You do realize this guy was a Bernie Madoff victim, right?   https://www.bloomberg.com/view/articles/2018-06-15/bernie-madoff-s-ponzi-scheme-didn-t-ruin-ezra-merkin  The former hedge fund manager J. Ezra Merkin, who for years shoveled his investors’ money to Madoff, while pretending to be investing in it himself. On Wednesday, on the eve of a trial with the trustee, Merkin settled with Picard for $280 million. This was not his first big settlement: Merkin had settled in 2012 with then-New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman for $410 million. Once viewed as a great philanthropist, Merkin has been forced off charitable boards. He has had to sell his prized collection of Mark Rothko paintings. He has few friends, because so many of them had put money into his fund — only to discover, to their horror, that they were Madoff victims.  He was not a victim.  J. Ezra Merkin J. Ezra Merkin, a prominent investment advisor and philanthropist, has been sued for his role in running a "feeder fund" for Madoff.[127] Merkin informed investors in his $1.8 billion Ascot Partners fund on December 11 that he was among those who suffered substantial personal losses, since all of the fund's money was invested with Madoff.[128] The Connecticut Attorney General Richard Blumenthal is examining the role boards of nonprofits played, in possibly not conducting due diligence on donors' contributions.[129]  On April 6, 2009, New York Attorney General Andrew Cuomo filed civil fraud charges[130] against J. Ezra Merkin alleging he "betrayed hundreds of investors" by moving $2.4 billion of clients' money to Bernard Madoff without their knowledge. The complaint states, he lied about putting the money with Madoff, failed to disclose conflicts of interest, and collected over $470 million in fees for his three hedge funds, Ascot Partners LP with Ascot Fund Ltd., Gabriel Capital Corp. and Ariel Fund Ltd. He promised he would actively manage the money, but instead, he misguided investors about his Madoff investments in quarterly reports, in investor presentations, and in conversations with investors. "Merkin held himself out to investors as an investing guru...In reality, Merkin was but a master marketer."[131][132][133][134]  In addition, the complaint accused Merkin of improperly commingling his personal funds with his hedge fund accounts and using some of the money to buy artwork worth more than $91 million. Mr. Cuomo's office is seeking restitution and unspecified damages from Mr. Merkin.[135]  On May 7, 2009, Madoff Bankruptcy Trustee, Irving Picard filed a lawsuit[136] against Merkin seeking to recover almost $500 million withdrawn from Madoff accounts in the last six years. The complaint alleges that since   60ff  1995, Merkin steered more than $1 billion to Madoff through three private hedge funds, Ascot Partners, Ariel Fund and Gabriel Capital. Since 2002, the funds withdrew at least $494 million from Madoff — returns that Merkin "knew or should have known" were fraudulent.[137]  As of May 18, 2009, Merkin's control of Ascot, Gabriel and Ariel hedge funds are to be placed into receivership for liquidation by Guidepost Partners. One receiver will be responsible for managing the remaining money, nearly $1 billion, in the Gabriel and Ariel funds, and another will be responsible for overseeing Ascot, whose entire $1.8 billion in assets was lost to Madoff's Ponzi scheme.[138]     NEIL A. STEINER, ESQ.  *  DECHERT LLP  *  * 1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, New York 10036 (212) 698-3822  *  Attorneys for Defendants-Appellees J. Ezra Merkin and Gabriel Capital Corporation  http://www.madofftrustee.com/document/dockets/003870-merkininjunctionappendix13-1785docket92.pdf My claim is in regards to the Michael Cohen case, in the manner in which it's being used to go after Trump and how the media as well as yourself, promote the narrative (as you've explained that Guy Pretillo's motive is to dig up dirt on Trump.)  Optics....are you going to mention Lanny Davis backpedaling now that the MSM blitz attack damage from his 'error' has been done? https://247sports.com/college/west-virginia/Board/103782/Contents/Lanny-Davis-now-backpedaling-on-Cohen-claims-about-Russia-121083159/ The fact that Pretillo defended Merkin demonstrates that he has no problem defending major corruption.  Therefore his presence is just one more example of the means and motive behind the Witch Hunt.  Do you happen to know who is paying Pretillo in the Michael Cohen case? If Trump were as rotten as has been insinuated,  I imagine Pretillo would be tripping over himself to end up working on behalf of Trump, not vice versa. And the fire was ironic, given it was April 6...the Trump fire was April 9.  and of course the media covered it AT THE TIME...  What the media has not mentioned since Pretillo was hired by GoFundMe Michael Cohen was that Pretillo defended Ezra Merkin (a fraud) and at least one of his companies had to give back money into a trust for Madoff victims. Feel free to read the links.  I didn't have time to hand hold people unwilling to read them.