Confessore on Michael Cohen: ‘It’s a Parody of How Washington Works in Real Life’

EXCERPT:

SCARBOROUGH: “So -- so Nick, this is not how business is usually done among lobbyists. I know people knock lobbyists, but there are rules even for consultants and a way to do things and a way not to do things. For people at home to think this is how it usually happens, it is not. This is irregular and it is -- it is wrong.”
CONFESSORE: “It’s a parody of how Washington works in real life, right? So, yes, relations are important in Washington. And lobbyists cloak these discussions in expertise and say I’m an expert on the process, on legislation. And there’s some truth in that. It’s rare to get the hard core play of simply I have a relationship and if you want in, you should pay me. He ran around in this really hand-fisted way. I remember hearing about it in 2017 and saying I have the president’s cell phone. I’m his friend. I can get to him. You don’t usually see it that baldly stated. And in one sense it’s refreshing to hear the proposition stated so clearly."
SCARBOROUGH: "Pay to play, babe."
CONFESSORE: "But on the other, it runs counter to the way the K street lobbying community tried to cloak what it does for years and years.”