During the recent legal proceedings involving former President Donald Trump, new details have emerged regarding a potential 'backchannel' communication strategy. Trump's attorney, Emil Bove, questioned Robert Costello about the origins of the term 'backchannel.'
Costello revealed that Rudy Giuliani was the first to use the term 'backchannel' in a conversation where Costello mentioned the need to keep certain information private based on what Michael Cohen had told him.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger had previously asked Costello if he had pressured Cohen to hire him in order to establish a backchannel to Trump. Costello denied this claim, stating that the communication was intended to inform Trump's inner circle about his representation of Cohen.
Costello explained that after informing his son about representing Cohen, they used a backchannel to inform Trump's team. However, Cohen expressed reservations about making this information public, fearing a negative reaction from the press.
Bove confirmed with Costello that the first mention of a backchannel was made in an email sent the day after Costello informed his son about representing Cohen. The email contained the statement Cohen was planning to release, indicating the beginning of the communication strategy.