If Trump had actually paid with his own money, he’d be in the clear. But that is not what happened. Michael Cohen, who was working for the campaign, paid off one of the accusers with his own money (via a fraudulently acquired home equity loan), then he got money from AMI, the publisher of the National Enquirer to pay the other accuser. So these are pretty clearly illegal campaign donations (based on the amount of money), which is why Cohen is going to jail. We know Trump knew about this happening because Cohen is a rat and recorded private conversations about it. Ultimately, is this an impeach worthy offense? No. Does it have anything to do with collusion? No. Will Democrats try to impeach over this? They could, but if they are smart they’ll avoid the backlash and just use it a political issue in 2020.
In the case of John Edwards, the donors who provided his mistress with a house, a BMW and credit cards, plus flew her around on a private jet to keep her mouth shut, were friends of Edwards. A Federal Jury found him not guilty of campaign finance violations. It remains to be seen if Trump is on tape asking Cohen to take out a fraudulent home equity loan to pay Daniels, or that he ordered Cohen to cut a deal with AMI to pay off the other bimbo.
I agree with you. If the Dems push for impeachment, they will reap what they sow in 2020. All 435 voting seats in the United States House of Representatives will be up for election. There are 672 days before the November 3, 2020 election. Do the Dems want to spend that time on Impeachment Hearings, or on campaigning?
Trump should sue Cohen. What a shitty lawyer. Mr.Slick had to take out a home equity loan for $130000? Pathetic!
“Michael Cohen, who was working for the campaign, paid off one of the accusers with his own money (via a fraudulently acquired home equity loan), then he got money from AMI, the publisher of the National Enquirer to pay the other accuser. So these are pretty clearly illegal campaign donations...”
How does it relate to campaign contributions?
Sounds ludicrous.
How do you know he paid them off just because of the election? Maybe he paid them off so they wouldn’t tell Melania.
Wrong.
Cohen, apparently, worked for Trump for years. How can you distinguish this act of paying off bimbos between the campaign and Cohen’s prior service? Seems like this is the type of work Cohen did prior to the election.
And at least Pres Trump didn’t tell Cohen to lie about them. Pres Clinton did that and still kept his Presidency and won reelection.
Not necessarily. Cohen paid, and was repaid. Cohen received a retainer for these purposes. And according to the tapes you mentioned, Trump instructed Cohen to pay which implies he would be paid back which he was. IMO this ain’t a crime this is routine attorney-client business.
Cohen pleading guilty doesn’t automatically lead to Trump being guilty. Whether you can get 12 New Yorkers, his home state, to convict is not as slam dunk as some may think. If it even gets that far.
Clinton’s approval rating shot up during impeachment, though he had a compliant supportive media. This would be a really low cheap shot if the DA tried this stunt. It would fire up the GOP base. Impeachment would imo not lead to conviction in the Senate.