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FBI raids offices, home of Trump's personal lawyer

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By Warren Strobel and John Walcott

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83 Comments

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ROFL! What an unsurprise. Dumpster Fire Donny just keeps winning.

Cue the cons spouting off about the deep state and FBI corruption. Kuddos!

13 ( +18 / -5 )

I would love to seen Cohen's face when the FBI strolled in, demanding everyone stop what they were doing and step away from their computers.

Getting closer and closer to the SOB

This is big. Mueller and et al would have to have "strong evidence" to give to a judge to be able to "raid" the office of the personal lawyer to a POTUS.

All those decades of "dirty corruption" of Trump and his Thugs are coming home to roost.

21 ( +22 / -1 )

This is big. Mueller and et al would have to have "strong evidence" to give to a judge to be able to "raid" the office of the personal lawyer to a POTUS.

The corrupt FBI went judge shopping and found another liberal co-conspirator to issue the warrant. Wait, that's way too far out there to be even close to reasonable.

-9 ( +5 / -14 )

So what outrageous thing is Trump going to do to try and distract from this development? Bookies are now taking bets on "escalating trade war", "nuclear war", and "sucker punch a nun".

12 ( +15 / -3 )

Step by step, they're getting closer. For those who are interested here's a brief but interesting guide to Trump's mob connections:

https://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/05/donald-trump-2016-mob-organized-crime-213910

11 ( +13 / -2 )

I think this is time for a "hot damn".

11 ( +12 / -1 )

This will be good. And the fact that it’s partially coming from Mueller is the icing on the cake.

Just wanted to take the time to remind Republicans that Bill Clinton’s issues started with an investigation of a real estate transaction, and the side path brought them to Monica Lewinsky. I’ve never heard of a Republican having an issue with this.

I also wanted to remind Trump fans that Hillary Clinton’s email issues came about because of the Benghazi investigation. Again, no issues reported from Republicans.

Finally, I wanted to point out that Rosenstein and Mueller are Republicans. If the investigators are biased because they are Democrats, then the decision-makers must be biased right back since they are Republican. And they call the shots.

15 ( +18 / -3 )

Those who claimed America needed a businessman to run the country got what they wanted. 

But instead of getting a Gates or Buffet, they got a man long known to have been mob-connected, both at home and overseas, long known to have been a dishonest, bullying grifter, a serial bankrupt-er, a man with no sense of personal ethics. 

The businessman they wanted quickly and smoothly morphed into the sleaziest politician the US has seen for decades. 

The noose is tightening around the Kushner-Trump syndicate. Get some FBI!

14 ( +17 / -3 )

Wait till they announce that they've found clear proof that Trump did indeed know about the $130,000 payment Cohen so kindly made on Trump's behalf to Stormy right before the election. As if Trump didn't know.....come on! This is just one of multiple major scandals Dodgy Don is facing. Whether it's this or his tax evasion or his dodgy business dealings or his Russian connections, one way or another he will lose his job.

11 ( +12 / -1 )

@Superlib - the analogy as to how things started with Bill Clinton is spot on. I am neither a Republican nor a Democrat so I find the parallels fascinating. Most likely the Democrats will take back the house and most likely there will be impeachment hearings. Long ago here I wrote that I would not be surprised if Trump fails to complete 4 years but this might actually happen (this does not please me as if this does happen it is very hurtful to the US).

It is a really big deal for this type of search to occur and there must have been something compelling for a judge to allow what the judge would have known would be a very high profile event to occur.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

My guess is the the $130,000 Stormy payment is a red herring to, uh, titillate. Going after what he knows regarding Trump's Russian connections both before, during, and following the campaign - and his personal involvement in many incidents - leave Cohen facing not just disbarment but a possible lengthy jail sentence. Mueller's trying to flip him. So Cohen's got a big choice now: Jail, or spill his guts. If the latter, Trump is in deep trouble.

14 ( +15 / -1 )

And what is the idiotic purpose of this? More witch hunting? Yeah, Mueller HAS to justify his presence, can’t finish empty handed, so let’s dig hope we can find something. Lol

-28 ( +2 / -30 )

Damn that’s hectic. A no warning FBI raid indicates that they had fears that evidence would have been destroyed if warning had been given. You can bet some other evidence will be destroyed with other perps after this

11 ( +12 / -1 )

And what is the idiotic purpose of this? More witch hunting? Yeah, Mueller HAS to justify his presence, can’t finish empty handed, so let’s dig hope we can find something. Lol

The idiotic purpose of this is to ensure justice is served where it has been lacking. Of course, your hyper-partisanship disallows you of looking at things in a rational, reasonable way. ROFL!

15 ( +17 / -2 )

Step by step, they're getting closer. For those who are interested here's a brief but interesting guide to Trump's mob connections:

Politicol, you might as well site Alex Jones, I’m just confused as to how this relates to...Russia or collusion, Pom star and now....the Italians? Desperate is a total understatement with this guy. Lol

-22 ( +2 / -24 )

Oh my god we have to raid so that any evidence from 2006 or 2016 isn’t destroyed ......!!??

-19 ( +1 / -20 )

Just checked my local grocery store and all the popcorn was sold out.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is getting more and more interesting. I would say get your popcorn. But yea..sold out. Pretty bummed.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

“Sources told NBC News that the raid was set in motion after Mueller's team became aware of certain information but concluded it did not fall under their mandate and passed the issue on to federal prosecutors in New York.”

-11 ( +4 / -15 )

Oh my god we have to raid so that any evidence from 2006 or 2016 isn’t destroyed ......!!??

Pretty much. Mueller’s desperation is getting the better of him.

-16 ( +2 / -18 )

Sources told NBC News that the raid was set in motion after Mueller's team became aware of certain information but concluded it did not fall under their mandate and passed the issue on to federal prosecutors in New York.”

Link?

7 ( +8 / -1 )

So its not about Russia, its not about Trump, its not even in the excessively wide mandate of Mueller's own investigation. So really nothing to worry about except that liberals suddenly are against attorney/client privilege too when they hate the person who is supposed to have legal protection from that. Hello, ACLU?

-18 ( +1 / -19 )

Oh hey, look at this. But its 2007 and its not about Trump so who knows what they will say now:

https://www.aclu.org/news/aclu-supports-legislation-aimed-protecting-attorney-client-privilege

“The Attorney-Client Privilege Protection Act is necessary in order to protect against overzealous government investigations that have violated the constitutional rights guaranteed to all Americans. Forcing organizations and their employees to give up their attorney-client privilege is an assault on the constitutional right to have legal representation - a bedrock principle of our legal system.

-17 ( +1 / -18 )

So its not about Russia, its not about Trump, its not even in the excessively wide mandate of Mueller's own investigation

Ho would you know? God I love the whiney posts from Trump fans.

11 ( +14 / -3 )

Link:

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/04/09/fbi-raids-the-office-of-trump-lawyer-michael-cohen-nyt.html

aldo says this:

The FBI on Monday raided the New York Cityoffice and residence of President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen, seeking evidence related to the payment Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels on the eve of the 2016 presidential election.

-16 ( +1 / -17 )

I know because your liberal media already told me what it’s about. That and the fact that Mueller passed this on to other law enforcement.

-19 ( +2 / -21 )

Ho would you know? God I love the whiney posts from Trump fans

How would you know it’s not? Seems like the Trump haters are salivating prematurely once again.

-15 ( +2 / -17 )

Politicol, you might as well site Alex Jones, I’m just confused as to how this relates to...Russia or collusion, Pom star and now....the Italians? Desperate is a total understatement with this guy. Lol

Desperate is what all you conservatives are now that Mueller is accelerating his investigation. Kuddos!

4 ( +6 / -2 )

So its not about Russia, its not about Trump, its not even in the excessively wide mandate of Mueller's own investigation. 

Mueller passed information about Trump's personal lawyer and payments that lawyer made to keep people quiet about their actions with Trump, so yeah, it's about Trump. This is how investigations work; keep piling the pressure on and watch as more people crack.

This is too much fun!

9 ( +11 / -2 )

Attorney-client privilege is intended to encourage open communications between lawyers and their clients, so that lawyers can provide sound legal advice.

But the privilege is not absolute, and there is an exception for communications made to further a crime.

“The crime-fraud exception means the privilege does not apply to communications between the client and the attorney, if they are evidence of an ongoing crime or fraud, not just a past crime or fraud,” said Christopher Slobogin, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School specializing in criminal procedure and evidence.

From Reuters article on the subject.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen-raid/fbi-raids-offices-home-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-sources-idUSKBN1HG336

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I am loving every minute of this. BTW, it was a Republican judge who signed the order.

10 ( +12 / -2 )

Desperate is what all you conservatives are now that Mueller is accelerating his investigation. Kuddos!

And then what? Thank God for Dershowitz, luckily Trump can go to a judge and constitutionally ask the Judge to block Mueller from eying any files and just have only the perspective judge look at the material himself without sharing the information. Thank God The President has options. Love Dershowitz, a liberal as a liberal can get, but at least he’s one of the best and most knowledgeable lawyer there is in the country. Cheerios time.

-10 ( +2 / -12 )

I am loving every minute of this. BTW, it was a Republican judge who signed the order.

Thanks for the info about the political persuasion of the judge, but that only matters to conservatives trying to undermine the judicial system.

2 ( +2 / -0 )

I love how Trump calls this an "attack on the country", but Mueller got the necessary permissions all the way up the chain in order to get the warrant. So, as we all know, it is Trump that is attacking the nation here.

bass4funk: "Pretty much. Mueller’s desperation is getting the better of him."

Not Mueller who's desperate as Trump once again desperately floats the idea of firing him. And why? What did Mueller do that's illegal, my friend? What's the "attack on our nation"?

Sorry, bud, but it's not "the Left" or Mueller that are desperate, it's you guys, and you know it. Senate seats dropping at a rate never seen in decades, the revolving door at the WH, the scandals, the markets dropping, and even look at Blacklabel's staccato posts again whining about what's going on. Mueller's looking into Trump's finances, and obviously he had evidence enough to get warrants, no?

Or is this all part of the "deep state" that Hannity and the other clowns at FOX -- who yesterday aired a poll showing no one trusts them, which was hilarious -- whom you guys state are "real news" while the rest of the world is fake?

I await the nervous "LOL"s in your next comment.

7 ( +9 / -2 )

And then what?

Once Mueller has enough evidence, he asks for indictments. That's what.

luckily Trump can go to a judge and constitutionally ask the Judge to block Mueller from eying any files and just have only the perspective judge look at the material himself without sharing the information. 

And that material can then become evidence, which can be part of the public record. Then Mueller can "eye" it.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Thank God for Dershowitz

Why? He doesn't make the law and isn't a lawyer for Trump.

Love Dershowitz, a liberal as a liberal can get, but at least he’s one of the best and most knowledgeable lawyer there is in the country.

So a liberal that tells you what you want to hear is one of the best and most knowledgeable lawyers, but any judge or other liberal lawyer that tells you what you don't want to hear is corrupt or an idiot. See your posts regarding judges that rule against your feelings and Mueller's team of lawyers.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Good!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

But not trumps home or office.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Trump is left spellbound after the raid.

Anyone would.

-5 ( +4 / -9 )

Compared to other Presidents or career politicians, no, I do not.

Just answer the question. You don't think Trump is corrupt? Yes or no.

This is only about sex.

Actually appears to be about violation of campaign finance law, and perhaps felony conspiracy. Nice try though.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Cohen violated the first rule of being an attorney: If someone has to go to jail, it is better that the client goes to jail instead of you. Therefore, don't participate in crimes with your clients.

I've seen attorneys get criminally caught up with clients on bank wire fraud charges. I expect this is a similar case that will also point to crimes of the client... These types of crimes are not limited to the attorney. They also involve a client.

We will have to wait for the indictments fro Cohen. What is it now? One attorney indicted and sentenced, and one attorney soon to be indicted and charged. More to come, for sure.

In this case, the prosecutors had to show evidence that Cohen was probably participating in a crime as an attorney and there was a likelihood of the destruction of evidence in order to get a judge to allow the search warrant. There are a number of checks at the DOJ in order for a warrant to be issued for an attorney. Not an easy burden, so there must have been some damning material. This will inevitably spring-board Mueller's investigation by cracking the attorney-client protection Cohen provided.

Now we have to wait on Trump's knee jerk reaction to cause more constitutional crisis as he continues his attacks on the rule of law to preserve his own hide.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

It’s as real as Mueller is an honest cop.

Someone else asked above, but what proof do you have that Mueller is dishonest? Why is he less trustworthy than Trump and his well-documented dishonesty?

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Mueller is overreaching.

Mueller is a prosecuting attorney.

By your half backed idea, if Mueller sees a crime, he is supposed to look the other way????

NO. It has never worked that way.

Crack him like a box of eggs and mold him and squeeze him so that we can get something on Trump, seems reasonable. Lol

Crimes hidden by attorneys are among the hardest to find. Just like crimes hidden among mobsters are the hardest to prosecute because they a purposefully hidden. So yea, put Cohen on the stretcher and see what pops out. Obviously he is participating in crimes, lets see what they are.

Oh, bye bye license to practice law. Nice knowing you Cohen.

Oh, please, the man has every right to have a knee jerk reaction,

He isn't a man.

He is the president

He swore an oath to preserve the constitution.

Funny how you of all people disregard that point.

thankfully, the President can pardon anyone he wants.

Yes, it would be funny if he already put that out there to Cohen, because that would be a charge of obstruction of justice.

Or, he pardons him and Cohen loses his fifth amendment rights to remain silent and loses his license because to accept the pardon is to admit to the crime. The Bar association treats crimes committed with clients the harshest. Cohen will be barred for life.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

I already answered, please scroll up again, thank you.

I asked you a yes or no question, it doesn't require a , "not compared to." But you know very well that Donny is corrupt and you cannot honestly say he isn't. Thank you.

Mueller is overreaching.

How do you know?

If he goes to prison Trump can always pardon him.

Not if he goes, too. Besides, kind of misses the point: yet another member of the Trump syndicate exposed. Totally not corrupt.:D

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Wow and you guys accuse the Trump side of rampant speculation.....it’s like a feeding frenzy here.

-9 ( +2 / -11 )

Same arguments about this raid as the FISA warrants. You can’t get approval to do this unless blah blah happens and so and so approves.

Then we found out you actually can if you lie or avoid the safeguards in place to prevent misuse. Proven by the fact that carter page was never indicted as a “spy” which was the reason given. So yes you can also get a search warrant illegally or based on weak evidence. So someone getting raided isn’t proof of guilt.

also until it’s proven legal to use any of these privileged communications or until anything is actually found, nothing much has changed.

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

How do you know he’s not?

Again, you made the assertion- not me. Back it up.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

Time to fire Mueller for over-stepping.

-11 ( +1 / -12 )

Then we found out you actually can if you lie or avoid the safeguards in place to prevent misuse

And then we found out that Nunes is a moron who can't read fine print. No one lied. :D

'm not a fan of then guy but there certainly does seem to be a Trump witch hunt on

Its weird what happens to you when you are a scumbag, whose spent his whole life scamming the system and the working class.

Its almost as if paying hush money to a porn star during a presidential campaign is a violation of campaign finance law.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

"Witch hunt"?? The Cohen raid was approved by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, all Republican and basically all hand-picked by Trump himself.

Conspiracy theorists, by all means, keep standing on the deck of The Titanic and shouting that there was no iceberg.

This is not going to end the way you want it to.

4 ( +7 / -3 )

So, client attorney privacy no longer exists. Good luck to future defendants. Is there any human right or bounds of decency the entrenched establishment will not cross in their attempt to take down Trump? All of this destruction of human rights will come back to haunt the left. They will scream about it then, completely oblivious to the fact that they enabled it.

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

Yeah liberals don’t even realize they are throwing away all their supposed “values” and principles just in a failed attempt to get Trump.

then next time when it’s used against you, you aren’t gonna like it.

-10 ( +4 / -14 )

Time to fire Mueller for over-stepping.

So he's free to do his job as long as he stays far away from anything that could potentially incriminate?

I know why Trump might be unhappy, but why are you guys so against finding out the truth (which could go either way)? And don't give me any BS about Mueller being corrupt unless you can provide a shred of proof.

9 ( +10 / -1 )

The innocent man has nothing to fear. The guilty man will whinge and whine about "witch hunts".

If you did nothing wrong there can be no evidence to convict you, no matter how hard they look, but if laws have been broken you must be punished.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Again, you made the assertion- not me. Back it up.

Can you back it up he’s not? No, you cannot as well.

And then we found out that Nunes is a moron who can't read fine print. No one lied. :D

Unlike Spliff with that smirk that whines collusion day in and day out.

Its weird what happens to you when you are a scumbag, whose spent his whole life scamming the system and the working class. 

So then NO politician can serve. Washington would be a lonely and empty place.

Its almost as if paying hush money to a porn star during a presidential campaign is a violation of campaign finance law.

Yeah, good luck with that one. Lol

-8 ( +1 / -9 )

"Attack on our country" ... no, the attack on the country was perpetrated by the two of you!! And now you are lashing out in a state of complete desperation and panic. Nobody, absolutely NOBODY is buying such utter garbage. The dethroning of Trump will result in nationwide ECSTATIC CELEBRATION!

3 ( +4 / -1 )

So, client attorney privacy no longer exists. Good luck to future defendants.

Cohen wasn't representing the Hicks. Let's reread the article.

Such emails would not be covered by attorney-client privilege, this source said, because Cohen did not represent Hicks

Also from the article:

Attorney-client privilege is intended to encourage open communications between lawyers and their clients, so that lawyers can provide sound legal advice.

But the privilege is not absolute, and there is an exception for communications made to further a crime.

All of this destruction of human rights will come back to haunt the left

Somehow, I sincerely doubt that. Don't blame the left for your dumpster fire presidency. Enjoy :D

5 ( +6 / -1 )

“Sources told NBC News that the raid was set in motion after Mueller's team became aware of certain information but concluded it did not fall under their mandate and passed the issue on to federal prosecutors in New York.”

Black, you've gotta think a few steps ahead, not just react. Trump would love to fire Mueller and preemptively pardon a dozen of his cohorts to make this all go away. The former would be extremely difficult, perhaps leading to articles of impeachment introduced by the House. The latter is a bit trickier.

Trump can pardon Cohen only for federal crimes, not those brought by any state. Google "Preet Bharara" to see what is in store for Cohen if he doesn't roll over for Mueller - and there is nothing Trump can do about it. The mechanisms of the final game have been set in motion.

7 ( +8 / -1 )

Can you back it up he’s not? No, you cannot as well

Where did I say that? I didn't, nor could I prove a negative, now back up your assertion.

4 ( +5 / -1 )

What is basically happening in the USA now is a da-kine soft coup d' etat against President Trump .

God Bless America!

-4 ( +1 / -5 )

@commanteer

“The crime-fraud exception means the privilege does not apply to communications between the client and the attorney, if they are evidence of an ongoing crime or fraud, not just a past crime or fraud,” said Christopher Slobogin, a professor at Vanderbilt Law School specializing in criminal procedure and evidence.

From Reuters.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-trump-cohen-raid/fbi-raids-offices-home-of-trumps-personal-lawyer-sources-idUSKBN1HG336

2 ( +3 / -1 )

liberals giving up their civil rights sooooo easily. Why are conservatives now the defenders of civil rights?

There is an exception for communications that further a crime? So you just tell a judge you think someone doing something criminal and attorney/client is gone?

-8 ( +2 / -10 )

so let’s dig hope we can find something. Lol ah yeah that the whole point of investigations, so what happens if they do find something, itll be "oh the FBI planted the evidence, Mueller is just trying to make a fake case against Trump" because we all know Trump and Cohen are honest truthful citizens their integrity and morals have never been questionable, unlike Mueller

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I know why Trump might be unhappy, but why are you guys so against finding out the truth (which could go either way)? because some people wouldn't care if there was evidence that Trump murdered someone there hatred of the left would even let that slide. Evidence is sometimes difficult to find , but fake evidence is even harder to manufacturer so its believable. If Trump and Cohen are clean theyve got nothing to fear.

3 ( +4 / -1 )

then next time when it’s used against you, you aren’t gonna like it. and if the Dems manage to get a POTUS into power with similar morals , history & personality of Trump they deserve everything they get also!

4 ( +5 / -1 )

Black' Then we found out  

If you disregard facts, you can create your own conspiracy theory to make even the most outlandish scenario possible.

liberals giving up their civil rights sooooo easily. Why are conservatives now the defenders of civil rights?

There is an exception for communications that further a crime? So you just tell a judge you think someone doing something criminal and attorney/client is gone?

Another conspiracy theory. Just telling a judge is insufficient in any case.

You need to convince a judge by showing probable cause, and even then they will err in favor of not granting the warrant in order to protect attorney client privilege. So, it is a very high burden of probable cause to get a judge to grant the warrant and even more so if coming from a DOJ prosecutor because of DOJ policies and checks.

All this high burden may be easily met by financial records showing bank fraud committed by Cohen.

No, this all points to some pretty damning evidence to get a warrant. It is a feeding frenzy because the legal basics are sooo damning against Cohen, even before a trial.

2 ( +3 / -1 )

None of what you say is proof of a crime it’s personality traits of a person you don’t like. Liberals seem fine with such a person having all their rights taken away. But that’s not how the law goes it applies to people you don’t like too. They have the same legal rights as you do, even more when they are the President.

People you don’t like due to personal characteristics or appearance now have no rights. Didn’t liberals used to be against things like that?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

None of what you say is proof of a crime it’s personality traits of a person you don’t like.

If you think Donny is clean, I've got a bridge in Brooklyn for you.

Liberals seem fine with such a person having all their rights taken away. But that’s not how the law goes it applies to people you don’t like too. They have the same legal rights as you do, even more when they are the President.

The article clearly explains how/why the Cohen's office, home, and hotel was raided. Are you suggesting that a Republican judge, a Trump nominee no less, is somehow in cahoots with Democrats to undermine the president? hahaha

This also being reported: Mueller Investigation Ukrainian's $150,000 Payment for a Trump Appearance

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/09/us/politics/trump-mueller-ukraine-victor-pinchuk.html

A total witch hunt, blah blah blah.

6 ( +7 / -1 )

You start out with a false premise that a “bad” person in your eyes deserves anything that happens, legal or illegal.

then all the rest of your thought process is corrupted from there on. Whether is clean or not you still have to prove allegations then prove that is also a crime. What’s the crime here as it relates to Trump?

-9 ( +1 / -10 )

So, client attorney privacy no longer exists. 

It's attorney-client privilege. It isn't absolute, as the article points out. And, it is even stronger now because it is being protected from abuse.

5 ( +6 / -1 )

So anytime “the government” gets one person in the legal system to agree you shouldn’t have attorney/client privilege you don’t have it? Man, liberals would have been all over that just a few years ago as being unfair, wrong, illegal.

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

So let me guess, the next step is that Trump can’t speak to his own lawyer and if he does it’s “conspiracy” or “obstruction of justice” am I right?

-10 ( +1 / -11 )

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