Revenge porn: Stormy takes ‘SNL’
ROBERT MUELLER’S team has interviewed California real estate investor Tom Barrack — one of President Trump’s closest friends.
Barrack was grilled about Trump’s former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, and Manafort’s onetime deputy, Rick Gates, the Associated Press reported Saturday.
Gates pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy and lying in February, while Manafort maintains his innocence.
Barrack was interviewed “months ago” and was asked a few questions about Gates’ work on Trump’s inaugural committee, one source told the news agency.
A second source told the AP that the questions were on a variety on topics including financial dealings related to the Trump campaign, his transition and inauguration.
Mueller was appointed as special counsel to oversee the federal investigation into Russian election meddling and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with the Kremlin to sway the contest in Trump's favor.
He is also looking at whether Trump obstructed justice by trying to interfere with the federal probe at any point.
Barrack, a longtime ally and business associate of the President, was a top Trump fund-raiser during the 2016 election and spoke at the Republican convention in Cleveland, where Trump received the party’s nomination.
He also ran Trump’s Presidential Inaugural Committee.
The pair have been close since at least 1988, when Barrack negotiated the sale of The Plaza Hotel in New York to Trump.
Barrack’s publicist in 2016 described the men as having since “solidified a lifelong friendship between their families.” The wealthy real estate tycoon showered praise on Trump in a CNBC interview in early 2016. “He’s one of the kindest, and actually most humble, friends that I’ve had,” he said. “I have so much respect for him because at this point in his career, wandering into the milieu was not easy, and he’s changed the dialogue of the debate.” Barrack, who employed Gates last year as part of his inauguration team, could offer valuable insight into Trump’s inner orbit. themselves and
Mueller’s investigators have interviewed dozens of witnesses as they dig into finances and other business dealings of Trump associates.
The probe has already resulted in 22 indictments, including four former Trump campaign officials, and five plea deals.
Aside from Gates, prosecutors have secured the cooperation of former Trump national security adviser Michael Flynn and former Trump foreign policy adviser George Papadopoulos.
Barrack spokeswoman Baker declined to comment.
Trump, who constantly blasts the probe as a “witch hunt,” said Friday he would “love to” speak to Mueller but doubts he’d be “treated fairly.” Lisa STORMY DANIELS traded a porn set for the “Saturday Night Live” studio.
The adult film actress (below left) popped up in the late night show’s opening moments, taking a call from Alec Baldwin’s Donald Trump (below right) and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, portrayed by Ben Stiller.
“Come on, Stormy. Stop making such a big deal about this. Everyone knows it’s just an act,” Baldwin said. “Just tell me, what do you need to make this all go away?”
The answer? The Donald’s resignation.
“Being President is like doing porn, once you do it, it’s hard to do anything else,” Baldwin replied.
“Oh come on — we’ll always have Shark Week. I solved North and South Korea, why can’t I solve us?” he implored.
“Sorry Donald, it’s too late for that. I know you don’t believe in climate change but a storm’s a comin,’ baby,” Daniels said.
Trump is known to watch “SNL” and grouse about Baldwin’s impression of him.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, made the Studio 8H stop between Friday and Saturday night appearances at the Melville, Long Island, strip club Gossip.
The pair’s alleged one night stand in 2006 resulted in a $130,000 payoff to Daniels, 11 days before the November 2016 election.
Cohen orchestrated the hushmoney payout. Trump has repeatedly denied knowing anything about it, but his new lawyer Rudy Giuliani said that the president reimbursed Cohen.
The former NYC mayor told Fox’s Jeanine Pirro on Saturday that Trump, “did not in any way violate the campaign finance law.”
Cohen’s office was raided by the Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office last month. It is not clear what the feds were looking for.
Daniels has filed defamation suits against Trump and Cohen.