I don’t know all the evidence, but the book keeper for Trump said they entered things as “legal fees” because they had to choose a pre-populated field. Cohen filed his invoices as “legal services” with, from what I can tell, little detail about what the services were. So the bookkeeper enters them as “legal services”.
The problem for the prosecution is they are trying to prove Trump knew the exact details. But they can’t seem to get there. Cohen paid for it out of his own Home Equity loan. He is “the fixer”. He then billed it as legal expenses. He claims he called Trump to tell him, but the phone records don’t back up that claim. Lots of problems here.
What the jury and judge will do we shall see. I hear the defense will call a former Federal Elections Committee chair to say “ain’t no crime in paying hush money” which should kill the case IF Bragg is attempting to tie the payment to election interference. That’s the 2nd misdemeanor which he is trying to turn the bookkeping error into a felony. Without that second misdemeanor, the statutes of limitations is up on the bookkeeping crime and the case should be flushed by the judge... if not, the jury.
Except that Merchan already ruled that he can only give his name, rank, and serial number.
-PJ
I think you have a good handle on the case. I agree they should call the FEC chair but I read that Merchan won’t let him testify as an expert. That he, Merchant, will define the law in the instructions. The other issue is that the campaign contribution violation thing is a federal law and, from what I understand, it must be violation of a state law that must have been concealed as the state court has no jurisdiction to enforce fed law. The DOJ has already declined to prosecute on the alleged fed law violation.
I would call Bill Clinton to testify why he paid Paula Jones $850K to go away. The defense rests, your dishonor.
How can Cohen keep a home equity loan from his wife? Aren’t there laws against not informing spouses regarding real estate purchases and sales?