In a legal drama steeped in jurisdictional overreach, misrepresentation, and misogyny, Leonard Cohen’s legal team, with the backing of the Los Angeles City Attorney, orchestrated a calculated effort to protect Cohen’s legacy while vilifying Kelley Lynch, his former personal manager. Artwork - City Attorney prosecutors humorously wearing oversized "IRS shoes" to symbolize their jurisdictional overreach.
At the center of this operation were several questionable tactics: the use of an “IRS Binder” to shield Cohen from allegations of tax fraud, the weaponization of fraudulent domestic violence restraining orders to discredit Lynch, and the targeting of her communications with Phil Spector’s legal team. The saga also unearthed a trove of Cohen’s “good rock and roll stories,” which reveal a tangled web of contradictions, tall tales, and strategic diversions.
The IRS Binder: A Shield for Cohen, A Weapon Against Lynch
The mysterious “IRS Binder,” introduced by the City Attorney as evidence, was portrayed as proof that Lynch was in possession of Cohen’s tax documents, including 1099s and K-1s, and that her allegations of tax fraud were a mere “ruse.”
However, regardless of the prosecutor's lies about federal tax matters, the binder’s contents suggest otherwise:
• Correspondence from Cohen’s attorney, Robert Kory, defending Cohen’s alleged fraudulent tax refunds.
• IRS confirmations of tax refunds that Lynch has long argued were based on false pretenses.
• Fraudulent declarations and fabricated evidence submitted to the IRS to bolster Cohen’s claims.
The binder appeared less a legitimate piece of evidence and more a tool to discredit Lynch while sanitizing Cohen’s financial and aggressive tax dealings.
TMU Report: Lies, Misogyny, and Misdirection
The LAPD’s Threat Management Unit (TMU) report on Lynch began with a false claim that she and Cohen had a “sexual relationship” in the mid-1980s in New York City. Lynch has categorically denied this, clarifying instead that Cohen sexually assaulted her at the Royalton Hotel when she delivered documents for his attorney, Marty Machat.
The TMU’s narrative further relied on Cohen’s fraudulent default judgment, amplifying false claims that Lynch misappropriated funds while disregarding corporate structures that managed Cohen’s assets. TMU’s targeting of Lynch’s communications with Phil Spector’s legal team added a bizarre layer to the proceedings, as Spector had no connection to Cohen’s tax or financial issues.
Cohen’s Contradictory Testimony: Phil Spector and “Good Rock and Roll Stories” - Leonard Cohen’s testimony during Lynch’s legal proceedings included a sensationalized account of one of his "good rock and roll gun stories," implicating Phil Spector. This testimony contradicted Cohen’s own statements to Lynch, as she noted in an email to Dennis Riordan, Phil Spector’s appellate attorney. Cohen had repeatedly told Lynch, during countless interviews with journalists, that Spector had never held a gun on him.
Cohen’s testimony also stood in direct conflict with the narrative used by the District Attorney’s office against Spector, as outlined in a motion in limine and potentially during the Grand Jury proceedings according to Mick Brown. Journalist Mick Brown of the UK Telegraph contacted Lynch to explore these discrepancies, seeking to interview her about Cohen’s conflicting accounts and their potential implications for Spector’s case.
The Tall Tales of Leonard Cohen - Cohen’s “good rock ‘n roll stories” weren’t limited to Spector. He regaled audiences and journalists alike with fantastical stories, blurring the line between reality and myth:
• CIA and MK Ultra: Cohen claimed tangential connections to the CIA’s controversial mind-control experiments.
• Bay of Pigs and Missile Strikes: He wove tales of near-death experiences during geopolitical crises.
• Cuban Military Adventures: Cohen described a 14-year-old Cuban military officer training a gun on him, only to be embraced by Castro’s forces, who thought he looked like Che Guevara.
• Cold War Reconnaissance: Cohen recounted being mistaken for CIA reconnaissance, an assumption that allegedly ended in camaraderie with Cuban soldiers.
These stories, though entertaining, reveal Cohen’s penchant for dramatizing and reinventing his past—a tendency that has extended to his legal narratives. He recalled his excitement during the Bay of Pigs invasion, comparing himself to Upton Sinclair on an important mission. Cohen wrote to publisher Jack McClelland, ostensibly
to thank him for his first literary contract, ironically adding as a post script to the letter: “Just think how well the book will sell if I’m hit in an air-raid. What great publicity! Don’t tell me you haven’t been considering it. Hopelessly Hollywood.” Cohen understood his “good rock ‘n roll stories” sold books, records, and tours.
Phil Spector: A Convenient Diversion
Cohen’s attempts to link Lynch to Phil Spector served to further discredit her. The City Attorney targeted Lynch’s communications with Spector’s legal team, framing them as part of a broader, baseless narrative. This misdirection distracted from the substantive issues of Cohen’s financial misconduct and the systemic harassment Lynch endured.
Misrepresentation of Family Ties and Coordinated Harassment
The TMU report also included bizarre inaccuracies about many of Kelley Lynch’s communications. For example, it claimed her sister worked for a “billboard company” when she was, in fact, employed by Billboard magazine. This misrepresentation appears tied to a harassment campaign led by Stephen Gianelli, a Bay Area lawyer associated with Cohen’s legal team. Gianelli’s actions, which extended to Lynch’s family, exemplify the coordinated effort to intimidate and silence her. The communications, primarily sent to IRS, FBI, and DOJ (documenting the decades long stalking & harassment operation), were used as the basis for the proceedings and thoroughly distorted and taken out of context.
A Federal Matter Turned Local Weapon
The City Attorney’s involvement in federal tax issues—matters under the exclusive jurisdiction of the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI)—raises serious questions about jurisdiction and intent. By leveraging the fraudulent default judgment and Cohen’s narratives, the City Attorney overstepped their authority, turning local resources into a shield for Cohen and a weapon against Lynch. Artwork - City Attorney attempts to sabotage IRS and discredit Kelley Lynch.
The Bigger Picture: Misogyny, Misdirection, and Power
Kelley Lynch’s battle against Leonard Cohen, the City Attorney, and the LAPD’s TMU exposes systemic issues in the misuse of legal systems to protect powerful men. From the IRS Binder and fraudulent default judgment to Cohen’s contradictory testimony and fantastical stories, the tactics employed reflect a broader culture of misogyny and misdirection.
Weaponized Lies: Leonard Cohen’s IRS Binder, Misogynistic Narratives, and a Legal System Turned Against Kelley Lynch
In a legal saga marked by fabricated evidence, jurisdictional overreach, and systemic misogyny, Leonard Cohen’s legal team, the Los Angeles City Attorney, and the District Attorney’s office worked in concert to vilify Kelley Lynch, his former personal manager. From the use of a dubious “IRS Binder” to the targeting of her communications with federal agencies and the framing of legitimate actions as harassment, the campaign against Lynch exposes how legal systems can be manipulated to silence whistleblowers and protect powerful figures.
The IRS Binder: A Misleading Shield
Central to the City Attorney’s case was the so-called “IRS Binder,” falsely presented as evidence that Lynch was in possession of Cohen’s tax documents, including 1099s and K-1s, and that her allegations of tax fraud were baseless. However, the binder appeared to serve as a shield for Cohen rather than legitimate evidence. It included:
• Correspondence from Cohen’s attorney, Robert Kory, defending Cohen’s alleged tax fraud.
• IRS confirmations of refunds Lynch claims were obtained under false pretenses using her social security number which is identify theft. IRS has provided her with an Identity Theft PIN.
• Fabricated evidence and perjured declarations submitted to the IRS to bolster Cohen’s defense.
Rather than proving wrongdoing on Lynch’s part, the binder was weaponized to sanitize Cohen’s financial dealings and discredit Lynch’s whistleblowing. Artwork - Los Angeles City Attorney wields an oversized IRS Binder as a shield.
Hostile Cross-Examination: Redefining Harassment
During Lynch’s trial, the City Attorney’s prosecutor, who exhibited hostility and aggression throughout the proceedings, went so far as to redefine Lynch’s legitimate actions as harassment. While cross-examining Lynch, the prosecutor blatantly lied and distorted the facts: Artwork - LA City Attorney prosecutor gushing over Leonard Cohen on the witness stand.
• Requests for Tax Information: When Lynch asked, “Are you saying my requests for tax information are harassment?” the prosecutor replied, “Yes.” This response ignored Lynch’s legal right to request tax documentation, especially given her allegations of financial misconduct.
• Cease-and-Desist Letters: Lynch’s letters to Cohen, advising him to stop spreading falsehoods—such as the claim that she “fucked Oliver Stone,” a phrase the prosecutor used—were also framed as harassment. Cohen’s baseless allegation, confirmed by Lynch’s son’s father as part of a scheme orchestrated by Cohen and Kory, had no factual basis. Oliver Stone himself has publicly denied any romantic relationship with Lynch, and Lynch has vehemently reinforced this truth.
• Emails to Federal Agencies: The prosecutor singled out Lynch’s emails to the IRS, FBI, DOJ, and Treasury, labeling them harassment. These communications detailed Lynch’s legitimate concerns about Cohen’s tax fraud and financial misconduct, as well as the tactics used against her, making the prosecutor’s argument both legally and factually unfounded.
This approach sought to discredit Lynch’s actions, mischaracterizing her as irrational and vindictive rather than addressing the substantive issues she raised.
Altered Testimony and Fabricated Evidence
Lynch’s trial was further marred by manipulated evidence and testimony:
• SWAT Incident and Altered Records: Cohen testified about a SWAT incident, despite having no personal knowledge of the event. Lynch asserts that her call to Cohen to discuss Traditional Holdings, LLC, and the homes he purchased for Anjani Thomas and Adam Cohen, was removed from the transcripts. Emails and voicemails introduced as evidence by the City Attorney and LAPD TMU were altered, and Cohen testified he worked with a sound engineer, clearly to distort her voice and the context of her communications.
• Fraudulent Narratives: The City Attorney relied on the fraudulent default judgment Cohen obtained against Lynch, disregarding corporate governance and falsely claiming Lynch misappropriated funds when in fact Cohen misappropriated tens of millions from the business entities.
The District Attorney’s Alignment: A Coordinated Targeting
The City Attorney’s targeting of Lynch was aligned with the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office, which was prosecuting Phil Spector at the time. Lynch had written to Deputy District Attorney Alan Jackson, raising concerns about Cohen’s tax fraud after filing a complaint with the DA’s Major Fraud Unit about Cohen’s misappropriation of millions.
Stephen Gianelli, a Bay Area lawyer connected to Cohen’s legal team, confirmed that Jackson had contacted him regarding Lynch. Investigator William Frayeh of the DA’s office later stated that Gianelli likely found “a sympathetic ear” in Jackson, further suggesting a coordinated effort to silence Lynch while shielding Cohen.
The Broader Campaign of Harassment
Lynch’s ordeal extended beyond the courtroom:
• Stephen Gianelli’s Role: Gianelli orchestrated a “Stalking and Harassment Operation” targeting Lynch and her family as well as nearly everyone in her life.
• Phil Spector as a Smokescreen: Cohen’s testimony included one of his “good rock and roll gun stories” about Spector, which contradicted his own previous versions of this incident as well as statements Cohen made that Spector had never pointed a gun at him. Lynch’s connection to Spector became another avenue for prosecutors to discredit her, despite having no relevance to Cohen’s tax fraud or financial misconduct.
A Legal System Turned Against Whistleblowers
This case illustrates the troubling misuse of legal systems to protect powerful figures and discredit whistleblowers:
• Misuse of Jurisdiction: Federal tax matters fall under the IRS Criminal Investigation Division (IRS-CI), yet the City Attorney overstepped their authority by prosecuting Lynch for raising concerns about Cohen’s tax fraud.
• Fabrication of Harassment: Legitimate requests for tax information, cease-and-desist letters, and whistleblowing communications were all mischaracterized as harassment to delegitimize Lynch’s claims.
• Systemic Misogyny: The framing of Lynch as a scorned woman rather than addressing the substantive financial and legal issues highlights a broader culture of misogyny.
The Bigger Picture: Power, Lies, and Misogyny
From the IRS Binder and altered testimony to the coordinated efforts of the City Attorney and District Attorney, the campaign against Kelley Lynch underscores how legal narratives can be weaponized against whistleblowers. As Lynch continues her fight for justice, her case exposes the systemic abuse of power and the complicity of local authorities in protecting the legacy of Leonard Cohen while vilifying those who dare to challenge him.
The question remains: Will the truth about Cohen’s financial misconduct, the harassment campaign, and the misuse of legal systems to silence Lynch finally come to light? Only an unwavering commitment to justice and accountability will ensure that it does.
Disclaimer: The article and accompanying illustrations present Kelley Lynch as a "haute couture Buddhist" hipster character in an imaginative and stylized portrayal. This depiction reflects an artistic and surreal interpretation inspired by the complex legal disputes and public narratives that followed her split from Leonard Cohen. The choice to portray Lynch adorned in jewels and sophisticated attire references Cohen's statements after their parting, where he attributed her alleged “downfall” to extravagant spending on items like jewelry, shoes, and haute couture—a narrative Lynch firmly disputes. The artistic representation, while not intended as a literal portrayal, emphasizes the intensity and multifaceted nature of her legal claims, offering a metaphorical view into the high-stakes drama of her experience. This stylized depiction serves to underscore the layers of conflict, public perception, and personal resilience inherent in her story.
Copyright © 2024 Kelley Lynch. Unauthorized reproduction of this article or artwork is strictly prohibited. Photo - Jill, His Holiness Kusum Lingpa, and Kelley
