Cohen testifies Trump told him to commit crime by paying off women

not surprised.

He sees women as chattel. Not surprising at all.

There for him to use and pay whenever he sees fit. Or to dismiss as crazy/liars/dogs when they are of no longer any use.

No surprises here. It also won't be a surprise when the same people who STILL talk about Clinton for his adultery turn around and shrug and say it doesn't matter with Trump -- who did FAR worse, on FAR many more occasions. And that's only the love affairs. Clinton didn't engage in paying money to influence the election, as Trump has clearly done, he did not obstruct investigations into anything, and he is not guilty of treason, as Trump is.

The number of dodgy people surrounding Trump is mind blowing.

he arranged payments to two women for their silence "for the principal purpose of influencing the election."

It will be interesting to see if Trump's evangelical base stick with him.

I'm sure the .01%ers will stand by their man; he's helping make them even richer.

From reading posts here on JT so will the Cult45ists who've admitted to having fossilized reasoning skills and can't 'evolve'. As will the farm/factory trolls who want Trump to continue ripping the US to shreds.

What will be most interesting to watch is how the Republican Party nabobs spin this with many elections coming up soon. He's always been toxic but never reeked of filthy waste quite like this. The Party know that stink is on them even more now.

I'm just waiting until the final conclusion. I just hope all the dots get connected and watch the consequences of Trump's (and the Trump GOP loyalists) arrogance catch up to him/them. Manafort's got 8/18 charges he's been found guilty of by a jury. The other 10 will show up again in a different trial.

Cohen is singing, but just how much he's actually told and provide evidence for prosecutors to make an even more solid case will be the icing on the cake.

For the Cult 45. The president is not above the law, no matter what you say, or how you spin mis-truths or silly distractions. The truth is the truth. The only time "the truth is not the truth" is when its a LIE. Giuliani already choked on his own words with that hilarious statement he put out.

rudy, you have turned into a super SLEEZEBALL!!!

I wouldn't be surprised if trump or one of his neanderthal's  have serious dirt on poor ole rudy, could explain is totally bizarre theatricals the last few months!

What they got on ya rudy-boy!! Or maybe you are just a SLEEZEBALL & that's all there is to it!

Ok, but where’s the crime?

trumplets own all of this mess....

This "mess" is a minor issue, most people are pretty happy to be working in the best economy in history. This peripheral fluff will be gone by next week and the economy will STILL be what voters care about.

Ok, but where’s the crime?

Cohen's voice cracked several times as he pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges in federal court in Manhattan, including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations

There you go. Or could these perhaps be "fake crimes"?

This "mess" is a minor issue, most people are pretty happy to be working in the best economy in history.

Because Obama's administration fixed it from garbage, and idiot Trump inherited a good economy. Although I already know that we're prepping for another economic downfall because of the same exact pattern over and over again.

This peripheral fluff will be gone by next week and the economy will STILL be what voters care about.

Yes, we do still care about the economy. Especially when it crashes AGAIN thanks to Trump's administration.

Roll back regulations, cut taxes, make it seem like it's going to keep going well forever... although all it does is provide short term gains for long term pain. This will be the 3rd time I've experienced this same sick cycle in US politics. My fellow citizens very rarely learn from history... especially since this has only happened in under 2 decades.

they key to being a Democrat is focusing on fluff topics like this and hope people don't notice the great economy when they vote.

It is amazing to me to see how divided people can be over their leaders.

We should be better than this in this age of information.

Virtually every comment here is just bashing others for their choices and opinions and saying your way is so much better lol.

@dangob don't notice the great economy 

Which is the current rightist mantra droned on ad infinitum by supporters of their political messiah. In 1930's Italy it was 'Make the trains run on time'.

No question most Americans prioritize the economy.

But most (the 35% Trump base is a minority) also want a leader they can trust.

They also want a clean physical environment.

And workers want some protection from thug employers.

And consumers want some protection from bait and switch (speaking of Trump) and other dirty practices.

For the majority of Americans the list of negative externalities far outweigh Trump's goosing up the economy for short term, political gains. But the that's what you'd expect from a slimy politician like him.

Under U.S. election law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. A payment intended to silence allegations of an affair just before an election could constitute a campaign contribution, which is limited to $2,700 per person per election, some experts said.

What gets politicians is not the original act but the cover up that follows it.

The act is now public and the illegal cover-up revealed. This could bring Trump down.

This won't be the only skeleton in his closet that could bring him down either, but ordering illegal payments to influence an election result makes the US look like a banana republic.

But most (the 35% Trump base is a minority) also want a leader they can trust.

What will the Democrat leaders' policy be? More illegal aliens and less jobs? Good luck winning that election...

So a sitting president was involved in crimes related to porn stars that he had affairs with, what is the big deal? This is hardly news.

God, this is just further proof that the liberal media is so biased. Why aren't we hearing about all the porn stars he didn't have affairs with and all the crimes he didn't commit in order to cover that up? Huh? I bet if Hillary had affairs with porn stars and then illegally paid them off, the news would be full of nothing but headlines covering all the porn stars she didn't have affairs with and crimes she didn't commit. But NO, you liberals just eat this up because whenever Trump is implicated in criminal behavior it somehow becomes newsworthy while the many hours a day he spends not committing crimes gets almost no coverage at all except when he is doing racist things or other normal president stuff, its so hypocritical. Geez.

A bad day for criminals and a very good day for the rule of law.

For now we need to stay focused on the very real legal jeopardy facing Crooked Donald. Campaign finance crimes of this kind are not trivial matters: under federal guidelines updated at the end of last year by Trump’s own justice department, a campaign finance crime committed knowingly and willfully amounting to more than $25,000 is what they call a five-year felony.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/21/trump-manafort-cohen-plea-bargain

He he. Lock him up!

Cohen's voice cracked several times as he pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges in federal court in Manhattan, including tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations. Facing up to five years in prison, the admissions were a dramatic change from Cohen's earlier boasts that he was Trump's "fixer" and would "take a bullet" for the president.

The person committing the crime here is Cohen not Trump.

Under U.S. election law, campaign contributions, defined as things of value given to a campaign to influence an election, must be disclosed. A payment intended to silence allegations of an affair just before an election could constitute a campaign contribution, which is limited to $2,700 per person per election, some experts said.

Hows paying off a couple off a porn star and playmate giving influence - we have to remember Bill Clinton was getting lucky with the interns, lied under oath and nothing happened there.

Trump's days are clearly numbered and there'll be dancing in the streets of America when he does the perp walk, and all the hypocritical whining from his followers about the "Left" will not save his orange bacon. Trump's troubles are mostly self-inflicted and from now on there'll be a constant parade of chickens coming home to roost. The next item on the agenda to MAGA is to roll up the unredeemable Republicans, the cynical enablers of this sun-tanned snake-oil salesman.

they key to being a Democrat is focusing on fluff topics like this and hope people don't notice the great economy when they vote.

Same thing happened under Obama. The economy improved and his haters focused on his birth certificate and kept thinking he was born in Kenya. But the Obama WH was more clever as no one got arrested.

Cohen can't be pardoned by Swamp because it's a state matter and not federal.

Swamp has associated with and surrounded himself with criminals all his career. And nothing has changed recently. He is heading for a sticky end.

It's coming...

ummmm because Cohen made the payments not Trump? And because Cohen admitted he made the payments, avoiding a trial where he would have to provide evidence that Trump told him to?

"If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn't they be a crime for Donald Trump?" Davis said.

I'm pretty sure prosecutors wouldn't take his word for it, without proof...

So, it makes me wonder what's these sweet sweet tapes of his...!

Everybody knew Trump was a player before he became the President. His base likes him more....

So who gets their collar felt next by Mueller's investigation up the Trump food chain?

Creepy queen Roger Stone has to be next? Kushner ? D-d-d-don Jnr?

If someone had written a screenplay like this pre-2016 they'd have been laughed out of Hollywood.

Cohen made the payments not Trump? And because Cohen admitted he made the payments, avoiding a trial where he would have to provide evidence that Trump told him to?

Just see what happens to turn up in court, that's all. Wait and see.

Hows paying off a couple off a porn star and playmate giving influence

Well, why were they paid off if not to influence the election?

A lot of Trump's supporters are from a religious right background where extra marital affairs would be deemed to demonstrate poor integrity. The publicity would have weakened him at a time when he was making outrageous claims about his opponent's lack ofintegrity.

Dango bongToday 01:44 pm JST

...hope people don't notice the great economy when they vote.

I suspect most ordinary Americans won't notice anything all that "great" going on.

Rainy - so very, very good.

A question is where the money came from. Cohen was reimbursed, clearly, and Trump is notoriously tight-fisted. Did it come from his charity? Inquiring minds want to know - and we will, eventually, after a year of investigation and testimony. And this is just illegal campaign donations; we haven't even started on the Russian collusion. The Trump presidency is over.

Laguna: The Trump presidency is over.

I agree. You called this in the dark days after the shock election - that American justice is slow but you get their in the end.

People need to get out in November and vote Democrat to ensure Trump is held accountable. The enablers in the insane Republican party share guilt by association and failure to challenge the out of control monster they brought to life and nurtured....

Get there in the end dammit predictive text !!

...or it could be even worse. Why does everything Trump touch seem to link back to Russia? Remember the name Columbus Nova.

The "Great Orange One" is toast - and should be fitted for his orange jumpsuit.

His attorney just said under oath that his "candidate" directed him to pay off a porn star and a Playboy bunny, with the specific intent of influencing an election, a violation of several US statutes. And one wonders what Melania thinks...

We have to clean the stench out of the White House - get rid of all these fraudsters, grifters, perverts, wife-beaters, and other degenerates - the first being the head Degenerate in Chief...

So who gets their collar felt next by Mueller's investigation up the Trump food chain? Creepy queen Roger Stone has to be next? Kushner ? D-d-d-don Jnr?

Yep, reckon Ivanka/Jared & Cohen could go down together. The whole Trump clan must be shaking in their boots now that Cohen's broken the Omerta. Barron's probably the only one who's safe.

American justice is slow but you get their in the end.

Yes, it took awhile for Brennan to get his security clearance revoked, Strzok and McCabe are gone as well, now which dirty cop will get the next shoe?

People need to get out in November and vote Democrat to ensure Trump is held accountable.

On what message? Opposing Trump, ok....but then what? How will they govern? They lost over 1000 legislative seats since the reconstruction period, they have warped ideas, they don’t have a clue about the economy or even how to create jobs, they believe in regulations, stiffing the middle class and think the environment is more important than the humans living on it.

The enablers in the insane Republican party share guilt by association and failure to challenge the out of control monster they brought to life and nurtured....

Ok, so that’s the compliant? Seems pretty weak. Republicans suck, don’t get me wrong, it if it’s a choice between a veggie burger and and a fish burger, I’ll hold my nose and go with the fish burger.

His attorney just said under oath that his "candidate" directed him to pay off a porn star and a Playboy bunny, with the specific intent of influencing an election, a violation of several US statutes. 

LOL! What statutes are those? When do we arrest all the campaign managers and every media company president? They get paid to influence elections, too. Attempting to influence elections is illegal... very interesting, kids these days.

And why would "candidate" be in scare quotes? Trump was not only a candidate, he was one of the most successful candidates in history. Nobody is questioning that he was a candidate. Please explain your choice of punctuation.

commanteer - Ha ha! "Scare quotes" - no, that's a direct quote from the indictment. It certainly should scare someone, but that was not the purpose of its usage. Donald J. Trump, you see, is now an unnamed co-conspirator.

His attorney just said under oath that his "candidate" directed him to pay off a porn star and a Playboy bunny, with the specific intent of influencing an election, a violation of several US statutes. And one wonders what Melania thinks..

But none of it a crime. This is the funny thing about liberals, they just don’t understand the US Justice system. Cohen doesn’t want to go to prison that’s obvious, he will do anything to make sure that doesn’t happen and the man has a family, so it would be safe to say, with the relationship he and Trump had over the years, he doesn’t want to hurt his client and friend, so he will put his family first no matter what, even if that includes singing and COMPOSING! Now if Muller pushes him say whatever in order to get a sweet deal he might do that, it happens all the time. Ask Sammy “the bull.” So now Cohen is a credible witness? Lol

And why would "candidate" be in scare quotes? Trump was not only a candidate, he was one of the most successful candidates in history. Nobody is questioning that he was a candidate. Please explain your choice of punctuation.

Bingo!

I placed a large bet on Trump to not finish a full term in office. The odds have tumbled since then.

I had a quick look just now and there are odds being offered on Russia naming an airport in Trump’s honour.

The very fact that bookies would offer a bet like that is disturbing.

LOL! What statutes are those? When do we arrest all the campaign managers and every media company president? They get paid to influence elections, too. Attempting to influence elections is illegal... very interesting, kids these days.

Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971, Subtitle 3, Sub Chapter 301, para 9 (a).

And why would "candidate" be in scare quotes? Trump was not only a candidate, he was one of the most successful candidates in history. Nobody is questioning that he was a candidate. Please explain your choice of punctuation.

Trump supporters - I sometimes wonder if they can read...Cohen had only one client that was a candidate in 2016...

But none of it a crime.

Uh, yeah, actually, there were several crimes. Felony involvement in election violations carries a maximum ten-year penalty. Perhaps Trump should sic Kobach on this.

What are the odds now on President Pence pardoning crooked Donald, Jim?

I can only assume that an adult in the Whitehouse has ripped the smartphone from Trump's tiny fingers. A wise move for self-incrimination but it's hardly fair for those of us that were expecting and looking forward to reading the most unhinged tweets yet....

"I placed a large bet on Trump to not finish a full term in office."

That was a mistake. You're gonna lose a lot of money.

So Trump's former campaign chairman was convicted of some crimes. It's not gonna bring down Trump.

Mueller is going after Santa Claus next for breaking and entering.

Cohen decided he would rather take a dong than a bullet for Trump.

"I placed a large bet on Trump to not finish a full term in office."

That was a mistake. You're gonna lose a lot of money.

Maybe. The bookies saw it as a 50/50 shot up to today. They may adjust the odds in light of these developments.

I’m just amazed that the odds are as short as Trump’s fingers.

Fancy a flutter on the Russian airport bet?

Trump supporters - I sometimes wonder if they can read...Cohen had only one client that was a candidate in 2016...

Yes, and we can read to you if you need assistance. Now explain why Cohen having one candidate as a client would necessitate quotation marks.

Federal Elections Campaign Act of 1971, Subtitle 3, Sub Chapter 301, para 9 (a). "any purchase, payment, distribution, loan, advance, deposit, or gift of money or anything of value, made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office"

That doesn't work, because the context makes clear that they are referring to vote-buying and the such. Paying someone to keep their mouth shut is not a crime unless you are paying them not to testify in court. The way you misread it (which is funny for someone who proudly states he is intellectually superior to Trump voters), anyone who receives money from a campaign would be guilty, including ad agencies, for example.

I really don't mean to pick on you, but I find that people who regularly label others as stupid are not usually the brightest bulbs on the tree themselves. I am sure you can find a typo in here, if it makes you feel better.

I just read the full passage. It's not about vote buying or influencing.

To help you out, the "crime" (notice how I did that?) is not the "influencing of an election" but has to do with not disclosing campaign contributions. They will try to make the case that these cash payments for silence (which are perfectly legal in themselves) can be defined as campaign contributions that were not declared.

Every campaign violates contribution laws, it's rampant - partly because they are complicated. When somebody actually faces prison, it's usually motivated by politics.

Amazing (and great news) that Cohen states on the record that Trump told him to pay off people who may have damaged his election chances. As someone wrote, Cohen has committed a crime (and confessed to doing so) so Trump has also committed a crime. This is just the beginning. The first of Mueller's dominoes are being knocked down.

As far as history is concerned, I wonder how this Tuesday will come to be known. We have Paul Manafort's conviction, Michael Cohen pleading guilty, along with the devastating admission that he paid two women at the direction of Donald Trump himself; And not only that, but that the hush money was paid to influence the election (So many damaging headlines to pick from). Every news organization out there is having trouble right now on which story to have at the top of the front page; one devastatingly new one keeps topping the other every couple of minutes.

For a supposedly innocent business genius, the President sure surrounded himself with a lot of guilty & incompetent people.

Michael Cohen:

The charges: The counts against Cohen included tax fraud, false statements to a bank and campaign finance violations tied to his work for Trump, including payments Cohen made or helped orchestrate that were designed to silence women who claimed affairs with the then-candidate.

Where Trump fits in: Cohen admitted that "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office" he acted to keep information that would have been harmful to the candidate from becoming public. Though Trump himself isn't named, the court filing refers to an Individual-1, who by January 2017 had become president of the United States.

The Result: The President is in effect an unindicted co-conspirator in Cohen efforts to silence these women.

I’m amazed how something is true just because Michael Cohen “says so”. Last month when Michael Cohen “said so” about something. liberals said it was a lie.

Anyone who says anything anti-trump instantly transforms from proven liar to amazing teller of truths within an hour.

each media frenzy gets a little less frenzied. No bullets left in the gun, used up Cohen and Manafort in one hour and nothing has changed.

I’m amazed how something is true just because Michael Cohen “says so”. Last month when Michael Cohen “said so” about something. liberals said it was a lie.

He testified under oath and there are tapes. When is your boy going to get on the stand and testify under oath?

Anyone who says anything anti-trump instantly transforms from proven liar to amazing teller of truths within an hour.

Uh, we didn't talk to Russians at Trump Tower, we did talk to Russians, we talked to them about adoptions, we didn't talk to them about adoptions, we talked to them about dirt on Hillary, Don Jr wrote the memo, Trump wrote the memo, etc. etc.

each media frenzy gets a little less frenzied. No bullets left in the gun, used up Cohen and Manafort in one hour and nothing has changed.

Bullets? They've got bombs (as in bombshells)...

Apparently, Michael Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, said on MSNBC that Cohen will tell Mueller (a) Trump colluded with the Russians, and (b) his collusion involved knowing about Russian hacking in advance.

Trumpsters better get that spin going.

Apparently, Michael Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, said on MSNBC that Cohen will tell Mueller (a) Trump colluded with the Russians, and (b) his collusion involved knowing about Russian hacking in advance.

Links please, oh please give us links!!!! I'm salivating at the mouth! The more legitimate sources the better!

So again when did something become indisputablt proven just because Cohen says it. Yesterday?

Liberals have already forgotten attacking and mocking Rudy Giuliani for days in May when he said Cohen was an honest and honorable man.

If he was a liar and a scumbag then as you claimed what has changed?oh, he is saying things you want to hear that are soothing to your ears now, so it’s he’s ok for you know.

Please don’t forget to apologize to Rudy.

So, midterms are coming, but it doesn't look like democrats will have enough to impeach the Prez, though he clearly deserves it. Hopefully, someone in the Republican party will try to get the GOP nomination over Trump in the next Prez election.

Russia tried to hack both parties, but the Republicans were better at security. They did get access to 1 GOP email account, which was not useful. OTOH, the Russians were able to gain access to the Dems systems - perhaps all those lefty computer guys need to help their party and stop being paid $250+K/yr by facebook?

Operator at the Kremlin: ' Da? '

Donny: ' Can you connect me with the President. it's urgent'

Operator: ' I'll check if he's available'

Donny: ' I need to speak with him, it's a matter of life and death'

Operator: ' He's in a meeting and not available'

Donny: ' Did you tell him that's urgent?'

Operator: 'Da da' 'The President has other priorities'

Donny: 'Just connect me with his secretary, damn it'

Operator: computer says njet

*Black: So again when did something become indisputablt proven just because Cohen says it. *

Are we going back to the, “Cohen paid these people with no input from me out of the kindness of his heart” defense?

commanteer, let me help you consider this. A single donation to a campaign exceeding $2,250 is illegal. Contributions in kind are also illegal, such as providing $280,000 worth of advertising. So when Cohen paid that amount to two of Trump's mistresses so that they would shut up, the only question that remains is whether that is a campaign contribution in kind. Pretty much every lawyer says so.

So again when did something become indisputablt proven just because Cohen says it.

Really? That's your argument?

You really didn't think it through did you. Why the hell would Cohen make something up and plead guilty in court to that's going to put him in jail for years?

Use some logic man.

Liberals have already forgotten attacking and mocking Rudy Giuliani for days in May when he said Cohen was an honest and honorable man. If he was a liar and a scumbag then as you claimed what has changed?oh, he is saying things you want to hear that are soothing to your ears now, so it’s he’s ok for you know.

Who is saying Cohen is honest and honorable? The guy was a sleazebag in May and a sleazebag now, just like Manafort and Trump. He's just a sleazebag that admitted under oath to his crimes and has documentary evidence that Trump is a criminal also. Put them all in orange jumpsuits.

Remember stranger, the FBI hates Trump so we can assume they made him say it to go after Trump.

So, midterms are coming, but it doesn't look like democrats will have enough to impeach the Prez, though he clearly deserves it. Hopefully, someone in the Republican party will try to get the GOP nomination over Trump in the next Prez election.

I'd like to see the sane Republicans abandon the cesspool the current republican party has become, and create a viable third party.

Who is saying Cohen is honest and honorable? The guy was a sleazebag in May and a sleazebag now, just like Manafort and Trump. He's just a sleazebag that admitted under oath to his crimes and has documentary evidence that Trump is a criminal also. Put them all in orange jumpsuits.

Bingo.

Remember stranger, the FBI hates Trump so we can assume they made him say it to go after Trump.

Ahh, now I get it. He agreed to go to prison for years because the FBI asked nicely.

Cohen must be a Democrat.

Cohen taped a client and then tried to use it against him. His credibility as a lawyer/witness is zero.

So Trump didn't collude with Russia, but he may have colluded with two women. OK, back to the booming economy! And to Mueller - give it up already, we are tired of this BS investigation that is costing millions of taxpayer dollars and distracting from more pressing issues.

Stick to YouTube links, Serrano.

To avoid the 15 years he was going to get if he didn’t say it. This man pled guilty to making illegal campaign contributions on payments that he didn’t even make himself. He didn’t pay Karen McDougal, still pled guilty to it anyway.

you can contribute as much of your own money to your own campaign as you want. Also even if this was an illegal contribution you pay a fine and move on. Just like Obama did.

ou really didn't think it through did you. Why the hell would Cohen make something up and plead guilty in court to that's going to put him in jail for years?

Cohen taped a client and then tried to use it against him. His credibility as a lawyer/witness is zero.

You write that as if the second is somehow a result of the first. Not seeming to realize that makes no sense whatsoever.

His integrity may be at zero, but his credibility is not impacted by the taping whatsoever.

So Trump didn't collude with Russia

And somehow you've drawn another baseless conclusion.

but he may have colluded with two women.

May have? Try 'did'.

to Mueller - give it up already, we are tired of this BS investigation that is costing millions of taxpayer dollars and distracting from more pressing issues.

Oh, didn't you hear? He just got a guilty verdict from Trump's campaign manager, and set in motion events that got a guilty plea from Trump's personal lawyer. Those two things alone would justify the investigation, ignoring everyone who is still to go down. Trump's days are numbered. The swamp will be drained! LOCK THEM UP! LOCK THEM ALL UP!

It’s called a “plea DEAL” for a reason.

He said what the prosecutor wanted and pled to things there aren’t even crimes to get a DEAL. No judge or jury has corroborated in any way that any of the payments made were illegal or were campaign contributions. That’s for the election commission to determine and nowhere close to a crime.

It’s called a “plea DEAL” for a reason.

Yeah, they make a deal to plead guilty, due to the overwhelming evidence against them, in returning a more lenient sentence.

Or, we could go with your assertion, that Cohen just wanted to do something nice for the FBI because he secretly hated Trump.

Donald Trump broke the law to win the White House. His Presidency is illegitimate.

Some cracking articles from the graun today

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/22/cancer-trump-presidency-michael-cohen-guilty-plea-criminal

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/aug/21/trump-manafort-cohen-plea-bargain

"So Trump didn't collude with Russia

"And somehow you've drawn another baseless conclusion."

How many more years is it gonna take Mueller to fabricate some evidence of collusion, Stranger? He's had two years and has come up with ZERO.

"Oh, didn't you hear? He just got a guilty verdict from Trump's campaign manager, and set in motion events that got a guilty plea from Trump's personal lawyer. Those two things alone would justify the investigation..."

The investigation was supposedly launched to find collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russians. Nothing yet!

"... ignoring everyone who is still to go down. Trump's days are numbered"

Oh, so the REAL purpose of the investigation is to bring down the duly elected president of the United States for political reasons! Gotcha, Stranger!

Cohen taped a client and then tried to use it against him. His credibility as a lawyer/witness is zero.

Agree - he's a sleezebag - but let me ask again, when's your sleezebag (Trump) going to get on the witness stand under oath?

So Trump didn't collude with Russia,

I've never heard Robert Mueller say that...

but he may have colluded with two women.

I don't believe "collude" is the correct term to describe what Trump did to these two women. Ask Melania, she could tell you...

OK, back to the booming economy!

And trillion dollar debt...

And to Mueller - give it up already, we are tired of this BS investigation that is costing millions of taxpayer dollars and distracting from more pressing issues.

Translation: We're scared to death of Mueller and our heads are exploding trying to process all this bad news for our exalted leader.

Links please, oh please give us links!!!! I'm salivating at the mouth! The more legitimate sources the better!

Sure thing!

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/08/22/cohen-lawyer-lanny-davis-suggests-his-client-has-knowledge-implicating-trump-in-criminal-conspiracy-to-hack-democratic-emails/?utm_term=.de7aa74eca19

Ye gods, it's happening.

The only thing that can divert this is a war.

Cohen’s lawyer just launched a gofundme page that liberals will actually donate to now that they appreciate the sweet words coming from ex-sleazebag Cohen’s mouth.

"Donald Trump broke the law to win the White House. His Presidency is illegitimate."

Wrong. Where is the proof he broke any laws?

Trump is a sleazebag too, right?

Sure, the Trump thing needs to be wrapped up so that we can spend equal time and effort investigating the clinton side of this election.i think the next 18 months would suffice. Hasn’t even been touched yet.

Did you forget that she is under criminal investigation? And that there is an active IG investion into FISA abuses and spying on the Trump campaign?

Oh, so the REAL purpose of the investigation is to bring down the duly elected president of the United States for political reasons!

If you call being a dirty criminal with small hands political reasons, which considering you think zero equals three is a plausible explanation, then sure it's for 'political reasons'.

Sure, the Trump thing needs to be wrapped up

But you said you were patient. Which is it?

so that we can spend equal time and effort investigating the clinton side of this election.

Oh, we already had four years of Clinton investigations. Mueller's barely had a year. You can be patient while Mueller puts away every one of your swamp dwellers over the next three.

Lots of Trump's people heading to prison. We told you they were corrupt, but you didn't listen.

The charges: The counts against Cohen included tax fraud, false statements to a bank and campaign finance violations tied to his work for Trump, including payments Cohen made or helped orchestrate that were designed to silence women who claimed affairs with the then-candidate.

No doubt it doesn’t look good for Manafort. He just might have to eat some bologna sandwiches for awhile until Trump can pardon him.

Where Trump fits in: Cohen admitted that "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office" he acted to keep information that would have been harmful to the candidate from becoming public. Though Trump himself isn't named, the court filing refers to an Individual-1, who by January 2017 had become president of the United States.

Ok, I get it, so where is the shocking crime libs talk about? Also, we don’t know how hard Mueller will tighten the screws on Cohen, he does have a credibility problem, that’s already known, so how can he be believed? Because Mueller says so? It kinda reminds me when Strzok said, him hatin Trump would in No way impair his biases on the investigation, alsmot choked to death with laughter hearing that.

The Result: The President is in effect an unindicted co-conspirator in Cohen efforts to silence these women.

Probably, happens before he was President, so what’s the crime?

He didn’t pay Karen McDougal, still pled guilty to it anyway.

Good point, Black! That was $150,000 dollars, if my Trump scorecard is correct, and that kind of money doesn't come out of nowhere. One may think that relevant authorities are investigating this.

It’s called a “plea DEAL” for a reason.

Yes, it is. It means that the authorities have ample evidence to put you away for a long time, and you attempt to shorten that time by providing them with useful information. Notice the qualifier: if your info is true but useless, you'll do the time minus parole; if it's a lie, you'll do the full time.

but yet conveniently not corrupt when they are witnesses telling you what you want to hear. If Cohen case meant anything and these were really “campaign donations” mueller would have kept it for his own investigation. His investigation supposedly about the campaign, or did he forget that when be handed it off.

 We told you they were corrupt, but you didn't listen.

And that there is an active IG investion into FISA abuses and spying on the Trump campaign?

We have to wait for another IG investigation? Haven't you fallen for this enough?

The national enquirer magazine paid it. Yet somehow Cohen pled guilty to paying that too. Anyway it’s irrelevant because even in the unlikely case the FEC (not a prosecutor) decides it’s illegal its just a fine.

You said it, “useful” information. It’s very useful to link Trump to any or all of this. The one case the prosecutor wouldn’t care if it’s a lie.

No one interested why Cohen did NOT say the name “Trump” in court? Everyone saying he testified Trump told him to do it. No “trump” in the transcript. Why?

Probably, happens before he was President, so what’s the crime?

The crime would be conspiracy. If it is discovered that Trump told Cohen to make the payments, then he would be charged with be a willing participant in violating campaign finance laws as spelled out in the original indictment. I'll provide the two violations for you for quick reference:

Count Seven of the Information charges the defendant with willfully causing an unlawful corporate contribution, from at least in or about June 2016, up to and including in or about October 2016, in violation of52 U.S.C. §§ 3011801) & 30109(d)(l)(A), and 18 U.S.C. §2(b). Count Seven carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years; a maximum term of supervised release of 3 years; a maximum fine of $250,000, twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss to persons other than the defendant resulting from the offense; and a $100 mandatory special assessment. Rev, 041242018

Count Eight of the Information charges the defendant with making an excessive campaign contribution, on or about October 27, 2016, in violation of 52 U.S.C. §§ 30116(a)(1)(A), 30116(a)(7) & 30109(d)(l)(A), and 1:; USC. § 20:). Count Eight carries a maximum term of imprisonment of 5 years; a maximum term of supervised release of 3 years; a maximum fine of $250,000, twice the gross pecuniary gain derived from the offense, or twice the gross pecuniary loss to persons other than the defendant resulting from the offense, and a $100 mandatory special assessment.

You can read the nice .pdf file of the entire indictment here:

https://int.nyt.com/data/documenthelper/182-cohen-plea-deal/9bc6cd47e7c48e9f9469/optimized/full.pdf#page=1

Oh, and remember, Cohen has already plead guilty to violating these two charges and implicated Trump as being a part of it. You can read his statement here:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/21/nyregion/michael-cohen-plea-deal-trump.html

but yet conveniently not corrupt when they are witnesses telling you what you want to hear.

No. And for two reasons: if you tell them what is true but it's useless to them, you'll do the full time minus parole; if you tell them what they want to hear (i.e., lie), you'll do the full time. Did you not read my above post? These people are professionals. They will not stop, and they can not be BSd.

Sooner or later, Mr. Orange himself will be in a matching orange jumpsuit.

@Serrano:

dmacleod: "Off the topic. Obama, the debt, or anything else that you bring up that has nothing to do with the article is irrelevant to this discussion."

lincolnman was the one who brought up the "$20 trillion debt, not me, I just responded, go take this up with him, lol.

Wrong again. Scroll up and read Dango Bong's comment from 1:13 p.m. Lincolnman was responding to him.

Oh my! indeed.

Northern: "thanks for the awesome links to Hannity great job dude"

You're welcome, dude. Now watch it and learn, especially from Mark Levin.

@dmacleod

Wrong. Scroll up and read lincolnman's comment from 10:31pm. I was responding to him.

Oh my!

don't notice the great economy when they vote.

great economies dont last forever and is no excuse for crime & corruption

Wrong. Where is the proof he broke any laws?

hold on Muellers just frying up the small fish entrees as we speak, the "Shark Steaks" main course

will be along when the entrees have all been served.

And Trump supporters criticize me when i say they may not be the "brightest bulbs on the tree...." They further the stereotype with every post they make...

We have thought like that about liberals since 1992 and it just only worsened through the years.

The crime would be conspiracy.

Which in itself is not a crime.

great economies dont last forever and is no excuse for crime & corruption

Great comment, another reason why liberals suck at economics. They just don’t care.

"Muellers investigative powers"

In 2 years he still ain't found anything tying Trump with Russian collusion.

Manafort started all this during the Clinton campaign... you know, back when Russia was actually run by the mob. How you jump from this guy to “impeach Trump” is classic TDS.

Oh my...

Paul Manafort Guilty on Eight Counts, Mistrial on Ten/ Cohen Plea Deal

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfKDDOk6HAI

In 2 years he still ain't found anything tying Trump with Russian collusion.

He hasn't found anything linking Trump to assault, either.

The crime would be conspiracy.

Which in itself is not a crime.

Wrong. Read all about the criminal statute for conspiracy here:

https://www.justice.gov/usam/criminal-resource-manual-923-18-usc-371-conspiracy-defraud-us

. . . you can contribute as much of your own money to your own campaign as you want. *

Cohen was not running for office. Trump was. Cohen made the payments as he admitted, and those payments violated Campaign Finance Laws (as Cohen also admitted to).

Also even if this was an illegal contribution you pay a fine and move on.

Wrong. The penalties for illegal contributions was spelled out clearly in the indictment. It's up to a judge to determine how much prison time Cohen will serve.

Wrong.

No, if it were a crime Trump would be in a striped suit, that won’t happen. Manafort is smiling, he knows he’s got this. Trump won’t fail him.

Wow the absolute denial of reality for Cult 45'ers is a fact. They will grasp at anything to pretend that everything is just fine and peachy for their guy, and big bad people are out to get him. Oh yeah, since I'm not a liberal or a dem, I must be invisible to them. Or they'll just try and slap a liberal/dem label on me just to make themselves feel better.

Should this reach it's ultimate conclusion if favor of the betterment of the US, I wonder what they'll do when they finally have to see the reality that it was themselves all along.

No, if it were a crime Trump would be in a striped suit, that won’t happen.

No, you stated that conspiracy was not a crime. I provided proof that you were wrong about that. Conspiracy is a crime. The fact that Trump isn't wearing a "striped suit" is irrelevant to the issue of whether conspiracy is a crime or not. Have to courage to admit that you were wrong.

It's up to the Special Counsel to determine if Trump should be charged with conspiracy. Ultimately, it will be up to Congress to determine if he is guilty of it or not. Therefore, it's too early to determine any guilt or innocence at this point.

Manafort is smiling, he knows he’s got this. *

Oh, he's got it all right--a fatal case of legal herpes.

Trump won’t fail him.

I wouldn't be so sure about that.

No, if it were a crime Trump would be in a striped suit, that won’t happen. Manafort is smiling, he knows he’s got this. Trump won’t fail him.

That's called corruption Bass. That is what organized crime syndicates do, that's what corrupt government politicians do, that's what anyone who only looks out for fellow cronies do. You're advocating for blatant obvious corruption at an executive level. Party before country, president before country, self serving interests before country. And you have the nerve to think that is what a truly patriotic American stands for?

There is this thing called "Truth, Justice, and the American way...."

You've sold your soul.

Mueller is fixated on sex - which of course isn’t a crime.

You're advocating for blatant obvious corruption at an executive level.

When you have corrupt cops trying to take down a duly elected President with the help of partisan Democrats lawyers, talk about corruption to the highest level.

Party before country, president before country, self serving interests before country. And you have the nerve to think that is what a truly patriotic American stands for?

Oh, spare me! Damn the people, damn the system, we don’t like or respect the people’s wishes, so we feel we need to overthrow and overturn the election and will use any means necessary to achieve that goal.

There is this thing called "Truth, Justice, and the American way...." 

Yes, when Strzok, McCabe and Brennan got their just desert, it was most definitely Justice served cold.

You've sold your soul.

I’m not a liberal.

No, you stated that conspiracy was not a crime.

It is not necessarily a crime.

I wouldn't be so sure about that

I’m quite sure of that.

There is this thing called "Truth, Justice, and theAmerican way...."

Ha! Come on - get real! That died when Hillary mishandled national security documents, lied, then got away with it - all with the help of the people who were supposed to be investigating her. Bill lied to the FBI about sex and he was exonerated by the Dems in the Senate. Justice in America depends on which side of the political spectrum you sit on. If you are on the politically incorrect side, expect to be held to a different standard. Equal justice in America today is a fraud.

When you have corrupt cops trying to take down a duly elected President 

If it bothers you so much then call for Sessions and Rosenstein be fired.

I'd like to see the sane Republicans abandon the cesspool the current republican party has become, and create a viable third party.

Trump was supposed to shake them up and he has, but not in a good way.

The Tea-Party wing was too hateful to be useful. The Dems are becoming like them now, with violence and property destruction rather than words.

Those in the middle are pissed at pretty much all politicians and their petty fights over stupid things that really shouldn't be fought about. Just looking in California how the representatives there keep being bought by the big tech and internet companies, is scary. And we've got to fix the voting issues across the country, but with a complete solution, not just 1 aspect (paper ballots). In my state, 7 polling locations are being forced to close due to the ACA, so only 2 will remain in a poor, rural, county. That makes voting less easy for many people. Dems are going crazy, but not helping to get the private locations updated to meet ACA mandates.

Time for a Constitutional Conventions to fix the problems the USA political system has. We need a little less corporate control, a little more socialism, and automatic penalties for corrupt politicians and golfers.

When you have corrupt cops trying to take down a duly elected President with the help of partisan Democrats lawyers, talk about corruption to the highest level.

Just stop it. We've been over this nonsense before. This has been debunked and is a pathetic non-argument aimed at changing the subject based on right-wing talking points. If you want to see actual corruption, you can take a good look at the current President and his administration. Then again, you will most likely put your head in the sand (or elsewhere) whenever this harsh reality comes up. Meanwhile, the recent conviction of Manafort plus guilty pleas by others involved with Trump point to actual corruption instead of the imagined corruption that you keep peddling.

Oh, spare me! Damn the people, damn the system, we don’t like or respect the people’s wishes, so we feel we need to overthrow and overturn the election and will use any means necessary to achieve that goal.

Oh, spare me and stop your whining. The criminal wrongdoings of the people associated with Trump have shown Trump and his cronies to be unfit for office. We'll see what happens this November so that we can find out if the Republicans need to be thrown out of office in order to put an end to this lawless president and his administration. There will be no Electoral College to help Trump and the Republicans this time.

You've sold your soul.

I’m not a liberal.

Ridiculous.

No, you stated that conspiracy was not a crime.

It is not necessarily a crime.

It most certainly is, and I gave plenty of evidence to support my point. How about you do the same instead of simply blurting out a juvenile retort devoid of any substance in response.

I wouldn't be so sure about that

I’m quite sure of that.

I'm sure you are. However, I wouldn't be to sure of anything until after the election and Mueller's report comes out.

If you want to see actual corruption, you can take a good look at the current President and his administration. 

I see the corruption completely with the intelligence agencies, Mueller and his gang of Democrat lawyers are as corrupt as they come.

It most certainly is

It is not a crime, if it almost every person on the planet would be behind bars, Trump has nothing to fear and the only thing Mueller has at this point is really tax cheat and greedy former Trump employees.

I see the corruption completely with the intelligence agencies

How sad. You sound like one of those BLM guys now.

It is not a crime, if it almost every person on the planet would be behind bars, Trump has nothing to fear

Perhapswe should leave that too the real lawyers to decide, but I can't think why almost every person in the planet would be behind bars. Have you ever been involved in a cover-up to influence the result of a presidential election?

Have you ever been involved in a cover-up to influence the result of a presidential election?

A bunch of people in the Obama FBI and DOJ have been involved in covering up their misconduct. A bunch have already been fired or demoted because of it. At this point justice is no longer possible. Whatever happens half the country will reject the outcome.

Mueller is fixated on sex

No he's not.

which of course isn’t a crime.

"It's a crime" claimed no one, ever.

A bunch of people in the Obama FBI and DOJ have been involved in covering up their misconduct.

It wasn't Obama's FBI and DOJ, it was and always has been simply the FBI and DOJ. They're supposed to remain neutral to politics, but they've always leaned conservative. What misconduct are you talking about specifically?

A bunch have already been fired or demoted because of it.

Because Trump fired them for reasons that make no sense, hence the special investigation.

At this point justice is no longer possible. Whatever happens half the country will reject the outcome.

You can't reject outcomes you don't like. That's not how justice works. You have to provide sufficient proof of misconduct or corruption.

This is exactly the reason Trump fired intelligence officials, revoked security clearances, and constantly cries fake news (a term originally coined for fake stories that supported Trump). He wants to erode trust in the system among his core base that elected him despite his known history as a con artist. You're all his marks. Wake up.

It grows toresome listening to Trump fans blame Democrats and the media for things Rosenstein and Sessions, two Republicans appointed by Trump, are doing.

Clean up your own mess.

It grows toresome listening to Trump fans blame Democrats and the media for things Rosenstein and Sessions, two Republicans appointed by Trump, are doing.

And now that he knows they’re part of corrupt tentacle that extends deep into the swamp.

Clean up your own mess.

That is what this President is doing.

And now that he knows they’re part of corrupt tentacle that extends deep into the swamp.

Exactly - they're both Republicans, the party of criminals.

In an interview with Ainsley Earhardt on Fox News, on Aug. 22nd, he admitted that he did the deed, while claiming that what he did was not a crime. He would have us believe that telling his lawyer to commit several felonies on his behalf, felonies to which his lawyer has pleaded guilty, is not itself a crime. While Cohen has expressed regret, and admitted guilt, Trump continues to claim that everything is a witch-hunt. Meanwhile he has admitted today on TV that he did the crime for which he is accused.

Exactly - they're both Republicans, the party of criminals.

Working for the corrupt Democrats and one being a communist sympathizer.

Working for the corrupt Democrats and one being a communist sympathizer.

But unlike democrats, they are criminals. Guilty by jury, guilty by their own admissions.

Lock them all up and burn down the prison.

@PTownsend

The so called “evangelical base” are nothing more than some self righteous evil and despicable excuses for human beings hiding behind religion and the Bible that they claim to believe in!

their only interests lie in money and influence.

they will support both of those things at any rate.

Working for the corrupt Democrats and one being a communist sympathizer.

Bass4funk: Yeah the president said something incredibly stupid, but that was nearly 15 minutes ago. Why won't liberals move on?

Also Bass4funk: Someone did one thing nearly 50 years ago and this is of utmost importance today.

When you have corrupt cops trying to take down a duly elected President with the help of partisan Democrats lawyers, talk about corruption to the highest level.

I'm pretty sure you're acting exactly like the hardcore Nixon supporters did back in the day, the only difference now is we have social media and can comment faster on the WWW.

I will remind you the intelligence agencies, department of justice, law enforcement departments have been around far longer than you, or I, and even Trump) were born. They didn't just suddenly become full of "corrupt" law officials just because you individually don't agree with how the LAW and JUSTICE system doesn't work to favor just your personal ideals and desires.

The only reason you say it's full of "corruption" is because you only want to hear "truth and justice" that aligns with your own selfish perception. It's like being in a car accident, and all evidence points that you're the cause of the accident. But you would say law must be corrupt because it doesn't work in your favor, even though the truth and factual evidence shows that you're the cause of the accident in the first place.

All of the agencies from the intelligence, to the justice department only have very specific responsibilities. To protect the people of the US and our constitution(al rights), uphold the law with honor, truth and dignity. All of them have taken an oath. The oath is not to be loyal to the president of the US, but to be loyal to the people (rich and poor, powerful and weak...) of the US equally.

Clean up your own mess.

That is what this President is doing.

No, he's trying to sweep a potential elephant of a mess (of his own making) under the carpet, and since that isn't working, he's trying to shoot it and stuff it into a dark closet full of skeletons.

I see the corruption completely with the intelligence agencies, Mueller and his gang of Democrat lawyers are as corrupt as they come.

Working for the corrupt Democrats and one being a communist sympathizer.

I’m not a liberal.

You've devolved to ranting about lib/dems again. There are more political leanings and ideals besides just Dems/Repubs and conservatives/liberals in the US. And need we remind you, the GOP holds all 3 branches of government? Majority rules and all that. But conspiracy theories will abound in order to deny reality again. Screw "deep state", just go full Illuminati and base it all on that.

I'll leave you with MLK's jr. saying with my own personal tweak,

"I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, their political affiliation, but by the content of their character."

You've sold your soul not as a liberal, democrat, republican or even conservative. You've sold your soul as an American...

I'm pretty sure you're acting exactly like the hardcore Nixon supporters did back in the day, the only difference now is we have social media and can comment faster on the WWW. 

Sorry, wrong time and wrong age group.

how the LAW and JUSTICE system doesn't work to favor just your personal ideals and desires. 

It shouldn’t, but sadly it does.

The only reason you say it's full of "corruption" is because you only want to hear "truth and justice" that aligns with your own selfish perception. It's like being in a car accident, and all evidence points that you're the cause of the accident. But you would say law must be corrupt because it doesn't work in your favor, even though the truth and factual evidence shows that you're the cause of the accident in the first place. 

No, I’m saying it’s full corruption because it is. Looking on Strzok, McCabe, Bruce Ohr’s the text messages, the history of their corrupt is textually evident and undeniable.

*All of the agencies from the intelligence, to the justice department only have very specific responsibilities.  To protect the people of the US and our constitution(al rights), uphold the law with honor, truth and dignity. All of them have taken an oath. The oath is not to be loyal to the president of the US, but to be loyal to the people (rich and poor, powerful and weak...) of the US *equally. 

Yeah, tell that to Martha Stewart, Bob Blogovitch, Flynn, Manafort, Kristian Saucier, Susan McDougal, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Just to name a few, ask them what they think about the Justice system, they would say something completely different.

No, he's trying to sweep a potential elephant of a mess (of his own making) under the carpet, and since that isn't working, he's trying to shoot it and stuff it into a dark closet full of skeletons. 

Well, after more than a year and coming with nothing to tie Trump to anything, it would see the only thing Mueller can get is former Trump associates.

You've devolved to ranting about lib/dems again.

What can I say, I’m an honest person. I was raised to tell the truth always.

There are more political leanings and ideals besides just Dems/Repubs and conservatives/liberals in the US.

Yes, but they either go Neocon, conservative, liberal, libertarian, progressive and then we get into the weeds of the nasty Marxism and Socialism. Don’t know about you, but I’m in the conservative, libertarian camp.

And need we remind you, the GOP holds all 3 branches of government? Majority rules and all that. But conspiracy theories will abound in order to deny reality again.

That doesn’t mean the deep state and their lower court saviors are going to sit back and take it.

You've sold your soul not as a liberal, democrat, republican or even conservative. You've sold your soul as an American...

I feel the exact same way about the liberals, progressives and the left.

No, I’m saying it’s full corruption because it is.

There is 0 proof of that, read the IG report. It made very clear that while Strzok's text's were unprofessional, there was no proof of bias.

Yeah, tell that to Martha Stewart, Bob Blogovitch, Flynn, Manafort, Kristian Saucier, Susan McDougal, Nakoula Basseley Nakoula Just to name a few, ask them what they think about the Justice system, they would say something completely different.

"Just to name a few." lol You have no idea what you are talking about. It isn't Bob Blagojevich, it's Rod Blagojevich, Former Democrat governor of Illinois. After being caught on tape attempting to auction off Obama's vacated Senate seat. Not only was he convicted in a court of law, he was also impeached nearly unanimously by a Democrat controlled Senate. "Blago" is a crook who got what he deserved, full stop.

Nakoula Basseley Nakoula

You mean the fraudster who pleaded no contest to using fake names and stolen social security numbers?

Manafort

Manafort was just convicted in a court of law administered by a Republican appointed judge? Not good enough? What would be good enough for you?

Why should we ask this criminals how they view the justice system? Hilarious stuff, Bass. 10/10

What can I say, I’m an honest person. I was raised to tell the truth always.

Truth isn't truth.

After your sexual predator and pathological lying PotUS is sent down, it will take some healing to get your country back on its feet.

I suggest redistribution of the wealth from corrupt politicians and the criminal elites to go directly to those on the poverty line and below, immigrant families who have been torn apart and all victims of this administration.

Clean up your own mess.

That is what this President is doing.

seriously as far as I can tell the Trump swamp has grown into something far bigger and more putrid than many of us could have imagined. The huge amount of methane that is being produced by all the rotting BS , fake news, alternate facts you could probably generate enough power to run Trump tower for 100yrs. That would be ironic a processional BS artist running his business off the BS gas generated in his swamp.

Whatever happens half the country will reject the outcome.

not half not even close, maybe 42% maximum, and Mueller hasnt even finish shoveling away the layers of BS and flipping those burgers yet

For the rest of his life, he will be known as The Unindicted Co-conspirator.

Ok, serious question.

I understand that they are trying to pin this as a campaign contribution intended to influence an election that was both undisclosed and exceeding the maximum allowed amount.

But can someone explain to me how Trump's own money being paid to someone completely outside of his campaign can be considered a 'campaign contribution'?

I honestly don't see how they are connecting those dots. How does money not going to a campaign count as a campaign contribution?

More fake news. Real news is the political establishment's prosecutor told a guy read this script on TV or go to jail for 6 decades. So the guy read the script. This article headline is because no actual crime admitted to is involved with trump. The crimes we're his own tax evasion, bank fraud including lying. Which means as a convicted liar no statement made is relevant. But even so, paying off blackmailers isn't a crime, using your own money or even the money from your business to pay it isn't a crime and tacking action to bolster or cover your image and past isntba crime, including doing it during an election. So why would Mueller be so specific by not naming trump, that's to avoid libel, he knows there is no crime but it would be a crime for a prosecutor to have am unindicted conspirator. And finally, the real scam. As all Mueller wanted was, for this guy Cohen to say candidate and collusion in the, same discussion. Because the left wing elites think most people, are, stupid and will hear Cohen collusion, Russian collusion in the media and assume these, are related.

Nixon did something dirty unbefitting of the position of POTUS, but Trump's got Nixon beat 100 times over. Even Nixon wouldn't have sold out his country. Trump makes Nixon look like a little boy caught with his hand in the cookie jar.

I honestly don't see how they are connecting those dots. How does money not going to a campaign count as a campaign contribution?

Good question. I think it counts as a de facto campaign contribution even though it did not run through the official campaign fund. The money was contributed to increase the chances of him getting elected, so counts. I think that the way the money flowed also makes it more of a semi-formal contribution.

 Real news is the political establishment's prosecutor told a guy read this script on TV or go to jail for 6 decades. So the guy read the script. 

Really, that's the "real news" is it? You have no evidence of this at all, so instead you invent a conspiracy to try and make it look like Trump is a persecuted man.

Cohen said what he said and there is no reason to believe that he was put under any pressure to read a script.

As you stated your comment with this fiction, I see no reason to read the rest of what you wrote.

Great comment, another reason why liberals suck at economics. They just don’t care.

oh I dont know Obama did a pretty good job with the multiple wars a GFC and $600billion taxpayer bailout hand me down from Bush Jnr, he got the economy into the healthy growth and handed that over to Trump. So far Trump hasnt screwed it up but its early days and that trade war with China will start to show in the coming years.

@ah_so

Good question. I think it counts as a de facto campaign contribution even though it did not run through the official campaign fund. The money was contributed to increase the chances of him getting elected, so counts. I think that the way the money flowed also makes it more of a semi-formal contribution.

Thanks, I kinda figured that might be what they were thinking, but that just sounds like a really flimsy argument to me. It looks like that would be hard to prove beyond a reasonable doubt. I guess we’ll see when more develops.

And even if it is, the campaign (not the candidate) pays a fine and moves on. Just like Obama did.

Good question. I think it counts as a de facto campaign contribution even though it did not run through the official campaign fund. The money was contributed to increase the chances of him getting elected, so counts. I think that the way the money flowed also makes it more of a semi-formal contribution.

That's exactly it.

For example, let's say I do $1000 of free advertising for a candidate. While he is not paying me any money, I am assisting his campaign, so it is considered a campaign contribution.

And even if it is, the campaign (not the candidate) pays a fine and moves on. Just like Obama did.

And yet, Manafort just pled guilty to this, and is facing years in prison.

So once again, your assumptions are dead wrong.

*"You've sold your soul not as a liberal, democrat, republican or even conservative. You've sold your soul as an American..."*

I feel the exact same way about the lib-...

That's not a denial.

@strangerland

For example, let's say I do $1000 of free advertising for a candidate. While he is not paying me any money, I am assisting his campaign, so it is considered a campaign contribution.

I get what you are saying, but I think it will be really hard to prove 100% that the hush money was paid specifically for the campaign. If they can show that he'd also done it before he was running for office (and come one, we all know he has...) that could set a precedence for his excuse that he was doing it to save his family from embarrassment.

I just think that if they really want to go after him, they need to start with something much stronger than this. If he weasels his way out of this one, it could put anything else they try afterwards into question.

If they can show that he'd also done it before he was running for office (and come one, we all know he has...) that could set a precedence for his excuse that he was doing it to save his family from embarrassment.

Saving his family from embarrassment would increase his odds of being elected, which is exactly why it's considered a campaign contribution.

Right, but if he was doing it for the same reason before he was running for political office, it would be easier for them to show it was a pattern and possibly have nothing to do with the election. All they have to do is show reasonable doubt. If they really believe there are bigger things in the pipeline to go after, I think this one is too much of a stretch, that's all.

I just read this:

The money, which Cohen got from a fraudulently obtained home equity line of credit... is considered a campaign contribution because, as Cohen recently told a federal judge in New York, it was paid “for the principle purpose of influencing the election.”

http://theconversation.com/theres-a-dark-history-to-the-campaign-finance-laws-michael-cohen-broke-and-that-should-worry-trump-102024

I get what you are saying, but I think it will be really hard to prove 100% that the hush money was paid specifically for the campaign.

Exactly, the other problem is, Cohen is on record for being a non-credible witness, so on that alone and statements he made which have been debunked, proving it will be very difficult, not to mention, the man doesn’t want to go to prison, is not designed for prison, a person in that situation will say anything especially with the charges he’s facing in order to get off. Being a lawyer, any lawyer in federal prison is NOT a good idea and like Dershowitz says, not only can Mueller make him sing, but he can also make him compose.

The crimes we're his own tax evasion, bank fraud including lying. Which means as a convicted liar no statement made is relevant. But even so, paying off blackmailers isn't a crime, using your own money or even the money from your business to pay it isn't a crime and tacking action to bolster or cover your image and past isntba crime, including doing it during an election. So why would Mueller be so specific by not naming trump, that's to avoid libel, he knows there is no crime but it would be a crime for a prosecutor to have am unindicted conspirator.

Bingo!

Truth isn't truth.

I see, so liberals determine what the truth is? Lol

After your sexual predator and pathological lying PotUS is sent down, it will take some healing to get your country back on its feet.

But he won’t. Get the Senate to go against him, get 83% of Republicans to turn on a time, get those millions of people and evangelicals to turn on him. Not going to happen, but since more of these corrupted cops are falling, the country might heal slowly.

I suggest redistribution of the wealth from corrupt politicians and the criminal elites to go directly to those on the poverty line and below, immigrant families who have been torn apart and all victims of this administration.

Sound like a great SNL skit or a flunked Michael Moore movie.

Yawn. Sorry look left wing but paying off blackmail isn't actually a crime. Nor is paying off women to keep quiet because in e very campaign the candidate exaggerates the positive and covers up the negative, just ask Hillary the felon and the Media, they did a failed but extreme effort to cover Hillary's crimes to influence an election. There, has to actually be a law broken to be a crime and guilt doesn't come from some guy who was told go to jail or read this script on TV. And oh yeah one crime Cohen plead too was lying. Which means anything g else he said is, automatically false when it comes to trials.

Campaign Finance law is a joke. Anything above normal supposed must be declared but what is normal. Do they declare extra food bought because they are on their feet more, changes of schedule of children? The form for expenditure reason is about 3 words space.

Prosecutors in the US are judge, jury and enforcer- more powerful than the mob so you can't take much value in Cohen's guilty plea- they have 90% conviction rate and if they stuff up nothing happens to them. In Texas 20 cases of prosecutorial conduct over 5 years how cases of Bar Association (the body charged with removing bad ones) action:1.

Anything above normal supposed must be declared but what is normal.

No, that's not what the law is.