The Fall of Donald Trump’s Fixers (Paywall)

The mogul-turned-president has long relied on loyalists to push the limits in defense of his image, but Roy Cohn, David Pecker and Michael Cohen all wound up out in the cold

For decades, Donald Trump has depended on loyalists to take care of especially sensitive and difficult tasks. . . .including the Red-baiter Roy Cohn, the tabloid publisher David Pecker and the lawyer Michael Cohen. . .They pledged fealty to Mr. Trump and dedicated themselves to shielding him. . . .But Mr. Trump ultimately offered little back in protection or respect.

. . .after Cohn became sick with AIDS in the 1980s, Mr. Trump distanced himself, steering business elsewhere. . . .in 2016, Mr. Trump told friends at Mar-a-Lago, his Florida resort, that after hosting the dying Cohn for dinner there, “I had to spend a fortune to fumigate all the dishes and silverware.”

Mr. Cohen was charged with campaign-finance violations and is serving three years in prison. Mr. Pecker’s company, American Media Inc., admitted breaking the law while doing Mr. Trump’s bidding and reached an agreement with prosecutors to avoid criminal charges.

These operatives were attracted to Mr. Trump’s aura, to the force of the huge personality that led him to the presidency. But when they had fulfilled their missions, they were dispensable.

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REALITY BYTES (January 11)

(with apologies to Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II)

Damn ol’ Don-man

dat Damn ol’ Don-man

he ain’t nutin’

but a con man

he's jes keeps slitherin’

he keeps on slitherin’ along

He steals millions

he cheats civilians

sumptin’ ‘bout him

seems reptilian

but Damn ol’ Don-man

he jes keeps slitherin’ along

His lawyers lie

and go t’ jail

or die of AIDS

his “friends” make bail

The GOP

still hangs on

purty soon

the country’s gone

We gits weary

o’ his lyin’

even JOURNAL’s

past denyin’

but damn ol’ Don-man

he jes keeps slitherin’ along

[updated 1/11/2020 11:56 am to add music credit inadvertently left out]