Dershowitz confronts Hannity: 'You should have disclosed your relationship with Cohen'

The Hill ^ | 04/16/2018 | Brett Samuels

[GIdget2004]

Attorney and frequent Fox News guest Alan Dershowitz criticized host Sean Hannity on Monday for not disclosing his relationship with Michael Cohen, President Trump's attorney, during his frequent discussions about Cohen in recent weeks.

Dershowitz, a defender of Trump amid his legal woes, was brought on to discuss former FBI Director James Comey’s Sunday night interview on ABC News, but first addressed the Monday revelation that Hannity is the previously unnamed client of Cohen.

“I really think you should have disclosed your relationship with Cohen,” Dershowitz said, calling it a “complicated situation.”

“It was minimal,” Hannity responded.

“I understand that, and you should’ve said that,” Dershowitz, an opinion contributor for The Hill, replied. You were in a tough position because, A, you had to talk about Cohen, and, B, you didn’t want the fact hat you had spoken with him to be revealed.”

“I have the right to privacy,” Hannity interjected. “It was such a minor relationship.”

“You should have said that,” Dershowitz said.

Hannity was revealed to be Cohen's client during a hearing Monday afternoon related to last week's FBI raids of Cohen's office and home. Cohen's attorney only shared Hannity's identity after a judge ordered him to.

Hannity is a staunch ally of Trump’s, and frequently defends the president on his Fox News show. He was fiercely critical of last week’s raids on Cohen’s office, using it as a launching point to attack special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

[taildragger]

"The entire leftist media is in incestuous relationships with the Democrat power structure and never bother to mention the depth of their relationships."

Lol! You mean like Mueller's and Rosenstein's entire staffs? :-).

[xzins]

I listened to it, and I thought Dershowitze was off topic, but Hannity answered the question.

He never retained Cohen as a lawyer. He discussed real estate issues with him.

That has nothing to do with politics, and Cohen was not his lawyer.

[dware]

Y'all do realize that, while yes, Trump is the catalyst, the fact is that this isn't JUST about Trump. What is happening in DC right now is nothing short of scorched earth punishment against Conservatives for not falling in line in November, 2016. This is an all out war against Conservatism, and those waging that war (certainly not Conservatives - for some reason, we seem content to let them destroy us) will stop at nothing until Conservatism is wiped clean from the face of the earth.

Time to wake up to that reality, folks.

[dynoman]

“Cohen's attorney only shared Hannity’s identity after a judge ordered him to. “

Why didn't he invoke the 5th amendment?

[alloysteel]

Does this mean that Hannity is going to get on the Bill O’Reilly railroad out of Fox News?

What constitutes the threshold at which a prior relationship must be acknowledged?

The Progressive Establishment wants Sean Hannity off the air. Never mind how.

[faucetman]

““It was such a minor relationship.””

Hmmmmm. “relationship” With whom? Your “relationship” with Cohen the lawyer OR your “relationship” with the person Cohen was “fixing” for you?

[robroys woman]

Would you care in an alternate universe if Maddow went on TV night after night railing about how Hillary’s lawyer was being treated unfairly, and then it turned out Maddow had the same lawyer and never mentioned it?

Honestly> Nope.

[budj]

“...attacking Hannity...”

I rather thought Dersh was right; Sean could have taken advantage of the situation by being up front about his relationship and explaining it.

This way, it looks a bit like after-the-fact CYA.

[Lisbon1940]

Of course not. Maddox has the right to representation.

[TTFlyer]

We have ways of making you talk.

- Obersturmbannfuhrer Robert Mueller

[robroys woman]

Time to wake up to that reality, folks.

---

Heh. I was “woke” during Dubya’s presidency.

If these guys are going all in, it will be interesting to see the impact on the losing side of this particular bet.

[Skywise]

It’s all contextual -

Hillary Clinton is a client of Cohen too but I don’t see anyone whining because she didn’t disclose that.

[babble-on]

?

[Not A Snowbird]

It wasn’t a confrontation so much as a scolding.

[Maris Crane]

What is more important is the news that Comey’s whole tribe voted, and emphatically endorsed, Hillary.

[Attention Surplus Disorder]

The response should be:

“Once in a while, Alan, you are wrong. The last time was when you supported Hillary. This is one of those times. You are an expert on law. Now you are giving me media advice. You’re out of your area of expertise.”

[TakebackGOP]

What does Hannity asking him for legal advice have to do with Mueller’s witch hunt, eliminating the attorney-client privilege?

[Bonemaker]

“As a client, he is protected by his client relationship with Cohen.”

Not according to Obersturmbannführer Mueller.

[Lisbon1940]

I meant Madlock.

[faucetman]

Before you attack me, (probably too late), I’m “just sayin”, that’s all. Curious choice of words by Hannity.

I could care less about Hannity’s personal “relationships”. OR Trump’s. I’m just commenting on the news and this thread that I didn’t start.