Donald Trump indicted by Manhattan grand jury

[BPPLEE]

I don't know if it has changed, but the Trump camp's story used to be that Michael Cohen paid her off out of the goodness of his heart.

That’s not a crime as far as I know. Bill Clinton’s story was “I didn’t have sexual relations with that woman “ and we were told it wasn’t important because it was just about sex

 

[RocksInMyHead]

That’s not a crime as far as I know.

Correct. As has been pointed out multiple times, the crime is in the coverup and misclassification of the payment(s). Trump's defense has been that he didn't know about it and that Cohen acted of his own accord, so he had no intent to misclassify the payments as legal fees; Cohen sent a bill and he paid it.

 

[essentialsaltes]

That’s not a crime as far as I know.

Au contraire, mon frere. That was an illegal campaign contribution.

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty Tuesday to campaign-finance violations and other charges, saying Trump directed him to arrange the payment of hush money to inappropriate content star Stormy Daniels and a former Playboy model to fend off damage to his White House bid.

 

[BPPLEE]

Au contraire, mon frere. That was an illegal campaign contribution.

NEW YORK (AP) — Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty Tuesday to campaign-finance violations and other charges, saying Trump directed him to arrange the payment of hush money to inappropriate content star Stormy Daniels and a former Playboy model to fend off damage to his White House bid.

Why did they wait so long to bring charges?

 

[essentialsaltes]

Why did they wait so long to bring charges?

In part because the state paused its investigation while the feds looked into it (and ultimately passed).
In part because Trump fought the subpoena of the corporate records he has allegedly falsified. He lost and appealed his way all the way to the Supreme Court (twice), and the records were eventually turned over in 2021.
(Not to mention the years during which the NDA was non-disclosed.)

 

[BPPLEE]

In part because the state paused its investigation while the feds looked into it (and ultimately passed).
In part because Trump fought the subpoena of the corporate records he has allegedly falsified. He lost and appealed his way all the way to the Supreme Court (twice), and the records were eventually turned over in 2021.
(Not to mention the years during which the NDA was non-disclosed.)

The FEC and DOJ looked into this and didn’t pursue it. Just because Cohen pled guilty doesn’t automatically mean that Trump is guilty.
The meeting with Pecker was in 2017, so how did it affect the 2016 election?
Trump paid two women off and lied about it but I’m not sure he has committed a crime.
It will be interesting if he is sentenced to jail. What will the Secret Service do?
Wow, now Arnold Schwarzenegger has come up. Pecker bought stories to protect him too

 

[iluvatar5150]

The FEC and DOJ looked into this and didn’t pursue it. Just because Cohen pled guilty doesn’t automatically mean that Trump is guilty.
The meeting with Pecker was in 2017, so how did it affect the 2016 election?
Trump paid two women off and lied about it but I’m not sure he has committed a crime.
It will be interesting if he is sentenced to jail. What will the Secret Service do?

The Pecker meeting was in 2015:

Trump trial hears testimony from David Pecker about "catch and kill" scheme

Jurors in former President Donald Trump's trial in New York heard testimony from a former media executive about his efforts to bury negative stories about Trump before the 2016 presidential election.

www.cbsnews.com

WSJ broke the story in 2016:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/23/media/national-enquirer-catch-and-kill-trump-trial/index.html

 

[essentialsaltes]

The FEC and DOJ looked into this and didn’t pursue it. Just because Cohen pled guilty doesn’t automatically mean that Trump is guilty.

That's why we have a trial.

It will be interesting if he is sentenced to jail. What will the Secret Service do?

We may find out sooner rather than later.​

Secret Service prepares for if Trump is jailed for contempt in hush money case​

The Secret Service declined to comment on specific plans in the matter.

 

[BPPLEE]

That's why we have a trial.

We may find out sooner rather than later.​

Secret Service prepares for if Trump is jailed for contempt in hush money case​

The Secret Service declined to comment on specific plans in the matter.

He may be. It’s uncharted territory.

 

[BPPLEE]

That's why we have a trial.

We may find out sooner rather than later.​

Secret Service prepares for if Trump is jailed for contempt in hush money case​

The Secret Service declined to comment on specific plans in the matter.

Can a DA from Manhattan enforce Federal election laws?

 

[BPPLEE]

The Pecker meeting was in 2015:

Trump trial hears testimony from David Pecker about "catch and kill" scheme

Jurors in former President Donald Trump's trial in New York heard testimony from a former media executive about his efforts to bury negative stories about Trump before the 2016 presidential election.

www.cbsnews.com

WSJ broke the story in 2016:

https://www.cnn.com/2024/04/23/media/national-enquirer-catch-and-kill-trump-trial/index.html

What they’ve shown from Pecker’s testimony so far is that Trump is a celebrity and he did what a lot of celebrities do.

 

[iluvatar5150]

What they’ve shown from Pecker’s testimony so far is that Trump is a celebrity and he did what a lot of celebrities do.

I know. When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

That is - until you run for public office, at which point you can't just do anything.

 

[BPPLEE]

I know. When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.

That is - until you run for public office, at which point you can't just do anything.

Again, can a Manhattan DA enforce Federal election laws?

Alvin Bragg's 'election interference' narrative is nonsensical

Since Trump's alleged falsification of business records happened after he was elected president, he clearly was not trying to ensure that outcome.

reason.com

 

[essentialsaltes]

Again, can a Manhattan DA enforce Federal election laws?

They've already been enforced upon Cohen. That's the past. This is a different crime. Being tried now.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Again, can a Manhattan DA enforce Federal election laws?

Alvin Bragg's 'election interference' narrative is nonsensical

Since Trump's alleged falsification of business records happened after he was elected president, he clearly was not trying to ensure that outcome.

reason.com

They're not enforcing federal election laws on Trump. Enforcing federal election laws on him would entail prosecuting him for the campaign finance violation. What they're prosecuting him for is a NY State law that he violated. The federal crime is only an issue because it enables them to upgrade the state crime to a felony.

 

[BPPLEE]

They've already been enforced upon Cohen. That's the past. This is a different crime. Being tried now.

Right. But Bragg needs the campaign finance violation to make it a felony.

 

[BPPLEE]

They're not enforcing federal election laws on Trump. Enforcing federal election laws on him would entail prosecuting him for the campaign finance violation. What they're prosecuting him for is a NY State law that he violated. The federal crime is only an issue because it enables them to upgrade the state crime to a felony.

It’s an element

 

[essentialsaltes]

Right. But Bragg needs the campaign finance violation to make it a felony.

Since Cohen is already guilty, Bragg can take that part as read.

 

[wing2000]

What is devastating about that? Everyone knows he paid her off.

His testimony speaks to Trump's direct involvement. Defense will try to say Cohen was handling all the catch n kill ops.

 

[BPPLEE]

Since Cohen is already guilty, Bragg can take that part as read.

You said that’s why there is a trial, Cohen’s plea doesn’t make Trump guilty