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Among the audience for this morning’s hearing is Lynne Patton, a high-ranking political official in the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Patton is sitting behind Republican committee member Mark Meadows of North Carolina, a conservative who is very close with President Trump.

She tweeted about the hearing and Michael Cohen’s allegations:

Some background: Patton has a long history with both the Trump family and Michael Cohen. Cohen introduced Patton, a paralegal, to the Trumps. She would go on to serve as vice president of the Eric Trump Foundation and even planned Eric’s wedding in 2014. Her appointment in 2017 to head HUD’s New York and New Jersey office earned criticism, and she has continued to court controversy in office with her outspoken activity on social media.

It’s unclear why Patton, who works out of Manhattan, is on Capitol Hill. Asked for comment about her presence, Meadows told CNN “she has information.” Patton is black, and Cohen testified Wednesday that Trump is a “racist” who has said disparaging things about black people.

When initially contacted by CNN, the press office at HUD was unaware Patton was at the hearing.

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