Tag: Trump campaign

Mueller investigation gains new momentum

The following article by Morgan Chalfant was posted on the Hill website August 22, 2018:

Special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference has new momentum following the conviction of former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort and guilty plea of former Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen.

Manafort’s conviction affirmed the credibility of an investigation that has endured near-daily attacks from President Trump, while Cohen’s guilty plea to campaign finance violations and other charges could present the special counsel with a key witness willing to cooperate.

Neither development is directly related to Mueller’s inquiry into whether there was collusion between Trump’s campaign and Moscow. Still, those closely watching the investigation say that they bolster Mueller’s probe at a critical point and insulate it further from critics calling for its swift end.

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After two convictions, pressure mounts on Trump

The following article by Dan Balz was posted on the Washington Post website August 21, 2018:

In one hour on Aug. 21, the presidency of Donald Trump was dramatically altered with the conviction of Paul Manafort and the guilty plea of Michael Cohen. (JM Rieger/The Washington Post)

No day during President Trump’s 19 months in office could prove as dangerous or debilitating as Tuesday. Everything that happened in a pair of courtrooms hundreds of miles apart strengthened the hand of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III and weakened that of the president of the United States.

This was a day when truth overran tweets, when facts overwhelmed bald assertions. Presidential tweets, however provocative, eventually disappear into the ether. Tuesday’s convictions could send two people who have had close relationships with Trump to prison for several years, while one of them brought the investigation to the doorstep of the White House. Continue reading “After two convictions, pressure mounts on Trump”

Want to Know More About: The Paul Manafort Conviction?

John Dickerson: “Five Of The President’s Former Advisers And Associates Have Now Been Convicted Or Pleaded Guilty To Crimes.” JOHN DICKERSON: “Michael Cohen appeared in court just as a jury convicted former trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort of fraud. Five of the president’s former advisers and associates have now been convicted or pleaded guilty to crimes.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 8/22/18; Video]

Alisyn Camerota: “A Guilty Plea And A Guilty Verdict, Two Of President Trump’s Closest Advisers, Michael Cohen And Paul Manafort Are Now Convicted Felons.” ALISYN CAMEROTA:“A guilty plea and a guilty verdict, two of president trump’s closest advisers, Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort are now convicted felons, and Cohen, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, directly implicated the president of the United States as a unindicted  co-conspirator of a federal crime. Cohen testified under oath that the president told him to make those hush money payments to two women who accused the president of affairs for, quote, principle purpose of influencing the election.” [New Day, CNN, 8/22/18; Video] Continue reading “Want to Know More About: The Paul Manafort Conviction?”

Want to Know More About: The Michael Cohen Guilty Plea?

Major Garrett: “Another Complication For The President In This Midterm Political Climate, The Number Of People Close To Him Who Have Either Pled Guilty, Been Convicted Or Implicated In Wrongdoing Continues To Multiply.” [CBS This Morning, CBS, 8/22/18; Video]

Alisyn Camerota: “Cohen, Mr. Trump’s Personal Lawyer, Directly Implicated The President Of The United States As An Unindicted Co-Conspirator Of A Federal Crime.” ALISYN CAMEROTA: “And Cohen, Mr. Trump’s personal lawyer, directly implicated the president of the United States as an unindicted co-conspirator of a federal crime. Cohen testified under oath that the president told him to make those hush money payments to two women who accused the president of affairs for, quote, principle purpose of influencing the election.” [New Day, CNN, 8/22/18; Video] Continue reading “Want to Know More About: The Michael Cohen Guilty Plea?”

What Michael Cohen’s Guilty Plea Means for Donald Trump

The following article by John T. Bennett was posted on the Roll Call website August 21, 2018:

Here are 3 takeaways from the former fixer’s admission he broke the law

President Donald Trump enters the Capitol for a meeting with House Republicans in June. His former attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to a list of charges on Tuesday. Credit: Bill Clark, CQ Roll Call file photo

ANALYSIS — By striking a plea deal, Michael Cohen essentially signed a disloyalty pledge to his former boss: Donald Trump. And it should give the president ample reasons to sweat.

Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday in a surprise hearing in New York to multiple campaign finance, bank fraud and tax fraud charges. The hearing culminated several weeks of the former “fixer” and his team publicly criticizing Trump — and the president firing back.

Trump reportedly has grown agitated in recent weeks that Cohen could attempt to ward off a stiffer penalty by providing federal investigators damaging information about his business and political dealings.

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Cohen reaches plea deal in tax fraud case: reports

The following article by Tal Axelrod and Brett Samuels was posted on the Hill website August 21, 2018:

Longtime Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen has reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in Manhattan regarding banking and tax fraud allegations, according to multiple reports.

The U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York’s office is running the probe, but any cooperation could extend to other federal investigations.

Beyond the banking and tax fraud charges, Cohen is being investigated for campaign finance violations for his role in alleged payments he coordinated to women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with President Trump in order to buy their silence about their allegations.

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Trum Campaign Chair Paul Manafort and Trump Fixer Michael Cohen

Composite: Jim Lo Scalzo/Mandel Ngan/Mike Segar, EPA, Gett, Reuters

The seriousness of yesterday’s developments cannot be overstated. The culture of corruption that Donald Trump brings with him everywhere is a disgrace to the presidency and a threat to our democracy.

The special counsel’s investigation has never been a “witch hunt.” Trump’s former campaign chairman being found guilty of eight counts of financial crimes proves it. Paul Manafort wasn’t just Trump’s campaign chair, he was one of his most trusted advisors; the two have known each other for nearly four decades and reportedly spoke to each other nearly 20 times a day. Continue reading “Trum Campaign Chair Paul Manafort and Trump Fixer Michael Cohen”

Trump faces mounting legal pressure on three fronts

The following article by Jordan Fabian and Niall Stanage was posted on the Hill website August 20, 2018:

President Trump is under mounting legal pressure on three different fronts stemming from special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.

Trump is awaiting a verdict in the trial of his former campaign chairman, Paul Manafort.

The New York Times revealed over the weekend that White House counsel Donald McGahn has been much more cooperative with Mueller than previously thought.

View the complete article here.

Paul Manafort Convicted on Eight of 18 Federal Counts

The following article by Griffin Connolly was posted on the Roll Call website August 21, 2018:

Donald Trump, Paul Manafort and Ivanka Trump check the podium at the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland, July 21, 2016. Credit: Bill Clark, CQ Roll Call, Getty Images

Trump’s former campaign manager a key figure in Robert S. Mueller III’s Russia investigation

Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump’s former campaign manager, was found guilty on eight of 18 counts, and District Court Judge T.S. Ellis III has declared a mistrial on 10 counts.

Earlier Tuesday, the jury in the tax evasion and bank loan fraud trial appeared stuck on one count, and they indicated so in a note to the judge around 11 a.m.

The note included Tuesday’s date and the following message:

Michael Cohen pleads guilty

The following article was posted on the Axios.com website August 21, 2018:

Credit: Timothy A. Clar, AFP via Getty Images

President Trump’s former longtime attorney Michael Cohen pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight counts related to tax fraud, making false statements to a financial institution, excessive campaign contributions, and unlawful corporate contributions in a U.S. District Court in Manhattan.

During his guilty plea, Cohen said he was directed to violate campaign law at the direction of an unnamed candidate. He added that the same candidate directed him to pay $130,000 in hush money, which the candidate later reimbursed. Cohen told the court that he knew what he was doing was illegal.

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