2018 – 2020 : Hush-Money & Financial Misconduct
January 12, 2018: The Wall Street Journal published the first major public report that Michael Cohen paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) in October 2016. That article is the clearest start date for public exposure of the hush-money scheme.
April 9, 2018: FBI executed search warrants and raided Michael Cohen’s home, hotel and office; agents seized records said to relate to the Daniels payment and other matters. That raid materially expanded public knowledge and produced records later used in prosecutions.
August 21, 2018: Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court (SDNY) to eight counts including campaign-finance violations and admitted making payments in 2016 “in coordination with and at the direction of” a candidate to influence the election. (DOJ / SDNY press release)
December 2018: American Media, Inc. (publisher of the National Enquirer) and its CEO David Pecker acknowledged “catch-and-kill” activity to suppress stories (payments/arrangements to bury stories about Trump), which fed into the wider hush-money / election-influence picture.
ebruary 27, 2019: Michael Cohen’s public congressional testimony (House Oversight) reiterated that Trump directed some payments and described financial practices that prompted further probes. Cohen’s testimony (and supporting documents) helped spur state inquiries.
March 2019 (investigation opened): Following Cohen’s testimony and related material, New York Attorney General Letitia James began a civil probe of the Trump Organization’s financial practices (asset valuations, insurance/loan disclosures). James later disclosed the probe publicly (August 2020 filings).
April 9, 2018: FBI executed search warrants and raided Michael Cohen’s home, hotel and office; agents seized records said to relate to the Daniels payment and other matters. That raid materially expanded public knowledge and produced records later used in prosecutions.
August 21, 2018: Michael Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court (SDNY) to eight counts including campaign-finance violations and admitted making payments in 2016 “in coordination with and at the direction of” a candidate to influence the election. (DOJ / SDNY press release)
December 2018: American Media, Inc. (publisher of the National Enquirer) and its CEO David Pecker acknowledged “catch-and-kill” activity to suppress stories (payments/arrangements to bury stories about Trump), which fed into the wider hush-money / election-influence picture.
ebruary 27, 2019: Michael Cohen’s public congressional testimony (House Oversight) reiterated that Trump directed some payments and described financial practices that prompted further probes. Cohen’s testimony (and supporting documents) helped spur state inquiries.
March 2019 (investigation opened): Following Cohen’s testimony and related material, New York Attorney General Letitia James began a civil probe of the Trump Organization’s financial practices (asset valuations, insurance/loan disclosures). James later disclosed the probe publicly (August 2020 filings).
Sources
justice.gov
Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty In Manhattan Federal Court To Eight Counts, Including Criminal Tax Evasion And Campaign Finance Violations