Explainer: What legal risks does Cohen's testimony pose to Trump?

[Berkshire]

13 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

I do find it amusing that he and Saunders are tweeting abut Cohen being a criminal when the actions that MADE him a criminal were done at the behest of the Donald!

So true.  This fact was also lost on the Republicans on the House Committee who spent the entire time trying to attack Cohen's credibility.  They never questioned any of his allegations, but rather that he lied in the past....for Trump!

[attrayant]

25 minutes ago, Psimbo said:

the actions that MADE [Cohen] a criminal were done at the behest of the Donald!

 

You've just implicated Trump in a felony.

[oldrunner]

Once again the speeches from no-nothings from no where espousing nonsense of which they know naught. Trump may not be everyones cup of tea but you don't becine a billionaire by being stupid. Hiring Cohen was Trumps only major mistake, he should have known not to trust a lawyer.

[killerbeez]

I believe Cohen. He's never lied before. Why would he start now?

[attrayant]

3 minutes ago, oldrunner said:

you don't becine a billionaire by being stupid.

 

You becine a billionaire by being stupid and having rich daddy dump a truckload of cash on you.

 

Or by being Karl Lagerfeld’s cat. 

[jcsmith]

3 minutes ago, killerbeez said:

I believe Cohen. He's never lied before. Why would he start now?

What I found interesting is that the republican congressman did not once attack what he said. They never rebutted it. Instead they attacked his character. He brought physical evidence which they ignored. And instead talked about what a despicable person he was... for committing crimes at the behest of Trump... And about what a huge liar he was... all the while ignoring that they are doing this to defend a President who has told 9000 lies in two years. 

What I personally found interesting is the only thing Russia related that he was allowed to talk about was the Stone phone call. Why was that? Stone and Assange both called it false immediately after (Stone likely violating a gag order). Donald Trump is on record telling Mueller he never discussed this with Stone. But if that conversation happened in the oval office, there's going to be a record of it. And if that is corroborated then it's game over. The fact that they allowed Cohen to speak about this and nothing else regarding Russia is intriguing. 

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Boon Mee said:

Absolutely correct. 

This Cohen circus is a feeble attempt to wound Trump going into the 2020 election. 

Wound Trump supporters see any of these wounds?

Would they even know about them? Does Breitbart report about issues like that?

[bendejo]

but but but but HE DID NOT SAY THERE WAS COLLUSION!

A great victory for DT.

 

Poor orange guy, he thought this "summit" (which is really a follow-on to the resort-development sales pitch he gave Kim last time) would be a distraction from all this, but it ain't working.  The press back in the homeland is all about the Cohen allegations.

 

 

[Basil B]

38 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

So true.  This fact was also lost on the Republicans on the House Committee who spent the entire time trying to attack Cohen's credibility.  They never questioned any of his allegations, but rather that he lied in the past....for Trump!

just like some of the so predictable Trump supporters that have crawled out the woodwork to defend him yet again.

[roobaa01]

1. the final act of a hoaxster and convicted liar cohen bye,bye

 

2. no real new details were given by hoaxster cohen

 

3. another day of political embarrassment for political unfit dems as no russian collusion was revealed by cohen. thereto not even any presidential wrongdoings otherwise mueller would have charged already. impeachment no majority , hence just another dem dream like the new mess green deal, new mess medical bill

 

4. a hearing wasting time and taxpayer money like in the mueller investigation.

 

5. 2020 trump will be reelected....communist sanders will die, aocortez, tlaib, ilhan will be disappearing from the political scene as their electorate support vanishes..

 

wbr

roobaa01

Edited February 28, 2019 by roobaa01

[Basil B]

20 minutes ago, jcsmith said:

What I found interesting is that the republican congressman did not once attack what he said. They never rebutted it. Instead they attacked his character. He brought physical evidence which they ignored. And instead talked about what a despicable person he was... for committing crimes at the behest of Trump... And about what a huge liar he was... all the while ignoring that they are doing this to defend a President who has told 9000 lies in two years. 

What I personally found interesting is the only thing Russia related that he was allowed to talk about was the Stone phone call. Why was that? Stone and Assange both called it false immediately after (Stone likely violating a gag order). Donald Trump is on record telling Mueller he never discussed this with Stone. But if that conversation happened in the oval office, there's going to be a record of it. And if that is corroborated then it's game over. The fact that they allowed Cohen to speak about this and nothing else regarding Russia is intriguing. 

Forget the Tax fraud, bank loans, misuse of charitable funds, he going to be facing charges of treason, and nothing will save him when the die hard Republicans lose control of the Senate in two years time.

[Nyezhov]

2 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

It's interesting to read the reactions from Trump supporters here.

Do you really think Trump is innocent?

Or do you don't care if he is a criminal as long as you like his policies?

 

I personally cant think of one crime, based on the information we have, that any prosecutor would be able to ethically charge and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt against Trump. 

[lannarebirth]

2 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I personally cant think of one crime, based on the information we have, that any prosecutor would be able to ethically charge and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt against Trump. 

 

Surely worth investigating by any means available, no?

[Chomper Higgot]

6 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I personally cant think of one crime, based on the information we have, that any prosecutor would be able to ethically charge and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt against Trump. 

But then you were adamant that Manafort would not be sent down.

[Nyezhov]

3 minutes ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Surely worth investigating by any means available, no?

Guess that depends on your political leanings, doesnt it? But as a civil libertarian, I shudder when politicians use the Courts....like the NYS AG...

[Joe Mcseismic]

4 hours ago, YetAnother said:

fool, all he had to do was continue lying and a presidential pardon was headed his way

Why would you continue to lie for some one that has thrown you under the bus?

You don't think that Robert Mueller and the Southern district of Manhattan would know he was lying?

Trump cannot issue a pardon for a State crime (New York).

[Chomper Higgot]

15 minutes ago, roobaa01 said:

1. the final act of a hoaxster and convicted liar cohen bye,bye

 

2. no real new details were given by hoaxster cohen

 

3. another day of political embarrassment for political unfit dems as no russian collusion was revealed by cohen. thereto not even any presidential wrongdoings otherwise mueller would have charged already. impeachment no majority , hence just another dem dream like the new mess green deal, new mess medical bill

 

4. a hearing wasting time and taxpayer money like in the mueller investigation.

 

5. 2020 trump will be reelected....communist sanders will die, aocortez, tlaib, ilhan will be disappearing from the political scene as their electorate support vanishes..

 

wbr

roobaa01

Hardly the 'final act'. 

 

Cohen is giving testimony to the  House Intelligence Committee tomorrow and will doubtless be giving testimony and evidence to the SDNY.

 

 

[lannarebirth]

Just now, Nyezhov said:

Guess that depends on your political leanings, doesnt it? 

 

No, I don't think it does.

[attrayant]

15 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I personally cant think of one crime, based on the information we have, that any prosecutor would be able to ethically charge and then prove beyond a reasonable doubt against Trump. 

 

Trump is implicated in a criminal conspiracy to violate campaign finance law.  This case has already resulted in one felony plea and the judge and the SDNY all agree that there was a clear criminal violation of campaign finance law.  Yesterday, Cohen showed us a check signed by Trump, the proceeds of which were used to hush up porn stars and/or prostitutes prior to the election.  In short, this money was spent in order to influence the outcome of the election.

 

The only reason Trump has not been indicted is because of the office he holds.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2019 by attrayant

[lannarebirth]

2 minutes ago, attrayant said:

 

Trump is implicated in a criminal conspiracy to violate campaign finance law.  This case has already resulted in one felony plea and the judge and the SDNY all agree that there was a clear criminal violation of campaign finance law.  Yesterday, Cohen showed us a check signed by Trump, the proceeds of which were used to hush up porn stars and/or prostitutes prior to the election.  In short, this money was spent in order to influence the outcome of the election.

 

IMO, that's not the good stuff. Doesn't seem much different to me than Bill Clinton's settlement with Paula Jones.

[neeray]

4 hours ago, TopDeadSenter said:

This is nuts. Trump needs our full support, he is out giving his all - making peace on the Korean peninsula, and all the fools back home can do is stab him in the back and try undermining and distracting him. Madness, sheer madness. On the bright side, Trump has proved he does not cave in to the constant negativity and hate, which is a miracle in itself. If things go pear shaped and Kim starts flinging nukes around I just hope the left will 100% own it, they should.

You've got to be freaking kidding. Kim will suck him in and spit him out in a year or two.

Cohen has done the right thing by turning toxic on toxic. Glad to see he has big cajones, a liar but still big cahones. The whole gang of Trump associates will all turn against him in due time, just like Cohen.

The day will come when even the staunchest Trump supporters will deny that they ever supported him. What a joke!

[neeray]

2 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Absolutely correct. 

This Cohen circus is a feeble attempt to wound Trump going into the 2020 election. 

No need to wound Trump. His entire life and career is one big, infected laceration. There will be no 2020 for him. His support is dwindling daily as each lesion gets exposed.

[ballpoint]

Guy works for Trump, one of his most trusted confidants.  For years, Trump sees nothing wrong with him.  For years, Trump supporters see nothing wrong with him.  Guy gets arrested and starts singing.  Trump calls him a long term crooked liar.   Trump's new lawyer calls him a long term crooked liar.  Trump supporters call him a long term crooked liar.  Moral of the story?  Trump, and his supporters, see no wrong as long as you lie on the same side of the bed as him.  

[neeray]

[keemapoot]

47 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

Guess that depends on your political leanings, doesnt it? But as a civil libertarian, I shudder when politicians use the Courts....like the NYS AG...

I think it depends more on your core values and your views about whether a President should have a minimum moral and legal character or not. A traditional Republican exhibiting those values would not deny and object when Nixon was prosecuted, and a traditional Democrat should not have objected when Clinton was prosecuted in impeachment but found innocent.

 

But these new "Republicans," these Trump fans, I don't think share that same sense of decency.

[Pedrogaz]

10 minutes ago, keemapoot said:

I think it depends more on your core values and your views about whether a President should have a minimum moral and legal character or not. A traditional Republican exhibiting those values would not deny and object when Nixon was prosecuted, and a traditional Democrat should not have objected when Clinton was prosecuted in impeachment but found innocent.

 

But these new "Republicans," these Trump fans, I don't think share that same sense of decency.

Very true. And looking at the comments by the Trump fanatics you can see they don't give a fig about their man breaking the law, betraying his wife, conspiring, lying etc I guess those things are all ok as they are part of Trump supporters' moral code.

[lannarebirth]

8 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Very true. And looking at the comments by the Trump fanatics you can see they don't give a fig about their man breaking the law, betraying his wife, conspiring, lying etc I guess those things are all ok as they are part of Trump supporters' moral code.

Just as those things used to be part of the Clinton supporters moral code. People tend to get their personal identities wrapped up in these horribly flawed charlatans. As keemapoot mentioned, it should be about one's core values and not partisan affiliation.

Edited February 28, 2019 by lannarebirth

[keemapoot]

3 minutes ago, Pedrogaz said:

Very true. And looking at the comments by the Trump fanatics you can see they don't give a fig about their man breaking the law, betraying his wife, conspiring, lying etc I guess those things are all ok as they are part of Trump supporters' moral code.

It's absolutely crystal clear what you say. Lack of moral fiber, moral compass, skirting illegality, gangster methods, if not plain criminal behavior, these are all traits of Trump that are ignored or at worst worshiped by his base apparently. Sad indeed.

[keemapoot]

Just now, lannarebirth said:

Just as those things used to be part of the Clinton supporters moral code. People tend to get their personal identities wrapped up in this horribly flawed charlatans. As keemapoot mentioned, it should be about one's core values and not partisan affiliation.

Yup, and we also saw the blinders on with ardent Bill Clinton supporters. But, in Trump's case, it truly is abysmal, given his overwhelmingly immoral and probably illegal behavior.

[tlandtday]

Cohen really is a pathetic human being.  Not only does he break the trust a lawyer is supposed to have with his client he sells information and contact to anyone willing to fork out the money in secret while working for his client.

 

Now the rat weasel is in great probability spinning countless lies to save his sorry ass.  Almost like a guy who says he has been saved by religion this little weasel tells us he made a mistake working for Trump while he quietly pulled in millions lol.