The Russia conspiracy theory has sucked in everyone and their brother. Literally.
“Mr. Cohen received one wire transfer in the amount of $980.00 from a Kenyan bank from account holders Netanel Cohen and Stav Hayun to an account in Israel at Bank Hapoalim,” Avenatti wrote.
Haaretz caught up with Netanel Cohen, who acknowledged having a bank account in Kenya and transferring money to a Michael Cohen. But the Michael Cohen in questions is his brother, Netanel told the news outlet. And his brother is not Trump’s lawyer.
“I’ve never heard of Michael Cohen, and I have no connection to this affair,” Netanel told Haaretz.
That's Michael Avenatti, the lawyer for Stormy Daniels, who has a permanent spot in every mainstream media cable news green room.
He got a few details wrong. But that's what happens when you build up monumental conspiracy theories involving everyone named Michael Cohen. Absolutely everyone named Michael Cohen. A common combination of names.
Avenatti’s report includes a section listing “possible fraudulent and illegal financial transactions” involving Trump’s lawyer. One of the payments is a $4,250 wire transfer from a Malaysian company, Actuarial Partners, to a bank in Toronto.
Zainal Kassim, a representative for Actuarial Partners, told The Daily Caller News Foundation Avenatti’s report is a case of mistaken identity. He forwarded an email the falsely accused Michael Cohen sent to Avenatti requesting the lawyer “correct this error forthwith and make it known publicly” there is no connection to Trump’s Michael Cohen.
Iceberg, Goldberg, as the old Jewish joke goes. It's all the same thing.
When you're spreading conspiracy theories, getting the right Michael Cohen is a technicality. The Clinton-Steele dossier was filled with basic errors. But it still got rolled into the FBI.