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]
Pierre Thomas: “The Former Chairman Of The Trump Campaign Is Now A Convicted Felon Facing A Maximum Of 80 Years In Prison.” THOMAS: “The former chairman of the ump campaign is now a convicted felon facing a maximum of 80 years in prison. The jury convicted him of eight felonies involving tax evasion, bank fraud and failing to disclose an overseas bank account so despite failing to convict on those ten other charges, the jury nonetheless issued a stinging verdict.” [Good Morning America, ABC, 8/22/18; VIDEO]
Barbara McQuade: “Yeah. I Think That This Should Be Viewed At Nothing Short Of A Full Victory For The Special Counsel.” BARBARA MCQUADE: “Yeah. I think that this should be viewed at nothing short of a full victory for the special counsel. You know, he’s guilty on eight felony counts. So the fact that the jury found, was unable to reach a verdict on the other counts really is, I think, not significant. If I were special counsel I would not continue with another trial. You’ve got the Washington, D.C. case, and the exposure of the sentencing here is going to be just as high as it would be if convicted of those counts. The judge is permitted to consider what’s known as relevant conduct. All that other conduct that came in during the case, even if the jury was unable to reach a guilty verdict on them, long as the judge finds by the lower standard of preponderance of the evidence, that manafort committed that conduct as well, he can sentence him as if convicted. I think it would be necessary to go forward with those counts. Now, he still faces this trial in September, in Washington, D.C. So if I were Paul manafort’s lawyer, the moment I would say, time to think about cooperating.” [Morning Joe, MSNBC, 8/22/18; VIDEO]
Laura Coates: “You Have Eight Charges Being Brought And Convicted From The Paul Manafort. Eight Is The Number For Michael Cohen And His Allegations Against Him. And The President Who Is Trying To Get Eight Years In Office. One Of The Eights Will Have To Fail, And It’s Not The First Two.” LAURA COATES: “But also the statute of limitations on campaign finance violations don’t run past the next election. So it can’t be a sitting president indicted, but if these charges still out there, you could have a possible outgoing president. And the irony is not lost on anyone. You have eight charges being brought and convicted from the Paul Manafort. Eight is the number for Michael Cohen and his allegations against him. And the president who is trying to get eight years in office. One of the eights will have to fail, and it’s not the first two.” [New Day, CNN, 8/22/18; Video]
Shan Wu: “Cohen Is Protected By Further Prosecution By The Southern District Of New York And The Tax Commission, But He’s Not Protected From The Rest Of The DOJ Or Protected From The Special Counsel. So They Have Lots Of Leverage On Him.” SHAN WU: “The other thing to keep in mind is when you look at the actual plea agreement, Cohen is protected by further prosecution by the southern district of New York and the tax commission, but he’s not protected from the rest of the doj or protected from the special counsel. So they have lots of leverage on him.” [New Day, CNN, 8/22/18; Video]