Michael Cohen almost pulled it off. As Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Cohen went to great lengths to mask the source of a $130,000 payment to the adult film actress known as Stormy Daniels. Pseudonyms were reportedly used for Trump and Daniels in a settlement agreement, and Cohen routed the funds for the payment through a limited liability corporation he formed in Delaware, a state famous for its business-friendly laws and the latitude it grants corporate officers in concealing their identities. Cohen’s efforts might very well have succeeded if not for one critical mistake.

He signed his own name on the LLC’s certificate of formation.