate’s Christian virtues.”

There’s that “people familiar” language again. Who are these people and how are they familiar with what supposedly happened? Inquiring minds want to know.

Note, too, how it is very strongly implied that Cohen’s supposed fixing of an alleged problem led to Falwell endorsing Trump. But wait, Reuters apparently had the article vetted by their attorneys because there’s a disclaimer in the next paragraph.

Reuters has no evidence that Falwell’s endorsement of Trump was related to Cohen’s involvement in the photo matter. The source familiar with Cohen’s thinking insisted the endorsement and the help with the photographs were separate issues.”

There are two problems with this disclaimer. The first is like having a judge tell a jury not to consider during their deliberations the fact the defendant had been convicted of murdering someone prior to his current trial but that conviction had been overturned on a technicality. The damage has already been done and that’s something most people won’t be able to “unhear”, especially if the defendant is currently on trial for murder.

The second problem goes beyond the fact we are dealing yet again with some unnamed person. It is that this person was familiar with Cohen’s “thinking” and they insisted the endorsement had nothing to do with the “fix”. Could it be because there was no “fix”?

And what about those photos? According to Cohen, he met with an attorney for the person with the photos and told him his client was breaking the law. Soon after, the matter was resolved and the photos, according to the attorney, were destroyed.

Again, pardon me while I laugh. The very idea of Cohen lecturing anyone about breaking the law is ridiculous. Here’s a man who betrayed his own oaths and who continues to do so. Here is a man who is so desperate to keep his name in the press, he will do or say anything.

Don’t believe me, take a look at his comments before reporting to prison earlier this week.

Back to the current fairy tale story. It gets better. You knew it had to.

Enter Tom Arnold, Roseanne’s ex. According to New York Intelligencer, Arnold secretly recorded Cohen. On the tape, Cohen supposedly recanted at least part of his guilty plea. He also said he has possession of one of the Fallwell photos and “it’s terrible.”

Wait, what happened to all the photos being destroyed? Could Cohen be lying? It certainly wouldn’t be the first time, especially if he thought he could benefit from doing so.

Not to be left out of the mud slinging, CNBC weighs in. It jumps onto the “Falwell endorsed Trump because of the fix” bandwagon. All on the word of a convicted felon and unnamed sources. I’d say let’s talk about journalistic integrity but I have a feeling my definition of it varies a great deal from  that of the MSM.

Of course, none of the aforementioned articles mentioned a response from the Falwell family. In fact, there is nothing to show Reuters or the others reached out to Falwell to try to confirm Cohen’s story. Why would they? A denial wouldn’t fit their carefully crafted narrative.

But social media is on the job.

Falwell attorney: “While the Falwells have a long-standing friendship with Michael Cohen…” https://t.co/sZFjy8Lzdx pic.twitter.com/ELihjwKmlD

— Laura Rozen (@lrozen) May 8, 2019

‘While the Falwells have a long-standing friendship with Michael Cohen, they never engaged or paid Cohen to represent them in any legal or other professional capacity, and Cohen did not ever resolve any legal matter on their behalf,’ the statement said.”

If this is how Cohen treats his friends, what does he do to his enemies?

As for the media, how much lower will it sink in its attempt to keep Trump from winning a second term? At this rate, the Marianas Trench will not be deep enough for them.

Featured Image: Michael Cohen — caricature by DonkeyHotey. Creative Commons 2.0 license.