Trump denies wrongdoing, says lawyer's tape 'perhaps illegal'

[rooster59]

Trump denies wrongdoing, says lawyer's tape 'perhaps illegal'

By David Brunnstrom and Karen Freifeld

 

U.S. President Donald Trump walks to Marine One to depart for travel to New Jersey from the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., July 20, 2018. REUTERS/Leah Millis

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday denied any wrongdoing a day after reports that his onetime attorney Michael Cohen had recorded them both discussing buying the rights to a story by a woman who said she had an affair with Trump.

 

The president said in a tweet it was "perhaps illegal" for a lawyer to record a client. An attorney for Cohen called Trump's statement "false."

 

"Inconceivable that the government would break into a lawyer’s office (early in the morning) - almost unheard of," Trump tweeted, in an apparent reference to an FBI raid on Cohen in April.

 

"Even more inconceivable that a lawyer would tape a client - totally unheard of & perhaps illegal. The good news is that your favorite President did nothing wrong!" Trump added.

 

Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani told Reuters on Friday Cohen recorded a conversation with Trump in September, two months before the 2016 election, in which they discussed buying the rights to a story by a former Playboy model, Karen McDougal, who said she had an affair with Trump.

 

On Saturday, Giuliani told Reuters the conversation was held at Trump’s office in Trump Tower and that Cohen used a hidden device to record the conversation. In New York state, it is legal to record a conversation if one party consents.

 

Giuliani said no campaign funding was involved in the discussion between Trump and Cohen, who has distanced himself from Trump in recent months as the FBI investigates Cohen's business dealings. If campaign funds were used, that could run afoul of federal election law, legal experts say.

 

In a tweet on Saturday, a lawyer for Cohen, Lanny Davis called Trump and Giuliani's strategy "flawed" and the president's Twitter statement against Cohen "false."

 

"Rudy claims the tape is 'exculpatory.' Why so angry?" Davis added.

 

Before the election, the Trump campaign denied any knowledge of payment to McDougal, but the taped conversation could undermine those denials.

 

The existence of the audio recording was first reported by the New York Times, which said Trump and Cohen discussed a potential payment to McDougal.

 

Giuliani said the conversation involved reimbursing the parent company of the National Enquirer tabloid for McDougal's story rights. The payment was never made, he said.

 

"It's pretty clear from the tape, it's the first time Trump is finding out ... AMI had bought the rights from McDougal," Giuliani said in a short interview on Saturday.

 

AMI, American Media Inc., is the parent company of the National Enquirer. Giuliani added that Cohen was speaking with Trump to tell him that information and Cohen recommended Trump buy the rights from AMI.

 

Giuliani had earlier denied Trump had an affair with McDougal. He said the tape would show that Trump makes clear that if there is going to be a payment, it should be done by check, which would be easily traced.

 

Speaking on Friday, Giuliani said the FBI seized the recording this year during a raid on Cohen's office.

 

The FBI investigation stemmed in part from a referral by the U.S. special counsel's office, which is looking into possible coordination during the election campaign between Trump's aides and Russian officials. Moscow denies U.S. allegations that it interfered in the election and Trump denies any campaign ties to Russian officials.

 

A representative for McDougal has not responded to requests for comment. The White House had also declined comment.

 

McDougal has said she began a nearly year-long affair with Trump in 2006 shortly after his wife, Melania, gave birth.

 

She sold her story for $150,000 in August 2016 but it was never published by the National Enquirer, a practice known as "catch and kill" to prevent a potentially damaging story from becoming public. David Pecker, the chairman of parent company American Media Inc (AMI), is Trump's friend.

 

Giuliani said the discussion of payment did not mean McDougal’s claim of an affair was true and characterized it as an attempt to resolve false allegations that were "personally damaging" to Trump.

 

Under U.S. election law, presidential candidates must disclose campaign contributions, which are defined as things of value given to a campaign in order to influence an election.

 

Giuliani said the proposed payment was a personal matter and not subject to campaign finance law.

 

The New Yorker magazine reported in February that Trump had an affair with McDougal at the same time he had a relationship with porn star Stormy Daniels and that the National Enquirer prevented McDougal's story being made public.

 

The White House has said Trump denies having sex with Daniels.

 

Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen for possible bank and tax fraud, and for possible campaign law violations linked to a $130,000 payment to Daniels and other matters related to Trump's campaign, a person familiar with the investigation has told Reuters. Cohen has not been charged with any crime.

 

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-07-22

[mtls2005]

If he whines like a witch he must be a witch.

 

And does anybody whine more than Trump?

 

 

[JAG]

That "draining the swamp" business, to end sleaze and duplicity in government and associated circles worked frightfully well didn't it?

[pegman]

I wonder if any of those morally righteous members on here can tell us how they can continue to support this degenerate president? A year long afair with a Playboy Playmate right after his child is born?

[worgeordie]

America must be really proud to have such a President,who cages children,

denies global warming,is taking animals off the threatened list,just so big

business can move in and exploit the wilderness, who is a whore monger,

woman abuser,a bankrupt,and a hell of a liar,anything I have missed ?

 

regards worgeordie

[mtls2005]

6 minutes ago, pegman said:

I wonder if any of those morally righteous members on here can tell us how they can continue to support this degenerate president? A year long afair with a Playboy Playmate right after his child is born?

 

I can't speak for TV members, but Trump's support among white evangelicals remains in the mid 70s (percent). Among village idiots support is a Putin-like 80%

 

Evangelical leaders, and those who say there are Trump's "spiritual" "Advisers" (like Paula White), contort themselves to defend the President, and also request donations for a second G5.

[mtls2005]

5 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

Do you seriously believe that honking out blather that is nothing more than virtue signaling and conditioned Trump Derangement Syndrome will spare you from becoming just another piece of human chattel if the other alternative had prevailed?

 

Yikes, Russian bots are everywhere.

 

And good to see Clinton Derangement Syndrome is still afflicting the weakest among us.

 

No jog over to COmet Pizza for your daily meds.

[stevenl]

5 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

Interesting comment. In contrast, I've been wondering how any self-respecting person could possibly have wanted the other choice to be in the White House at this point in time. Please do tell us how a completely amoral, corrupt and murderous woman with no record of success in anything could possibly be better. Your ilk, seemingly without the slightest bit of awareness, would have the world population plunged into North Korea style servitude. Do you seriously believe that honking out blather that is nothing more than virtue signaling and conditioned Trump Derangement Syndrome will spare you from becoming just another piece of human chattel if the other alternative had prevailed?

 

Yes, honking out blather, see your post.

[darksidedog]

Nothing this man does shocks me anymore. Donald has all the sleaze you could possibly imagine and then some. Given that intelligent people are supposed to be able to take information, and use a logical thought process to evaluate it, one has to question the intellectual ability of anyone who still thinks he is a good president. Any one of the candidates from either side would have been a better choice. America might still be respected as a world leader.

[PatOngo]

15 minutes ago, worgeordie said:

America must be really proud to have such a President,who cages children,

denies global warming,is taking animals off the threatened list,just so big

business can move in and exploit the wilderness, who is a whore monger,

woman abuser,a bankrupt,and a hell of a liar,anything I have missed ?

 

regards worgeordie

Stable genius, puppet of the NRA.

[mtls2005]

 

Keep digging.

 

 

[darksidedog]

A couple of posts have been removed. Quite impressive actually. Managed to troll, flame, be inflammatory, off topic and commit defamation in just two posts and write utter twaddle at the same time. Poster is getting a warning.

This topic is about Trump denying wrongdoing. Please discuss that and that alone, or lose your post and get a holiday into the bargain.

[neeray]

19 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

Interesting comment. In contrast, I've been wondering how any self-respecting person could possibly have wanted the other choice to be in the White House at this point in time. Please do tell us how a completely amoral, corrupt and murderous woman with no record of success in anything could possibly be better. Your ilk, seemingly without the slightest bit of awareness, would have the world population plunged into North Korea style servitude. Do you seriously believe that honking out blather that is nothing more than virtue signaling and conditioned Trump Derangement Syndrome will spare you from becoming just another piece of human chattel if the other alternative had prevailed?

 

Both are evil. Trump just much more evil. But what a shame that these two are the best choices that Americans could offer.

[DicksonPhisthur]

1 minute ago, neeray said:

Both are evil. Trump just much more evil. But what a shame that these two are the best choices that Americans could offer.

You made my other point splendidly: you stated no VIABLE alternative.

[UncleTouchyFingers]

1 minute ago, darksidedog said:

Nothing this man does shocks me anymore. Donald has all the sleaze you could possibly imagine and then some. Given that intelligent people are supposed to be able to take information, and use a logical thought process to evaluate it, one has to question the intellectual ability of anyone who still thinks he is a good president. Any one of the candidates from either side would have been a better choice. America might still be respected as a world leader.

 

I voted on 3 main principals, as I do every time:

 

The Second Amendment

 

Lowering Taxes

 

And cracking down on Illegal Immigration

 

Getting a second SCOTUS Pick is an absolute blessing and cements #1 and #3 for at least the remainder of my lifetime. Ginsgurg is almost 400 years old so we might get a third, so moonbat liberalism will definitely be stopped in its tracks for at least a full generation. 

 

I honestly really couldn't care less what foreigners think because I dont vote by their needs. People voted for Trump knowing full well hes a sleaze ball 80's New Yorker, and he still won. 

 

So no, not all of the candidates would have been a better choice.

[Chomper Higgot]

2 minutes ago, UncleTouchyFingers said:

 

I voted on 3 main principals, as I do every time:

 

The Second Amendment

 

Lowering Taxes

 

And cracking down on Illegal Immigration

 

Getting a second SCOTUS Pick is an absolute blessing and cements #1 and #3 for at least the remainder of my lifetime. Ginsgurg is almost 400 years old so we might get a third, so moonbat liberalism will definitely be stopped in its tracks for at least a full generation. 

 

I honestly really couldn't care less what foreigners think because I dont vote by their needs. People voted for Trump knowing full well hes a sleaze ball 80's New Yorker, and he still won. 

 

So no, not all of the candidates would have been a better choice.

‘M glad you’ve owned your choice.

 

It’s about to own you.

[mtls2005]

Just to clear things up, Donald J. Trump is President.

 

Hillary R. Clinton is not.

 

Changing that reality will only be resolved in the future.

 

Unless Comrade Putin says otherwise.

 

 

Neither are "evil", that's just a juvenile argument.

 

Now back to Trump denying any "wrongdoing".

 

 

 

[geriatrickid]

O, what a tangled web we weave when first we practise to deceive!
 Someone's going to be impeached.....

[neeray]

5 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

You made my other point splendidly: you stated no VIABLE alternative.

No I didn't. There were lots of viable alternatives. But Trump and Putin made a team effort and won.

Hindsight is insight. 2020 is coming.

[Chomper Higgot]

31 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

Interesting comment. In contrast, I've been wondering how any self-respecting person could possibly have wanted the other choice to be in the White House at this point in time. Please do tell us how a completely amoral, corrupt and murderous woman with no record of success in anything could possibly be better. Your ilk, seemingly without the slightest bit of awareness, would have the world population plunged into North Korea style servitude. Do you seriously believe that honking out blather that is nothing more than virtue signaling and conditioned Trump Derangement Syndrome will spare you from becoming just another piece of human chattel if the other alternative had prevailed?

 

Hillary shows up at post #6.

 

Illiberals are getting trigger happy.

[UncleTouchyFingers]

Just now, Chomper Higgot said:

‘M glad you’ve owned your choice.

 

It’s about to own you.

 

I am 100% confident that it wont, much to your disappointment. 

[ballpoint]

57 minutes ago, rooster59 said:

The good news is that your favorite President did nothing wrong!" Trump added.

Lying again.  My favourite president did, in fact, do some things wrong.  On the other hand, Trump has done nothing right.

[Chomper Higgot]

While we are focussed on Trump’s treason(?) and start looking at his sex scandals we take our mind off his caging kids, destruction of affordable care to finance a tax give away for the hyper-wealthy, attacks on the judiciary, the press, academia, attacks on America’s allies, the trading of US foreign policy for personal and family gain, his meglamniac idea of a personal military parade and his constant lies.

[UncleTouchyFingers]

1 minute ago, Chomper Higgot said:

While we are focussed on Trump’s treason(?), we take our mind off his caging kids, destruction of affordable care to finance a tax give away for the hyper-wealthy, attacks on the judiciary, the press, academia, attacks on America’s allies, the trading of US foreign policy for personal and family gain, his meglamniac idea of a personal military parade and his constant lies.

 

Full blown TDS coming from a Canadian who doesn't have to partake in the "affordable care act" and absolutely REFUSES to see that alot of this was happening in prior administrations and politicians yet only cares to this extent because.... Trump

[mtls2005]

2 minutes ago, UncleTouchyFingers said:

 

Full blown TDS coming from a Canadian who doesn't have to partake in the "affordable care act" and absolutely REFUSES to see that alot of this was happening in prior administrations and politicians yet only cares to this extent because.... Trump

 

Your Clinton Derangement Syndrome is affecting your cognitive ability to stay on topic.

 

This thread is about the Cohen tape of Trump conspiring to silence a paramour a few weeks before the election.

 

Talk about "refusing to see a lot".

[UncleTouchyFingers]

2 minutes ago, mtls2005 said:

 

Your Clinton Derangement Syndrome is affecting your cognitive ability to stay on topic.

 

This thread is about the Cohen tape of Trump conspiring to silence a paramour a few weeks before the election.

 

Talk about "refusing to see a lot".

 

Ironic and hypocritical big-talk statement coming from a foreigner carrying full blown TDS who went on an off topic meltdown in post #24.

 

And the only way the tape hurts trump is if he violated campaign finance law, and the chance of that happening to a billionaire over a $130,000 payment (or whatever it was) through a lawyer is probably less than zero percent. 

[neeray]

3 minutes ago, UncleTouchyFingers said:

 

Full blown TDS coming from a Canadian who doesn't have to partake in the "affordable care act" and absolutely REFUSES to see that alot of this was happening in prior administrations and politicians yet only cares to this extent because.... Trump

Noteworthy: Canadians have been plunged into a predominantly stalled economy since early March of this year when Trump first threatened trade tariffs. Business has refrained from spending and expanding in uncertain times. Only recently have they loosened the purse strings, as best I can tell because they realize that Trumps days are numbered. Bluffing, bullying and threatening eventually run out of steam.

Current events hopefully indicate the "beginning of the end".

[pegman]

57 minutes ago, DicksonPhisthur said:

Interesting comment. In contrast, I've been wondering how any self-respecting person could possibly have wanted the other choice to be in the White House at this point in time. Please do tell us how a completely amoral, corrupt and murderous woman with no record of success in anything could possibly be better. Your ilk, seemingly without the slightest bit of awareness, would have the world population plunged into North Korea style servitude. Do you seriously believe that honking out blather that is nothing more than virtue signaling and conditioned Trump Derangement Syndrome will spare you from becoming just another piece of human chattel if the other alternative had prevailed?

 

Sorry to disappoint but I would have voted for neither. As for the rest of your bile I well remember what your "ilk" said about Obama's economic programs. The result was 8 years of steady growth. Far from the pump and dump taking place under Trump.

[mtls2005]

8 minutes ago, UncleTouchyFingers said:

ronic and hypocritical big-talk statement coming from a foreigner carrying full blown TDS who went on an off topic meltdown in post #24.

 

OK. Understood.

 

Hopefully your CDS meds are still covered under Medicare.

 

 

 

 

[UncleTouchyFingers]

1 minute ago, neeray said:

Noteworthy: Canadians have been plunged into a predominantly stalled economy since early March of this year when Trump first threatened trade tariffs. Business has refrained from spending and expanding in uncertain times. Only recently have they loosened the purse strings, as best I can tell because they realize that Trumps days are numbered. Bluffing, bullying and threatening eventually run out of steam.

Current events hopefully indicate the "beginning of the end".

 

Cool story, so you'd rather have a president impeached so you dont have to deal with unfair trade to the USA and thus taking care of Canada first, while simultaneously it upsets you that the USA is trying to take an American first position. Canada first = good, America first = bad. This seems to be what im reading here, and that sounds like hypocrisy.