Novartis had the audacity to express pique over reports that the deal was connected to a meeting its current CEO, Vas Narasimhan, had with Trump in January at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Narasimhan had no role in the Cohen contract, the company says, and "suggestions to the contrary … can only be intended to further personal or political agendas." The statement is silent on what the deal says about the level of brainpower in its corporate suite. Novartis also says it was questioned about its relationship with Cohen by special prosecutor Robert S. Mueller III last year.

Source: Los Angeles Times May 09, 2018 17:59 UTC