[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Fox News confirms Michael Cohen strikes plea deal with prosecutors (Page 5 of 12)
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As of today, Trump has a composite approval rating of 42%. That is low; especially just months before a mid-term election. And that number was before today's news which - no matter how badly some want to spin it - is not good news for Trump. His former campaign manager found guilty on eight counts. His former lawyer found guilty on eight counts. That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in a federal crime. In other words, I don't believe all of this is going to end the way you think it will. Quoted:
Quoted: Daily Mail is a tabloid. Cohen has no credibility - nothing he says matters. Trump is still president & he will win again in 2020... His former campaign manager found guilty on eight counts. His former lawyer found guilty on eight counts. That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in a federal crime. In other words, I don't believe all of this is going to end the way you think it will. His former campaign manager found guilty on tax evasion and other crimes that predate Trump.His former lawyer plead guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance crimes (the tax evasion and fraud chargers were the worst). That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in an alleged federal crime that, if charge consistently, would send all sorts of media personalities and politicians to prison. This entire sham prosecution was set up to destroy the Trump presidency. His opinion polls, if they are that low and given the fact that pollsters manipulate the data for their own ends it may not be, are what they are after a concerted effort by multiple parties to destroy him. Your entire post was "SPIN" and that was the entire point and reason why the Special Counsel was appointed. You're right; this won't end the way he may think it will end and it won't end the way you think it will end either. A lot of very powerful, corrupt, and stupid but clever people are playing with fire here. |
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Listen to the plea allocution, he said something like he was working at the request of a presidential candidate (something like that) Quoted:
Quoted: Who cares if they have a recording, there's no violation of CF laws by this payment; the violation occurred by Cohen not reporting it properly. 
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Quoted: List the statute or law that was broken. Quoted: List the statute or law that was broken. Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: (a) In general
It is unlawful for any national bank, or any corporation organized by authority of any law of Congress, to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, or for any corporation whatever, or any labor organization, to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election at which presidential and vice presidential electors or a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, Congress are to be voted for, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any of the foregoing offices, or for any candidate, political committee, or other person knowingly to accept or receive any contribution prohibited by this section, or any officer or any director of any corporation or any national bank or any officer of any labor organization to consent to any contribution or expenditure by the corporation, national bank, or labor organization, as the case may be, prohibited by this section. (8) (A) The term "contribution" includes (i) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office; or (ii) the payment by any person of compensation for the personal services of another person which are rendered to a political committee without charge for any purpose. |
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They are claiming the pay off violated 52 USC 30118(a) via 52 U.S. Code 30101 (8)(a). Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: Think about that for a moment. Paying to spike a story is now a political contribution (according to the US DOJ). Assuming that is applied equally to everybody, and we know it won't be, what kinds of problems could arise from that interpretation? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't |
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Quoted: Conspiracy to evade temple tax, violation of alcohol distillation laws, providing alcohol without a tax stamp, practicing medicine without a license, fishing without a license, catching over the daily limit, assault, consorting with prostitutes, grave robbing ...... |
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They are claiming the pay off violated 52 USC 30118(a) via 52 U.S. Code 30101 (8)(a). Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: Think about that for a moment. Paying to spike a story is now a political contribution (according to the US DOJ). Assuming that is applied equally to everybody, and we know it won't be, what kinds of problems could arise from that interpretation? Quoted:
Quoted: List the statute or law that was broken. Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: (a) In general
It is unlawful for any national bank, or any corporation organized by authority of any law of Congress, to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election to any political office, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any political office, or for any corporation whatever, or any labor organization, to make a contribution or expenditure in connection with any election at which presidential and vice presidential electors or a Senator or Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, Congress are to be voted for, or in connection with any primary election or political convention or caucus held to select candidates for any of the foregoing offices, or for any candidate, political committee, or other person knowingly to accept or receive any contribution prohibited by this section, or any officer or any director of any corporation or any national bank or any officer of any labor organization to consent to any contribution or expenditure by the corporation, national bank, or labor organization, as the case may be, prohibited by this section. (8) (A) The term "contribution" includes (i) any gift, subscription, loan, advance, or deposit of money or anything of value made by any person for the purpose of influencing any election for Federal office; or (ii) the payment by any person of compensation for the personal services of another person which are rendered to a political committee without charge for any purpose. |
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How can they prove it is politically motivated ? What if trump argues his main concern was his private life ? And that he wanted to keep that story always from his wife ? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't Quoted:
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They are claiming the pay off violated 52 USC 30118(a) via 52 U.S. Code 30101 (8)(a). Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: Think about that for a moment. Paying to spike a story is now a political contribution (according to the US DOJ). Assuming that is applied equally to everybody, and we know it won't be, what kinds of problems could arise from that interpretation? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't I bet they found the tax evasion and bank fraud and used that to say "Agree to plea to this as well and we'll go easy on you." That's my guess anyway. Do you think they are going to give up on this? I don't. |
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murder, armed robbery of citizens, state banks and post offices, the theft of sacred objects, arson in a state prison, perjury, bigamy, deserting his wife and children, inciting prostitution, kidnapping, extortion, receiving stolen goods, selling stolen goods, passing counterfeit money, and, contrary to the laws of this state, the condemned is guilty of using marked cards... 
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Quoted: I'm here asking what does any of this have to do with Russia meddling in the 2016 election? Isn't that the scope of the whole Mueller investigation? Sometimes when you start lifting up rocks, you find all kinds of creepy crawlies you didn't necessarily expect to find. |
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murder, armed robbery of citizens, state banks and post offices, the theft of sacred objects, arson in a state prison, perjury, bigamy, deserting his wife and children, inciting prostitution, kidnapping, extortion, receiving stolen goods, selling stolen goods, passing counterfeit money, and, contrary to the laws of this state, the condemned is guilty of using marked cards... Quoted:
Quoted: Conspiracy to evade temple tax, violation of alcohol distillation laws, providing alcohol without a tax stamp, practicing medicine without a license, fishing without a license, catching over the daily limit, assault, consorting with prostitutes, grave robbing ...... |
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I don't know how they are going to try to do it but I bet they are going to use the plea and Cohen's testimony to try. I bet they found the tax evasion and bank fraud and used that to say "Agree to plea to this as well and we'll go easy on you." That's my guess anyway. Do you think they are going to give up on this? I don't. It's nothing but a witch hunt |
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Quoted: The scope of the Mueller investigation is to find "any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated" with Trump's campaign, but also to examine "any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation." Sometimes when you start lifting up rocks, you find all kinds of creepy crawlies you didn't necessarily expect to find. This was a rope a dope to use Russia meddling to get their foot in the door and use one conviction on financial crimes after another to lead up the ladder until they get their prize. Even if they can't touch Trump directly, they can get the next best thing: hinder or damage his administration from the get go to propel their party back into power. They knew this which is why they orchestrated everything to have it happen. |
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How can they prove it is politically motivated ? What if trump argues his main concern was his private life ? And that he wanted to keep that story always from his wife ? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't Quoted:
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They are claiming the pay off violated 52 USC 30118(a) via 52 U.S. Code 30101 (8)(a). Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: Think about that for a moment. Paying to spike a story is now a political contribution (according to the US DOJ). Assuming that is applied equally to everybody, and we know it won't be, what kinds of problems could arise from that interpretation? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't |
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Quoted: If the economy keeps booming, the average American will see that as an attempt to destroy a legit presidency and it will have the opposite effect. It's nothing but a witch hunt As for a witch hunt: Of course it is. Tax evasion from 2005? Seriously? 
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Don't stop there. Tell the whole story. His former campaign manager found guilty on tax evasion and other crimes that predate Trump.His former lawyer plead guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance crimes (the tax evasion and fraud chargers were the worst). That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in an alleged federal crime that, if charge consistently, would send all sorts of media personalities and politicians to prison. This entire sham prosecution was set up to destroy the Trump presidency. His opinion polls, if they are that low and given the fact that pollsters manipulate the data for their own ends it may not be, are what they are after a concerted effort by multiple parties to destroy him. Your entire post was "SPIN" and that was the entire point and reason why the Special Counsel was appointed. You're right; this won't end the way he may think it will end and it won't end the way you think it will end either. A lot of very powerful, corrupt, and stupid but clever people are playing with fire here. Reality will continue with or without your consent. |
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Quoted: How can they prove it is politically motivated ? What if trump argues his main concern was his private life ? And that he wanted to keep that story always from his wife ? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't. Quoted: How can they prove it is politically motivated ? What if trump argues his main concern was his private life ? And that he wanted to keep that story always from his wife ? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't. |
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Precisly. Was private conduct that took place before a campaign. And since it was a non disclosure we are talking about it has nothing to do with contributions. This is bullshit and campaign finace laws are being created out of thin air now. Quoted:
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They are claiming the pay off violated 52 USC 30118(a) via 52 U.S. Code 30101 (8)(a). Here is the text of the relevant portion of those statutes: Think about that for a moment. Paying to spike a story is now a political contribution (according to the US DOJ). Assuming that is applied equally to everybody, and we know it won't be, what kinds of problems could arise from that interpretation? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't Which is fine by me. |
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Believe whatever you'd like to believe, and/or whatever makes you feel better. Reality will continue with or without your consent. Quoted:
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Don't stop there. Tell the whole story. His former campaign manager found guilty on tax evasion and other crimes that predate Trump.His former lawyer plead guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance crimes (the tax evasion and fraud chargers were the worst). That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in an alleged federal crime that, if charge consistently, would send all sorts of media personalities and politicians to prison. This entire sham prosecution was set up to destroy the Trump presidency. His opinion polls, if they are that low and given the fact that pollsters manipulate the data for their own ends it may not be, are what they are after a concerted effort by multiple parties to destroy him. Your entire post was "SPIN" and that was the entire point and reason why the Special Counsel was appointed. You're right; this won't end the way he may think it will end and it won't end the way you think it will end either. A lot of very powerful, corrupt, and stupid but clever people are playing with fire here. Reality will continue with or without your consent. But hey, I make mistakes. Feel free to point out what I said that was factually erroneous. |
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Didn't it come out months ago that trump paid her, because it showed up on his filing on holdings he had? Wouldn't that mean it came from his personal money?
ETA: in may.... Time |
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Didn't it come out months ago that trump paid her, because it showed up on his filing on holdings he had? Wouldn't that mean it came from his personal money? Does that sound like bullshit to you? Because it does to me. |
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They don't have to prove the motivation, they are trying to prove that Mr Trump is a pathological liar, discrediting his assertion he fired Comey over how he treated the Clinton email investigation, so they can charge him with Obstruction of Justice by inferring Trump fired Comey to torpedo the Russian Collusion investigation. Trump claimed he didn't know about Cohen paying off Stormy, among other things. They have Trump himself bragging to the Sunday shows about firing Comey instead of putting it all on the original investigation and memo signed off by Robenstein, who initiated the whole Special Counsel in the first place. Sometimes he really shoots himself in the foot running his mouth and Twitter account. |
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They aren't saying he used campaign funds (at this time). They are saying it was a political donation (because personal funds were used) due to the fact something of value was obtained for the cash (spiking the story). Does that sound like bullshit to you? Because it does to me. |
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Cohen's sentencing is scheduled for Dec. 12, with bail set at $500,0000. The government calculates he should spend between 51 and 63 months in prison. Plea Agreement. https://drive.google.com/file/d/18NJNdaTz5d6FkoFp0ZGc6Jtr5gdcwM2b/view More |
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Quoted: Again they have no way to prove that the motivation for spiking such a story was political. It could well be very personal and linked to his private life. Period. This is about guilt by association. They are trying to make sure he either doesn't win re-election in 2020 or make sure he is a lame duck the entire time. |
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You know as well as I do this has nothing about proving anything against Trump in a court of law (as if they could while he is president). Hell, they know Trump can pardon himself and everyone else for any crime they can come up with (except impeachment). This is about guilt by association. They are trying to make sure he either doesn't win re-election in 2020 or make sure he is a lame duck the entire time. The game they are playing is a double edged one// |
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Quoted: I have a feeling the precedents being set right now are going to come back to bite a bunch of politicians in the ass. Which is fine by me. |
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I had read the plea now I just read the charges. The connection to Trump: "Corporation 1" (not "campaign 1" but "corporation 1") was trying to shut women up who could release negative stories about Trump and started negotiating with "woman-1" to buy her silence. When that deal fell through, Cohen got involved and created a LLC and used that LLC to wire six figures to spike a story that would impact a federal election. Cohen then asked "corporation 1" to reimburse his "election expenses" "from the trust" while listing the remittances as "legal expenses" and was paid over a 12 month period (at or around $420,000). So, for starters, they are saying that pay off was a campaign contribution and secondly the amount (~$130,000) was in excess of the $25,000 annual limits. So I would assume when they are done with Cohen, they are going to move on to the executive(s) at the company in question, the members of Trump's campaign who had the idea or pushed the idea, and then use that to claw their way up to Trump. This would be funny if it wasn't so serious. How is it any kind of contribution if he was reimbursed in full? |
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Wait, you're implying this is orchestrated for political purposes. Quoted:
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Flynn sentencing delayed. Manafort guilty verdict. Cohen plea agreement. All happened to occur on the same day, hours apart.
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Quoted: As of today, Trump has a composite approval rating of 42%. That is low; especially just months before a mid-term election. And that number was before today's news which - no matter how badly some want to spin it - is not good news for Trump. His former campaign manager found guilty on eight counts. His former lawyer found guilty on eight counts. That same lawyer today implicated Trump as a co-conspirator in a federal crime. In other words, I don't believe all of this is going to end the way you think it will. |
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They knew that at least some of people he worked with were most likely dirty. Hell their own people are just as dirty and they know how the game is played. This was a rope a dope to use Russia meddling to get their foot in the door and use one conviction on financial crimes after another to lead up the ladder until they get their prize. Even if they can't touch Trump directly, they can get the next best thing: hinder or damage his administration from the get go to propel their party back into power. They knew this which is why they orchestrated everything to have it happen. It's also premature speculation. (They have pills for that, ya know.) There are still plenty of open questions around the Russia piece of this. Like, why did the Trump Administration's story keep changing around the "adoption" meeting? First it was they “primarily discussed a program about the adoption of Russian children. Then months later Trump said it "was a meeting to get information on an opponent." And first Trump claimed he had no involvement whatsoever in the released statement about that meeting. But then it was revealed Trump actually dictated the statement himself. Why all the lies and obfuscation? And here's an even better question: If all the facts were the same, but it was the Obama Administration doing this, would you still be adamantly claiming "There's nothing to see here!" Tribal politics is a funny thing. |
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Quoted: How can they prove it is politically motivated ? What if trump argues his main concern was his private life ? And that he wanted to keep that story always from his wife ? How can they prove the motivation ? They can't |
 Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty, Says He Paid Hush Money At Donald Trump’s Direction | NBC Nightly News |
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but Mueller is going to treat his testimony as God's own truth to get at Trump. Quoted:
Quoted: 4) Cohen never lies. (Oh, wait...) |
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Cohen:"trump told me this would be a disaster for his campaign so I better pay her off" I don't think America cares Trump banged some porn stars. (outside of politics) I think people already liked those guys, didn't like those guys, or didn't care. I don't think infidelity hurt either President. My two cents. |
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I don't think America cared Bill got a BJ from Monica (outside of politics) I don't think America cares Trump banged some porn stars. (outside of politics) I think people already liked those guys, didn't like those guys, or didn't care. I don't think infidelity hurt either President. My two cents. |
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I don’t care if criminals are going to jail for breaking laws, I’m just upset on how we got these criminals. What is the original crime here? Cohen got caught by Mueller, who was given free reign by Rosenstein, because Comey got fired, on the advice of Rosenstein? Da fuq? Why was Mueller hired again. At this rate Mueller can go on forever investigating every single Trump associate, and their associates. It’s like playing five degrees from Trump. When does it end? Where does it end? |
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Your guess is as good as mine. I think they don't have shit. https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/08/21/another-delay-in-michael-flynn-sentencing/ Quoted:
Quoted: What's going on with that? I'm not up to speed at all on that one. https://theconservativetreehouse.com/2018/08/21/another-delay-in-michael-flynn-sentencing/ |
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I don't care if criminals are going to jail for breaking laws, I'm just upset on how we got these criminals. What is the original crime here? Cohen got caught by Mueller, who was given free reign by Rosenstein, because Comey got fired, on the advice of Rosenstein? Da fuq? Why was Mueller hired again. At this rate Mueller can go on forever investigating every single Trump associate, and their associates. It's like playing five degrees from Trump. When does it end? Where does it end? |
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I don’t care if criminals are going to jail for breaking laws, I’m just upset on how we got these criminals. What is the original crime here? Cohen got caught by Mueller, who was given free reign by Rosenstein, because Comey got fired, on the advice of Rosenstein? Da fuq? Why was Mueller hired again. At this rate Mueller can go on forever investigating every single Trump associate, and their associates. It’s like playing five degrees from Trump. When does it end? Where does it end? Then Rosenstein suggested that Trump should give Comey's job to Mueller. One day after Trump interviewed & rejected Mueller, Rosenstein appointed him to go after Trump... |
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This is how special prosecutors, and to a lesser extent federal prosecutors work. They go after associates of the target and find tax or bank fraud or other stuff common to semi wealthy henchman do and try to get them to flip on the target. That's the problem with law enforcement by snitch |