934 becomes the nominee after the convention.” On May 5, 2016, Sater followed up with a text that Cohen thought he probably read to Trump: Peskov would like to invite you as his guest to the St. Petersburg Forum which is Russia’s Davos it’s June 16-19. He wants to meet there with you and possibly introduce you to either Putin or Medvedev. . . . This is perfect. The entire business class of Russia will be there as well. He said anything you want to discuss including dates and subjects are on the table to 935 discuss. Cohen recalled discussing the invitation to the St. Petersburg Economic Forum with candidate Trump and saying that Putin or Russian Prime Minister 936 Dmitry Medvedev might be there. Cohen remembered that Trump said that he would be willing to travel to Russia if Cohen could “lock and load” on the 937 deal. In June 2016, Cohen decided not to attend the St. Petersburg Economic Forum because Sater had not obtained a formal invitation for Cohen from 938 Peskov. Cohen said he had a quick conversation with Trump at that time but did not tell him that the project was over because he did not want Trump to 939 complain that the deal was on-again-off-again if it were revived. During the summer of 2016, Cohen recalled that candidate Trump publicly claimed that he had nothing to do with Russia and then shortly afterwards privately checked with Cohen about the status of the Trump Tower Moscow 940 project, which Cohen found “interesting.” At some point that summer, Cohen recalled having a brief conversation with Trump in which Cohen said the Trump Tower Moscow project was going nowhere because the Russian development 941 company had not secured a piece of property for the project. Trump said that was “too bad,” and Cohen did not recall talking with Trump about the project 942 after that. Cohen said that at no time during the campaign did Trump tell him 943 not to pursue the project or that the project should be abandoned. 2. Cohen Determines to Adhere to a “Party Line” Distancing Candidate Trump From Russia As previously discussed, see Volume II, Section II.A, supra, when questions