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[Former] FEC Commissioner Blasts Trump Conviction, Debunks Claim He Violated Election Law
The Politics Brief ^ | 6/1/24 | staff

Posted on 06/01/2024 5:44:43 PM PDT by CFW

Former Commissioner of the Federal Elections Commission, Brad Smith, a preeminent expert on campaign finance law has taken to social media to lash out against the Manhattan trial that led to the conviction of former President Donald Trump.

Judge Juan Merchan had prevented Trump’s defense team from seating Smith as a witness or even submitting his testimony to the jury. Smith had planned on testifying that Donald Trump’s filing of a “hush money” payment as a “legal expense” was not a crime against federal elections law.

Indeed, federal prosecutors had passed up on the case prior to Alvin Bragg, the District Attorney in Manhattan, bringing the case by claiming that Trump had “falsified business records” in the furtherance of committing a crime. One of the implicit crimes that Bragg had left open as an option was covering up Trump’s alleged affair with an adult actress “Stormy Daniels” (Stephanie Cliffords) so that it would not negatively impact the 2016 election.

Former Commissioner Smith put this notion to rest in a lengthy thread that he posted on social media. It is reposted in its entirety below (lightly edited for readability):

(Excerpt) Read more at thepoliticsbrief.com ...


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Crime/Corruption; Extended News; Government; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: arrestjuanmerchan; bradsmith; bragg; campaignlaw; fec; feca; hushmoneytrial; juanmerchan; judicialmisconduct; merchan; ny; trump; trumpconviction; trumppersecution
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The text of his tweets are reformatted and easily read at the link to the article.

I think Merchan erred (one of many) in not allowing former Commissioner Smith's testimony.

1 posted on 06/01/2024 5:44:43 PM PDT by CFW
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To: CFW

It was an intentional “error”.


2 posted on 06/01/2024 5:50:43 PM PDT by traderrob6
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To: CFW

The judge and DA committed crimes. Who will go after them?


3 posted on 06/01/2024 5:55:58 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page. More photos added.)
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To: MtnClimber

I’ll take “NOBODY” for $1000, Alex.


4 posted on 06/01/2024 5:57:05 PM PDT by workerbee (==)
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To: traderrob6

He didn’t want any kind of truths that would have a chance of stopping his railroad to convictions. Sustaining all the prosecutors objections should the defense teams witness speak the truth that would offset the prosecutors witnesses, going so far as tainting the jury against one witness by lashing out in the courtroom & clearing it to admonish the witness. You looking at me, you looking at me, Judge Marchan shades of Deniro’s Travis Bickle character from taxi driver.


5 posted on 06/01/2024 5:57:12 PM PDT by aklurker
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To: traderrob6

Is there a way to prove that Bragg, Colangelo, or Steinglass knew they were lying when they told the jurors this broke FECA?

If so, somebody should slam them with perjury and prosecutorial misconduct - and put THEM in the slammer.


6 posted on 06/01/2024 6:01:48 PM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: butterdezillion

Actually, did the FEC have a statement of why they didn’t prosecute Trump? If they communicated in any way that there were no FECA violations by Trump then those jerkwad prosecutors DID know that they were lying the whole time.

They belong in the slammer for a good long time.


7 posted on 06/01/2024 6:03:38 PM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: butterdezillion

I hope all these criminal bums face true justice...


8 posted on 06/01/2024 6:05:27 PM PDT by hal ogen (First Amendment or Reeducation Camp??)
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To: aklurker

Rather ironic you bring up De Niro in a famous role as an example.


9 posted on 06/01/2024 6:08:38 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: hal ogen

It is certain they will face true justice. The Lord is not mocked.

For the sake of their own souls and for the good of any other wannabe thugs, I hope they also face earthly justice before they face the Lord. They need to repent.


10 posted on 06/01/2024 6:11:07 PM PDT by butterdezillion
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I preferred seeing DeNiro at the end of the “Joker” movie.


11 posted on 06/01/2024 6:11:48 PM PDT by dfwgator (Endut! Hoch Hech!)
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To: CFW

Is there such a thing as breaking the campaign finance laws of New York?


12 posted on 06/01/2024 6:15:48 PM PDT by Freee-dame ( )
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To: dfwgator

I had to look it up and found it on YouTube. Yikes. Yep, that is a far better ending for that sleaze bag De Niro. (too bad he’s such a good actor)


13 posted on 06/01/2024 6:20:41 PM PDT by ProtectOurFreedom (“When exposing a crime is treated like a crime, you are being ruled by criminals” – Edward Snowden)
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To: MtnClimber

Juanita Broderick should file a rape charge against Bill Clinton since they have opened up the door to charge anybody after years of expiration…She should file a rape lawsuit!


14 posted on 06/01/2024 6:25:17 PM PDT by RoseofTexas
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To: dfwgator

Careful now. I had a comment yanked this morning for saying something like that. Except mine involved Superman killing Lex Luthor in an alternate timeline.


15 posted on 06/01/2024 6:32:04 PM PDT by Ciaphas Cain (If they can do that to Trump then they can do that to YOU. -- Lazamataz)
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To: CFW

Agree. The existence of a predicate crime is either a question of law or fact. If a question of law, it should not have gone to a jury until all elements of the predicate crime have been elements. But a NY judge has no competence to tell when a federal crime has been committed. And the judge refused to allow the expert witness that the defense offered. Then, is the predicate crime a question of fact? Only if some other tribunal has held that Trump committed the crime. And we all know that the FEC passed on that prosecution.


16 posted on 06/01/2024 6:47:36 PM PDT by maro (MAGA!)
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To: maro

Oops. All elements have been established. Darn auto-correct.


17 posted on 06/01/2024 6:48:33 PM PDT by maro (MAGA!)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

I never saw the appeal of him playing anything other than a criminal. Even then, it was to me, mediocre at best. The tough guy acting gets old real quick. I’m sure there are/were plenty of other actors that could’ve been cast in all those parts.


18 posted on 06/01/2024 6:49:54 PM PDT by GMThrust
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To: CFW

bttt


19 posted on 06/01/2024 8:14:38 PM PDT by Pajamajan (Pray for our nation. Pray for President Trump. Never be a slave in a new Socialist America.)
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To: ProtectOurFreedom

Intended it that way, although Deniro’s characters actual lines were actually “Are you talking to me” The Judges thin skinned interactions with Costello made me think “Are you looking at me?” and Deniro’s cringy speach is still fresh on my mind.


20 posted on 06/01/2024 8:27:32 PM PDT by aklurker
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