Posted on 05/31/2024 8:38:59 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
Thank you for the link, Wayne07. It is very helpful. Like the OP (SeekAndFind), I’m trying to understand how the jury reached its verdict.
In the Jury Instructions, the judge states that the alleged crime is election interference (page 30); that, by law, a third party’s payment of a candidate’s expenses are deemed contributions to the candidate (page 32); that, in 2015 and 2016, individual contributions over $2,700 to a candidate exceeded the limit (page 31); and that false information on a tax return is unlawful, even if it does not result in underpayment of taxes (page 34). He explains other laws, too.
But, the judge did not give a legal definition for “false entry in the business records of an enterprise.” Did he? Unless I missed it, he didn’t explain what makes an entry “false.”
Alan Dershowitz pointed out the bookkeeping entries were not kept secret, as one would do to hide a crime, but, in fact, were disclosed on corporate forms.
But, the Jury Instructions seem written to lead the jurors to accept without question that the bookkeeping entries were false. The judge seems to want them to focus on the laws he explained and decide whether they believed Trump and Cohen were acting together.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPXbdzjWzXg
Your comment about getting visited by the Feds reminded me of comedian Louie Anderson’s true story of his family getting visited by the FBI. It is a bit long, and if you aren’t familiar with Louie you might find it boring.
After his brother “The Safe-cracker” died, friends said that he had been involved in the largest theft of paintings in Minnesota. (Not mentioned in the video).
The so-called state felonies arouse out of an at (in a Federal Election Commission manner who has sole responsibility for prosecution). The fEC found no crime to prosecute.
Bragg then concocted a money trail of false business transactions re the payment as it wound its way from Cohen taking it on himself to pay and his eventual reimbursement within Trumps business that Bragg asserted were false and felonious. Given Cohen’s past lies and performance there is no indication he embarked into a conspiracy with Trump to bury the payment. So in his long line of payment disguise (34 times) Cohen worked his magic. TRump was busy campaigning and transitioning; Cohen was busing doing what scumbag lawyers do.
A billionaire about to be President not micromanaging a basic crook (and later fully cooperating with Bragg.) coupled with an avidly agreeable Trump hater judge was all that was needed to abuse the law and convict him.
People who win big lotteries are advised to form an LLC and have the LLC claim the lottery in order to hide their personal identities from the public.
-PJ
I agree with you and still don’t understand this “felony.”
I spent several decades as a District Manager for a major retail chain, these types of “payments” happen quite frequently in everything from sexual harassments to situations like Stormy. Business finds it far less expensive to pay them off with a NDA, they go through the entire legal process. Heck, even happens in Worker Compensation cases!
I have no idea “how” such payments get entered into the ledger, just sign the check and the “problem” is supposed to be gone forever. There’s nothing illegal or felony level happening here other than as far as I can tell Stormy Daniels blackmailed Trump. She broke the contract.
Historically speaking one just needs to review the Clinton Presidency record.
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