Look at his history, he's a mafia maven. I once read a comment by an FBI agent to the effect that a true mafioso can't resist stealing even from his own legitimate and profitable business. Trump just can't help it, he gets off being a crook. He's got two sets of books on everything. No wonder he gets jumpy when the feds start sniffing around.
123
The Eastern European connection:
Trump’s fixer,Cohen, was Russian to Prague to cash a Czech. Now there’s not much time Romanian before he’s Finnish.
126
Better Call Saul!
76
"[T]he private and privileged papers of the president" brings one thing to mind: p
39
So it seems this is the guy that knows where a lot of skeletons are buried that is good news. I am sure call Cohen because he was concerned about his health and all and not just hey did you tell them anything, what do they know lol. The Trump train needs to be derailed and this can not happen soon enough. Trumps criminal enterprise needs to be exposed and the clown in Chief removed from office.
68
I can't imagine why Trump and Cohen wouldn't want to................"collude" on their stories.
44
There is a fundamental difference between an ethical lawyer and a bagman. Payments to third parties solely to shut them up are not within the protections of attorney-client privilege, whether made to benefit porn stars, Playboy bunnies or those claiming knowledge of a love child. Messrs. Cohen and Trump are accustomed to mugging those who get in their way. They play hardball and scoff at the rule of law. Now hear them squeal like stuck pigs when the law isn't working solely for their interests.
126
Oh, what a coincidence!
“The raids on Mr. Cohen came as part of a months long federal investigation based in New York, court records show, and were sweeping in their breadth. In addition to searching his home, office and hotel room, F.B.I. agents seized material from Mr. Cohen’s cellphones, tablet, laptop and safe deposit box, according to people briefed on the warrants. “
Make no mistake, this is just another tentacle of the Muler fishing expedition.
I would like to remind staunch Muler supporters of his past.
See: “Special Counsel Robert Mueller III and Whitey Bulger”
https://saraacarter.com/robert-mueller-andrew-weissmann-the-fbi-and-the-...
After reading this you have to ask:
1. Why was Muler was not disbarred?
2. How did Muler became director of the FBI?
3
I expect in a few years that Christopher Steele will receive the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
84
You know it’s serious when lawyers will sign off on lawyers offices being raided
91
Holding a law license does not enable the holder to commit crimes, or assist others in committing crimes, with impunity. Simple as that. Otherwise, people could get licensed for the purpose of flouting the law. This would be as ridiculous as becoming president so you could commit illegal acts and then pardon yourself, not to mention your henchmen.
121
That's cuz, yeah, virtually everything this president does is shady. Ultimately he'll be cornered, what brings him down could come from practically any direction. I doubt there's ever been ANYONE in public life as blackmailable as the guy we elected president. The people he's paid to hush up for various acts of ignominy, my guess it's in the thousands.
82
We all have to get use to the fact that how much we write about the crook and embarrassment in the White House his 30% core still stands united behind him.
When I talk to some of my friends and even members of my family they think Trump in like some sought of a Robin Hood. And they really believe he is helping them with his lower taxes and locking up crooked Hillary.
It's unbelievable!!
103
I would be a very happy person if they could find something on Corey Lewandowski so that we never have to see his smug sneer "trumpeting" the joys of Trump again.
77
i am having less and less doubt that Mueller will be let go soon. despite what has been declared as a 'would be suicide move' on Trumps part, i don't assume an immortal thinking narcissist such as Trump will find that a deterrent as much as his 'only' reality life preserver at this stage. So far everything else he has done that would have been considered a suicide move in politics has not amounted to his obituary. sadly the word 'hypocrisy' has lost any deterrent meaning for his majority party who will today, in truly Trump fashion, say what a good man Trump is and tomorrow will be the first to throw dirt on his grave. They are not only deficit spinsters in our nations economics but also in our morality.
17
Why is it that the racists decrying illegal immigrants as law breakers are quiet the opposite in their defense of Trump? Nonsensical statements like "Deep State" and "Conspiracy" tumble out of their furious and confused mouths.
If Trump has nothing to hide then why doesn't he expedite meeting with Mueller and cooperate with all of the investigations? Exactly. Trump apparently has a lot to hide. Now that Syrian headlines are ebbing it's now on to North Korea!
54
Trump denies knowledge of the Stormy Daniels payoff-- then tries to claim attorney-client privilege? Ha! Good luck with that.
73
You can't make this stuff up. Now the president's lawyer needs a lawyer. My only consolation in living through this national nightmare is that this administration will be judged one of the most corrupt in modern American history. My fear is that the bar for ethics, morality, integrity and respectability will be forever lowered and that we will expect less of our future leaders as Trump has led us to heretofore unseen depths of degradation.
I can see it now. Required viewing for future generations to fully comprehend the Trump administration and its GOP sycophants: The Godfather.
Required reading: 1984 and Brave New World.
57
“Oh what a tangled web we weave when first we practice to deceive.” This is exactly the Trump presidency we all envisioned except for the sycophants. Ominous, farcical chaos! Perhaps the nation is reaching a critical mass of executive corruption and irrationality. Mueller is not amused or seduced by Trump world. Mueller’s career has been to put guys in prison, not to exonerate them. Trump is getting a whiff of this. Cohen is and has been an instrument of Trump; like a third appendage. It is horrific that a President comes into office with such obvious conflicts of interest and relations to corruption (or we could have gotten HRC and been in the same place!). Trump ignored the first law of nature: eventually everybody knows everything! Decades from now this time will not be known as the “golden age” of anything. But unlike the tragedy of the JFK/RFK/MLK years; at least we may well dodge this bullet. We can only hope!
17
"President Trump’s advisers have concluded that a wide-ranging corruption investigation into his personal lawyer poses a greater and more imminent threat to the president than even the special counsel’s investigation ... "
Good. Then maybe they will focus on that, and Mr. Mueller can finish his investigation in peace--just in time for the swearing-in of a Democratic majority in Congress--and this long national nightmare will finally end.
48
How many saw the film clips on CNN last night of Michael Cohen sitting outside the Regency Hotel, grinning, smoking an expensive cigar and in the company of thugs and goons right out of Mario Puzo.
Mr. Cohen probably is confidant that his "don" will pardon him if worse came to worse. (What was that phone call between them yesterday about anyway?)
For decades their games have gone on , perhaps just skirting legality, or just never enough evidence to get them indicted. Cohen is despicable and at the very least should be disbarred. What must happen though is for the American public to be shown the depth of their maleficence and corruption. Cohen and his boss belong in prison but that may not happen unless NEW York State convicts them on non Federal charges.
It's further disgraceful and unconscionable that the Republicans continue to enable and defend this horror.
71
And now Donald, our word for the day is "RICO". That's spelled R-I-C-O. Your homework assignment is to find out what it means. Now, before you get upset because you think you might have to read something to find the definition I'll give you a couple helpful hints:
First Hint: Call your friend Rudy G., he can probably explain it to you.
Second Hint: It's not that place where you had such great fun last year throwing paper towel rolls at those poor Spanish speaking people.
Please have your answer ready for review in the morning.
66
POTUS has always employed lawyers as foils and props to do his sleazy work - to intimidate, cajole, manipulate, cheat and lie. For all those little and big people ruined and abused by the scrofulous lout there is reason to believe his modus operandi (i.e., using lawyers to justify his immoral and illegal behavior) may soon end thanks to, ironically, lawyers who are on the right side of the law for a change.
55
If The Donald ever goes to trial from any of this, I hope he follows his own statements that “he is his own best advisor” and acts as his own lawyer in court.
59
This is why "it can't happen here." There are honest people in government who won't let it happen.
16
I've been corresponding for two years with my high school classmate, sharing our concerns about both Hillary and Trump. He cast his Electoral College vote for Trump because he hoped his friend and colleague Mike Pence would provide the needed wisdom, stability and knowledge of leadership in government. I'm still waiting for an answer I put to him over dinner last May: "how's Mike doing?"
33
Wow, reading this and the arguments Trump's lawyers and Cohen's are making clearly show there is something in these documents, emails,, calls and tapes that are making Trump very very nervous. Even during his rambling, incoherent speech last night (why bring up financial requirements? why keep bringing up god when the consitution clearly states a division between religion and state) looked often distracted and tormented. There is something here that is very very damaging. And to most decent minded, law abiding people who care about our democracy, knowing what it is cannot come soon enough.
63
No one expected Trump to become president, including Trump himself. It is well past time to stop foolishly pretending otherwise.
There is an easy way out of this nightmare and the wreckage it is inflicting on America and the world: Presidential resignation.
To get to such a deal may well take a credible threat of impeachment and removal (which in turn presumes a less horribly derelict US Congress after next November), but it would be a better deal for the "art of the deal" president, and the rest of the world, and our posterity.
And please let us cease the kneejerk nonsense about Pence being "just as bad." Pence is not a tool of Putin, Pence did not make a career in shady and unscrupulous business scams, Pence is not a pathological liar, Pence is not likely to accidentally start World War III by throwing a temper tantrum. Pence can be a satisfactory caretaker until 2020 when maybe the Democrats will not insist on nominating a candidate tailor-made to help the Republicans prevail with by far the worst presidential nominee in American history, as in 2016.
31
Thank goodness the Trump presidency is now over. For anyone who doesn't understand, this was the end. Mueller, the FBI and the SDNY now have all the evidence they need to put Trump and his gang of co-conspirators away for good.
This is game, set, match. It's all for for Trump. Even he, ignorant as he is, knows it. Of course he will go down swinging, but going down he is. As they say it's over but the shouting, that's what you're going to see from Trump and the GOP and the NRA and The Kremlin. Don't worry about them, there is nothing they can do now.
It's time for what remains of the GOP to start re-building. We need them to keep balance in our democracy. They have messed up big time and they will pay a huge price for their mistakes come November. But we must remember that the United Sates is a far stronger democracy when we have two strong parties.
The turmoil and disgrace of Trump's illegitimate presidency is coming to an end. Let's all stick together as one country now and build a new and better United States. We are all in this together and we can do better than what we've had for the last year, much better.
77
"No man is above the law and no man is below it: nor do we ask any man's permission when we ask him to obey it."
Theodore Roosevelt
58
Trump should worry. New evidence indicates that Cohen was in Prague working with Russian Agents to hack the 2016 election. Can't wait until Mueller releases this information. The Chris Steele Dossier is on point despite efforts to discredit the document. Like Clapper said...it looks like Trump is a witting agent for Russia.
52
I agree that potential crimes committed in his personal and business dealings is a much bigger threat to Trump than obstruction of justice charges endlessly reported in the media.
If a thorough investigation is allowed to proceed, I believe that Trump and his family will be found to be involved in a massive web of money laundering, bank fraud, tax fraud, and illegal activities with foreign entities. Obstruction of justice might get him impeached. These other crimes mean the potential for decades behind bars.
Perhaps this sordid tale will have a happy ending after all.
60
Trumps greatest strengths are his narcissism, degradation of women, ability to hide his tax returns from the American public, lie, marital infidelities, aligning himself with know hate groups, denying global climate change, bullying, admiration for third world dictators and strongmen, from Russia with Love, disrespect for our allies, disrespect for our environment, disrespect for the rule of law, ignoring the educated advice of those around him. Exhausting as I could go on and on. What’s more and quite incomprehensible is that he is President of these United States. While I’m confident he will not be in office after his four year term is up I am deeply rueful of the damage he has done to our country. Please, please America give your utmost thoughtfulness when considering the next candidate. He or she will have their work cut out for them while the era of Trump will have an asterisk next to it in the history books
21
A blatant violation of client - attorney relationship.
3
Trump's lawyers should wear stars on their collars and a general's hat whenever they talk to him. Then he might actually listen to their advice.
37
There's no longer any doubt that a crime syndicate is operating within the white house. The criminal investigation into Cohen goes back years.
To quote Comey: "Lordy, let there be tapes?"
There are.
91
Reading the majority of these comments—from smart, well-informed Times readers who are as fed up as I with the daily perversions and outrages of trump and his republican enablers—has been the highlight of my day. Thanks to all of you and to the The New York Times for allowing me to see the light at the end of the long, dark tunnel we've been in since these villains were put into office.
128
God bless America. Now convince Congressional GOPers to do the right thing. Protect our Country and impeach the President
75
The article says Trump sees inquiry into Cohen as greater threat to Mueller but offers no direct proof that that is what Trump sees or thinks, Why is that? How about some news with facts, please?
10
What’s the bigger threat? Trump remaining in the White House. This criminal presidency is destroying everything good that the United States used to represent.
62
An honest man has nothing to fear from the truth coming out...Yes, Cohen and Trump may not be sleeping well.
47
Is it just me? I feel like we haven't heard "boo" from Prince Jared and Princess
Ivanka in weeks. Did they slip off and change their names and perhaps have some work done to disappear? And here I thought Jared was going to save the world in his spare time. Darn.
120
Drip, Drip, Drip...slowly, inexorably, the facts will win out, and Mr. Trump who basks in the limelight that he can manipulate, will shrink and wither from the light that shines on who he really is.
53
For Trump's lawyers to react this way, there must be some there there.
48
It's all about karma, Mr Trump: everything you wished on your political opponent has come back to bite you, hasn't it? I doubt we can expect empathy, though.
83
As far as I understand it, getting the go ahead for a raid on a lawyer's office requires a lot of proof before a judge will sign the warrant.
So I think it is safe to assume that there is a high probability of a smoking gun in this case.
Especially when you consider that Trump has broken a lot of laws afterwards when going to war with Syria just to create a public diversion for Fox&Friends and his voters.
So, when will we see Trump impeached and in court?
If not for the Russia case or the pee tapes, his illegal war against Syria without any consent by the UN or his own Congress/Senate should be enough to put into jail as of immediately.
26
Arrogance kills. Trump will rue the day he decided to run. Society tolerates crooked business people, but presidents are another matter.
76
What purpose does this raid serve other than to attempt to discredit or punish an unpopular president? I am horrified that law enforcement can burst into the business and home of an attorney and grab records that are probably privileged and protected.
I am equally horrified by the reaction of much of the public including some of the commentators here who seem to enjoy the spectacle. Remember, what goes around comes around. It could happen to you.
If prosecutors treated Bill and Hillary Clinton the same way as president Trump and his associates have been treated, many liberals would be screaming. Where is the investigation of the Clinton Foundation which accepted millions of dollars of donations from foreign entities while Hillary was Secretary of State and later when she ran for president? Isn't it interesting how the Clinton Foundation went under as Hillary's political power disappeared.
I think this whole matter is very unfair and inappropriate. I hope the judge throws the book at the prosecutors.
2
The trumpzo two-step:
1) 26 years of investigations io the Clintons are not enough. Notwithstanding that these have resulted in nothing more than uncovering a lie about sex, we clearly need more.
And,
2) 1 1/4 years of investigation into trump is way too much, we don’t see how the country can function under the stress created by these biased investigators.
69
The Clintons have investigated, reinvestigated and rereinvestigated many times. Attorney client privilege doesn’t apply when the attorney and client are conspiring to commit a crime.
40
Talk about disinformation!
Law enforcement did not 'burst into the business' as you so colorfully, but inaccurately, state. They 'executed a search warrant' signed by a federal judge who, presumably, was convinced by the evidence the FBI presented that the search was warranted.
But I agree with you that what goes around, comes around.
Isn't this President the guy who led chants of "Lock her up!"
Are you Russian, by the way?
41
The ugly aspect is that the conspiring mob pushing for a proto-fascist coup is gearing up their show process efforts, abusing the Inspector General and the Utah court system to tar and scar impeccable civil servants and Democratic opponents in their way, and coupled with voter suppression, voting machine manipulation and largely continued gerrymandering they are still in by far most of the decisive driver seats. It is tactical strategy that they have allowed some in-between special elections to have taken place unmessed with, to rock the resistance asleep in this respect. Election fraud on an unprecedented scale is clearly in the pipeline. This gang of criminals will not go down, if they can prevent it with abusing accessible venues for cheating.
20
Reading tea leaves on this one, but my take is that the federal dragnet around Cohen is clear signal of four things:
First, Cohen is implicated in the Trump-Russia collusion story for which the Special Counsel now has evidence.
Second, Mueller and Rosenstein arranged the assault on Cohen to be conducted by the NY US Attorney as part of a strategy to go as far as they can without prompting Trump to precipitate a constitutional crisis by firing everyone.
Third, they are going after all of Cohen's soft targets (the potpourri of sleaze and illegality...) to force him to turn on Trump and aid Mueller's investigation.
And fourth, Cohen faces a choice -- destruction of his professional reputation (as it is...), bankruptcy by legal bills, and jail time....or, turn on Trump.
Fasten your seat belts.
57
The cognitive dissonance in this piece is spectacular! On one hand there is unspeakable outrage that an anonymous source may think there is evidence that Cohen visited Prague to maybe meet with foreigners to set up a troll farm to influence the election, which may confirm details of Christopher Steele's dossier. On the other hand, there is zero concern that Christopher Steele himself heavily influenced the election on the payroll of the DNC, Hillary's campaign, and her law firm intermediaries.
There is smug satisfaction that Cohen's office was raided over Stormy Daniels, yet there is not even a hint of concern that the DNC or their lawyers, or the lawyers acting for the Hillary campaign that hired Christopher Steele to produce a dossier to influence the election have not been raided.
3
All campaigns do research on their opponents. The so-called “dossier” is just fact-finding to get information on Trump and possible weaknesses that can be exploited during the election. There’s nothing remotely illegal about doing that. Otherwise, we would have to ban Google searches.
32
Another reminder that there is nothing said by Twitler or his advisers that aren't meant to mislead people via the press.
None of it.
There is ALWAYS an ulterior motive intended to help this President and his enablers in Congress.
Every time.
So whenever you hear what "Trump thinks" or "Trump sees", you can be sure you are being duped - it's only a matter of how.
23
They won't find anything much on Trump.
Trump never puts anything in writing. Trump doesn't email. Trump does not have his voice recorded. Trump never signs anything. Donald Trump is smart that way. He really knows how not to get caught. He learned that early on, all real crooks do.
24
It's amazing what you can accomplish, when it doesn't matter who gets the credit.
Thank you Bob Mueller.
48
Cohen is Trump's proxy. What Cohen does is what Trump does. Follow the money and you will get from Cohen to Trump. Trump should cut his losses and admit to his financial issues. He will never admit to collusion, but that does not matter. If the money connects both of them to Russians, both should go to jail.
22
There is a Mandarin proverb saying like this:If you do not wish to be caught for doing something bad , you'd better not do it.
27
I'm a little ashamed of the satisfaction I feel. Normally I don't harbor such hostility and ill-will towards others but in the case of Cohen and Trump, my disdain has been fomenting for two years now. The likelihood that Cohen's illegal dealings don't involve Trump is next to none.
I'll assume Mueller has discovered this avenue to Trump as a backup so that one way or another, justice comes to pass. Trump's has no chance against the FBI.
36
Character can be defined by what one does when no one is watching. Trump has publicly revealed himself to be the most unethical and immoral president in our nation’s history. So it’s mind-boggling to imagine the type of stuff he doesn’t want the public to know. Must be pretty bad.
44
Let's keep in mind that Trump's personal attny DOES NOT deal with any subjects that can be claimed to be Executive Privilage. They are private, of course, unless they involve committing a crime, or covering it up.
14
"Mr. Trump has viewed any investigation of his business and private life to be off limits to prosecutors, but the search warrants make clear that investigators consider those topics part of their case."
Glad to hear it ! Why Trump should imagine himself in a position to put his personal, family & business activities "off limits" for criminal investigation is beyond me, and the absence of discussion of this topic is almost as shocking, since the clear and implicit message is that he's pefectly willing to obstruct justice, and has announced it proudly and for all the world to hear. Trump's success, it would seem, that he has effectivley become a member of the global klepto-oligarcy club, above the law, proud of it it, and the GOP and his supporters are perfectly OK with that.
25
Trump's view that any investigation into his private or business life is off-limits needs to be corrected. Accountability for criminal activity in his private and business life dont stop with the Presidency. On the contrary, they MUST be investigated.
24
Why Mr. Trump fears this second investigation is a mystery. Surely, the investigation will reveal no criminal activity on his part or Mr. Cohen's...as the president has maintained all along
16
Cohen loved taping conversations! He was very smart to record key discussions with his co-conspirators, Trump's victims and Trump himself. That's because he could blackmail his interlocutors and he'll never get in trouble. Foolproof, right?
Since Cohen didn't do much actual lawyering, but instead worked around the clock "fixing" Trump's problems, not much on the tapes will be privileged. The feds must be feeling like kids in a candy store listening to Cohen and Trump gleefully incriminating themselves.
23
Trump's power over Republican lawmakers will be severely weakened after the GOP primaries. They fear the retribution of Trump's base if they speak up. But once the primaries are over, many in the GOP will summon the spine to criticize Trump and perhaps even vote for impeachment if the charges are unequivocal and serious.
Therefore, it's likely Trump will try to file Rosenstein and Mueller sooner rather than later. Trump knows the exposing of his corruption is now imminent. He will fire them and take his chances with the public outcry.
That public outcry must loud and sustained when that happens.
14
Unlike many on this discussion thread, who appear to be gleefull at the prospect of a criminal investigation of Trump, and the ensuing aftermath and disaster this would spell for Trump (possibly), I am truly saddened. While I agree with very few of the policies of Trump, he has many qualities of greatness: perseverance, stamina (if I had a as many issues and crises as this man, I would have resigned, died of a heart attack, or already committed suicide), and a real ability to identify talented and capable people. I have personally spoken to individuals, democrats all, who are experts in their field and have met with members of the Trump cabinet about various issues. They have all been impressed with the individuals they've met, and have noted what a refreshing difference it is from the arrogance they encountered when meeting with members of Obama's cabinet. Then, they generally mention that, of course, despite the great cabinet members they met, something is bound to go wrong eventually because Trump is at the helm. Nevertheless, definitely a sad day, especially as the downfall of Trump will spell with certainty that Pence becomes President...
1
Then, obviously, they didn't meet with the Secretaries of State, Treasury, Justice, HHS, HUD, Energy, Education, and certainly not EPA...
41
Could it be that Trump is wholly ignorant of the Mueller Inquiry threat, but is all too familiar with the media hit he would take from bad publicity due to women claiming affairs (and love children), as he knows he's been actively and directly trying to hide those. I suspect that he does not fully appreciate the legal risk that the Mueller investigation represents.
13
To be brutally honest, I didn't think Trump would last even this long.
I have a five-year-old grandchild with a better understanding of reality, a more sincere comprehension of honesty, and an infinitely more nuanced grip on the committing of crime and its subsequent punishment.
And when he listens to other people, he hears what they say, not what HE wants to hear.
You can borrow him, if needs be, until this unintelligent dolt is finally thrown from office. And hopefully into jail.
28
Trump has an affinity for those who skirt the law and those exhibit behavior that would be criminal if not for Trump’s support. Sheriff Joe, Scooter Libby, and the myriad of Republicans (including Trump) who were accused of sexual misconduct. This story is another chapter in the sleazy story that is the Trump Presidency.
18
Mr. Trump is now feeling the real 'heat' of what the deep state apparatus of the country looks like, how far-reaching and relentless its pursuit of even powerful elected officials who disagree with its goals in the running the world as it deems fit. Even if it meant bankrupting the country to engage in unending wars everywhere on the planet, especially, beating up poor, backwater countries back to the stone-age in trying to hold on to its temporary lone 'superpower' status.
As Chuck Shumer let it slip in his interview with Rachel Maddow on MSNBC, "they have six ways until Sunday to strike back at you". It should be a warning to Mr.Trump to resign from office, save his life and his family he cares about and let the deep state / military-industrial complex run the country with their choicest picks for office. As the next mid-term elections will guarantee that more Intel officials running for office will 'win' the mid-term elections and set the motions for Mr.Trump's impeachment. In many ways 2016 elections will be remembered as the last true people's elections where the votes were real. Just like how the shock of Vietnam changed the US media into becoming mouthpieces for the MIL, 2016 elections will render all future US elections rigged.
People of this country and around the world should hope that a rival superpower should rise soon enough and save this planet from complete annihilation with the unilateral, catastrophic actions of the 'Warfare states of America'.
You are living in a fantasy. There is no ‘deep state’ - just government and justice officials doing their jobs as laid out in the constitution. If Trump, or his attorney’s, behavior violated the law then they should be held accountable for their crimes. No man is above the law. That is not a conspiracy, that is the law of the land.
29
If the Trump brothers are implicated in Cohen's files, would they flip on their dad and even Ivanka to get a reduced sentence or stay out of jail completely? That means whatever is left of the Trump empire will be theirs too. A win-win for both of them. Plus, they must be pretty angry at dad for dragging them into this kind of life. I wonder if they would actually do this as a payback. I wonder if president Trump has even thought of this. I guess we'll find out.
11
A brilliant move by Mr. Mueller!
Recognizing a tangential piece of evidence from the Russian interference in our elections, he saw an opportunity to open the investigation to a separate branch of the law. This sequestered this activity from his office, protecting this evidence from the expected "You're Fired" notification from the emperor. Trump can't reach here.
21
Trump will do anything to protect himself and he will, undoubtedly, use his undeserved right to pardon to silence anything that threatens him. However, I am not particularly disturbed if this band of liers, frauds and dishonest people will stay out of jal. What I think is important is for their actions and misdeeds to be made public. It is important for the country to find out about their manipulations, their crooked deals, their willingness to bend the law. I have long held that this entire business is based on a sordid pursuit of money. From Flynn to Manafort, from Kushner to Trump, the entire gang was out there squeezing money from every possible source, and their collusion with Russian agents was nothing more than a willingness to undermine American democracy in exchange for favorable financial gains. Hannah Arendt spoke about the banality of evil. Mueller will not uncover a case of a deep political conspiracy, but will reveal the banality of greed. A much lesser crime, to be sure, but one that threatens to infect our institutions.
57
This man has been acting as a legal standover and shakedown man for Trump and his operation. Refer to the many suppliers who have been affected after having their work stolen and threatened with years of litigation if they don't accept a small percentage of their invoices (example: Architect of Bedminster golf club building). In three decades Trump has been involved in 4,095 lawsuits. Cohen has been the muscle to get people to settle, threatening to "take them for all the money you don't yet have" (quote to reporter at Daily Beast). This is how the Mafia operates.
91
One strange item is why was Cohen staying in a hotel? Especially when he could stay at the Trump Tower? Or perhaps a Kushner property. I'm worried about his wife and hope she'll draw in support and start reviewing the Chumplady.com website.
9
Trump should because a report out tonight says that Mueller has proof that Cohen did in fact visit Prague in August/September 2016...the purpose of the visit to meet with Russians and be the bagman to pay off Russian hackers.
Game...set...match.
83
I'm not sure anyone will want to write this story. The time and energy needed to wade into this cesspool of humanity is too repulsive to imagine.
54
I do not feel for this slimy clown that is Cohen. Hopefully he will get what he deserves and does some jail time if he is found guilty of any crimes.
60
Every time Trump gets a new lawyer it’s an old pro real big league gigantic gee whiz. I’ve lost count.
At some point tough and agile as these guys are in defending things the mercurial narcissistic Trump will do something where they say “this is like swimming with a weight in each hand”. Impossibly frustrating and enervating. All the legal jiu jitsu moves can’t handle it. Why try. These guys aren’t getting any younger and wrestling with the opposing brilliant legal minds isn’t worth it. Easier to go back with convoluted corporate white collar crime he knows
9
No collusion, no corruption then why he is shaking in his pants.
44
The raid against Cohen has nothing to do with Russia. Many of the records seized had to do with events that occurred years before Trump ran for the presidency.
Trump is understandably upset because this raid was a tremendous violation of privacy. Cohen might have numerous records regarding business deals or sexual Affairs Trump had while married. That does not mean that Trump or Cohen did anything illegal or wrong, but it is certainly potentially embarrassing to him and his family. Imagine the stress this is probably putting on his marriage. Of course he is upset.
How would you feel if someone raided your home, business and electronic records to try to uncover every bit of dirt they could on you, and then made it public?
Yes, they are looking at "events that occurred years before Trump ran for the presidency," such as Cohen traveling to Prague in late summer 2016. Or the payments to Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels, which took place in late 2016. But I suppose you will keep on insisting it's all stuff from "years" before Trump, if it makes your cognitive dissonance about these events and facts feel better. Accepting the truth may take you some time.
17
The files seized involved fraud of all kinds, bank fraud, election fraud, etc. They may st likely also include evidence of RICO, due to Cohens long history of shaking down those who stood in his way.
These issues have nothing to do with Trump’s affairs, they were not an illegal raid, and nothing that violates the Constitution has occurred. If anything, if you love the law of the land & the Constitution, you should be glad that it is being effectively upheld.
8
Spread the evidence as far and wide as possible. Let the long arm of the law become an octopus that brings to light any crimes that may have been committed, however much their perpetrators may attempt to suppress them, and wherever they may be.
52
All this has nothing to do with Russia. It is a witch hunt.
Ironic that no friends could give cohen-trump a heads-up.
27
Wag the dog? Asad needs to be brought up on charges for his use of chemical weapons, but it is sure convenient that Trump pretends to be presidential as allegations of his criminality are pushed off of the front page.
24
Are we losing sight of the original sin here, which is that Russia was most likely involved in tipping the election via Trump's strategic contacts? Yes, I am anxiously awaiting Trump's demise on the evidence of his and his lawyer Cohen's wide-ranging, scurrilous business and extra-legal practices domestically... but let's not lose sight of the significantly huge danger to democracy here: the newly porous access Russia has gained to our elective processes through his likely collusion. After Mueller is fired, who continues this investigation -- and probable prosecutions?
32
When Trump (aka the Don) makes a decision, he passes instructions down through the chain of command. A consigliere or capo such as Cohen, in turn passes them on to other people to do the crimes so that the law has nothing on the boss. But at the core, the Mafia was about one thing -- money. And we know that Trump is about one thing -- money. Like mobsters, Trump will be caught by following the money. Law enforcement teams, including FBI forensic accountants will study the family's financial holdings and transactions, identify patterns of criminal activity, then use that information to convince high-level members and family to turn.
From the very beginning, Muller likely put multiple safeguards in place, most of which we haven’t even heard of yet, to ensure the investigation(s) would continue after his inevitable dismissal. Possibly the entire tip of the iceberg hasn't even been revealed yet, never mind all that lies beneath. The concern now is for the damage Trump will cause nationally and internationally as the personal pressure on him continues to deepen and intensify.
63
I thank the President for the life lessons he is teaching my teenage sons. They'll pay closer attention in Government class now and see how a democracy is not a monarchy or a dictatorship. They understand what I mean when I talk about the reputation you develop and the body of work your career will produce. They understand about making choices in the friends they keep. And they now know that having money doesn't make you smarter or better than the next guy.
They will remember his impeachment, and removal from office, for the rest of their lives, just as I do with Nixon.
959
Thank the people resisting Trump, not Trump himself. Hopeful for our upcoming citizens!
19
thank you so much, joe,
for pointing out positive and quite encouraging
aspects in the face of soso much negativity ...
15
This is probably the only silver lining to the debacle that is the Trump presidency.
14
Good. He should feel threatened. Because he's brought all this on himself.
58
Will Trump still be able to tweet from prison? I doubt it. That and not getting two of ice cream will ultimately completely unhinge him.
34
Trump is fulfilling a campaign promise to "Drain the Swamp". I know the drain is kind of clogged right now, but the Justice System is a robust albeit slow system.
18
A favorite Republican refrain: "leave it to the States, not Washington." Sounds familiar? In Trump's case, it may be the State, New York, that gets to prosecute him and his cronies and cry loudly as he will, he has no authority to fire anyone. Sweet irony.
52
If Trump didn't see this coming when he accepted the presidency, then he is unquestionably delusional. What else is missing in his alternate universe?
44
He didn't consider it because he never thought he would win. Running was just to burnish his TV and real estate branding career. When he won Melania cried. I can imagine she is crying still. Don't wish too hard.
26
"Prosecutors argued that the previously seized emails revealed that Mr. Cohen was “performing little to no legal work, and that zero emails were exchanged with President Trump.” They said their investigation was focused on Mr. Cohen’s business dealings, not his work as a lawyer."
So, does attorney-client privilege even apply here???
14
What's the bottom line for Cohen if he sticks to the "Trump knew nothing about the Daniels contract" line. He could be disbarred for defrauding Daniels and liable for damages in a civil suit by her. And he could be guilty of an illegal campaign contribution.
If disbarred, he could just go to work for Trump where he could make enough to pay any damage claim. An illegal campaign contribution will just mean a slap on the wrist.
Unless, there is more that we don't know about, I don't think Cohen has to worry. A "made" man is always taken care of.
6
People keep wondering why the GOP is not stepping up to protect Rosenstein, Mueller, McCabe, and the rest of the Justice Dept. officials who have been forced out because they can corroborate Comey's assertions. I believe, and have since the beginning, that the RNC was intricately involved, at the congressional district level, in making use of Russian election targeting. Legislators whose reelection efforts were aided in 2014 and 2016 are not going to protect the special counsel or even the nation.
66
If Mr.Cohen discussed the commission of a crime or the coverup of illegal activity solicitor-client priviledge would not apply.As a retired attorney it is easy to conclude that Mr Cohen is in serious legal peril.And so is his boss. POTUS has reason to have sleepless nites. Unfortunately extra time for reckless tweets.
44
Maybe I'm a bit at once too cynical and idealistic, but I think that even if Trump is convicted of something, even if egregious, he will at the least get a much, much more lenient sentence or none. If I, a humble art supply store clerk, had done the same, I'd fry.
But I'll have a party for the whole neighborhood, the whole city, once he and his cohorts go down. My god, has it been such a very long time since his inauguration.
61
Yes, we average people would go down – never to come out. Trump has been legally bullying to skirt the law his entire life. Dealing with crooks, supplier shakedowns. fraud and more. Can I come to your party? A case of champagne is on me.
48
Believe me, people from many other countries would like an invitation to your party !
10
65 percent of Americans will be dancing in the streets.
But then we get the pathological pastor Pence, which is equally scary.
9
The question is what Congressional Republicans will do if/when Trump pardons Cohen. Presumably nothing. Ryan is a lane duck, so perhaps he'll speak up, but, he'll have no power. Potentially scary days ahead.
13
Paul Ryan won’t speak up - he helped pass the GOP gift to corps/wealthy, and now he can sit back and count his reward.
10
There is no doubt whatsoever that Trump and Cohen are convinced that they are above the law. The criminal investigation of Cohen is a conundrum for the Justice department and Judge Kimba M Wood. From what I have read and heard so far, Cohen and Trump have a lot to hide. Should the judge's decision favor Cohen and block prosecutors from reading the files then this is clearly a win for Cohen and Trump. My question is will this then end the criminal investigation Cohen is under? Trump and Cohen and their lawyers clearly try to influence the Judicial system to rule in their favor which in turn could put the Judicial system in the US in a precarious position. The question then is are we or are we not a land of laws and ruled by laws where nobody, not even the president and his lawyers, are above the law.
20
Whao! The Feds are getting right to the heart of the Trump circle. They keep coming regardless of what Trump or Fox News do or say. Even with the US Attorney, a Trump appointee, taking charge of the investigation in New York the agressiveness with which it was undertaken is surprising. Seems like Cohen is being seen not just as an attorney but more as a fixer. What pray tell are the prosecutors after? Is there more to this than just Stormy and company? Are there financial crimes involved? Will Trump family members also emerge as targets? What evidence triggered the magistrate to find sufficient probable cause to sweep up papers, computers, cell phones and possible recordings from Cohen? Are criminal charges pending? Will the President pre-emptively pardon Cohen? Will this be taken to a grand jury?
Another front has been opened for Trump to fight. Will Cohen face any state charges that might involve Trump or his family? Civil litigation is moving forward in addition to all the other dicey legal problems the President and his administration face with the Mueller investigation. How long can the President, the GOP and Fox News continue to deny that there is not anything to these investigations?
Lots of problems coming from so many directions have to be taking a toll on the President and those in the administration. Trump's Presidency is under a cloud. It has been seriously weakened. The best that the GOP has to offer is to set up an attack on Comey.
15
With prior presidencies, even a president's strongest supporters were able to hold him to some degree of accountability. We weren't afraid to speak out if we didn't agree with our president, even if we voted for him twice (and would do so again if we could). Not so with trump supporters, who are unable or unwilling to criticize or hold trump accountable, in any way. I try not to stereotype -- but it's hard not to notice the similarities between trump followers and traits we'd associate with a cult. Their displays of adulation and hero-worship of trump, their immediate acceptance of his statements or tweets as gospel truth, their knee-jerk intolerance for any conflicting views of trump, their almost mob-like animosity for those who trump identifies as his enemies --these traits are indicative of fanaticism. We've never seen such a fanatical following of a president before in this country, at least not to this degree. trump can do no wrong in the eyes of his die-hard voters. And the GOP will continue to excuse his corruption as "trump being trump", as if that makes it okay. It's not ok. The fanatical worship of any person holding political office, let alone the presidency, is bad enough. But when that person is someone like trump, it's dangerous. If republicans haven't tried to rein trump in by now, they never will. This is a call for a Congress who will do it's job. This November, we need to help elect members who won't be afraid to confront & deal with a thug head on.
652
I agree completely. And I also am reminded of a similar reaction: Most of us can remember when we first entered puberty & heard or saw our first rebellious "love" from the safety of a large audience of our peers with whom we could yell & scream & swoon in blind adulation of the one we all "loved" up on stage. Our parents & other adults could try to argue or criticize our obsession to no avail, whether it be Elvis, The Beatles, Michael Jackson, the Bieber, whoever, each generation of 11-13 yr olds has their idol. Trumpers at his rallies, his supporters talking to the press, in town halls, the guests on cable news, all saying the same talking points, unable to engage in rational discussion/debate seem like those children at the edge of puberty, enthralled & enraptured by their man of the hour who has come to save them, lift them out of themselves. Facts, evidence, logic & information will never dissuade them - because they only deal in emotion, as if in a collective spell.
29
The GOP and its for-profit noise machine have spent the last several decades preparing the ground for the nihilistic populism that we now know of as Trumpism. The for-profit noise machine disciplines any GOP politician who doesn't toe the line so they have a choice between retirement or fully supporting Trump's malfeasance in the run up to the midterm elections. Nihilistic populism is a disastrous way to govern because the mob always demands more of the same even when reality gets in the way. The end will be painful. Real journalism, not the sort of populist false equivalency, don't want to offend anybody foolishness that passes for journalism today, along with the rule of law, and an excellent midterm election turnout are what are required to save the US from Trumpism.
20
There is a term for those who are held captive by Trump: Stockholm Syndrome.
10
Evidence that Cohen traveled to Prague and lied about it to discredit the dossier is a smoking gun, no doubt just one of many. Trump is a dirt bag and a traitor and Cohen was his fixer. Trump is desperate to distract the country with war, but it isn't going to work. War crimes which kill more innocent Syrians does nothing to punish Assad or Putin for their war crimes.
22
Trump was all about "law and order" and putting Hillary in Jail during the debates. SURELY Trump does not have a hypocritical double standard regarding himself and the law...
And, please, there should be no leniency in sentencing a man who harasses and uses as political pawns people who were brought here illegally as young children.
27
If someone is guilty of a crime or evidence is needed to prove guilt or innocence that evidence needs to be protected from tampering. Trump says he did not know of Cohen's dealings with Stormy Daniels and didn't know anything about it. Therefore Cohen acted on his own and not as Trump's lawyer. Therefore, it seems that there was no attorney client privilege. Trump can not have it both ways claiming that privilege when that relationship did not exist. I may be wrong.
A fixer is not acting as a lawyer. A fixer performs acts for someone who does not want to be associated with that act which may be criminal or at the very least embarrassing. Calling yourself a lawyer to hide from the law is criminal in itself. Trump and Cohen need to be brought to account for their actions as any other citizen would be. Hiding your criminal actions through a loop hole in the law can not be accepted in this country that supposedly is a place of law and order.
Trump would use that law against his enemies as he tried to do with Hillary Clinton even convicting her in kangaroo courts he called campaign rallies. he can no longer evade his own rendezvous with justice.
gege
453
Good points. When Sarah Huckabee was asked if Cohen was still Trump's lawyer she said she didn't know. That's petty and weird.
24
Don't you get it by now--everything Trump alleges about Clinton are exactly his own confessions and he projects his own worst evil truth on his enemies in the form of allegations, which in his mind are counter allegations. It is a psychological mechanism called projection.
31
“Kangaroo courts he called campaign rallies” boom!
11
I've only been alive for the 2000's, so I don't have a lot of first hand exprerience, but is a president supposed to be this untrustworthy? Obama was in office for 8 whole years and I think in his entire time in office he wasn't as criticized as Trump has been for his first year and some change. I am not saying it's without good reason. The only reason Mueller would even need security because of the threat of being fired is because he's onto something Trump doesn't want getting out. Even in American History class, the only president that has come under this much scrutiny is Richard Nixon, and like Nixon, I feel like this scrutiny is warranted. I someone's lawyer needs another lawyer to defend the act of defending his client, said client is probably guilty.
464
No, this presidency is not normal. I haven't loved all the presidents of our recent past... but they all had at least some modicum of dignity.
21
Excellent analysis and well composed.
10
James W.: Great post and observations from someone born in the 2000's! I would like to counter your last sentence, though. Everyone, including those who practice law, has a right to a lawyer, and exercising that right is not evidence of guilt.
10
Comey’s firing set the law enforcement machinery a formidable challenge of taking on a man with positional power and will to use it. The strategy deployed to address that challenge is time tested and proven. Multiple formations that divide, isolate and create survival issues for individuals close to the epicentre, and plant doubts about support structure.
Counter to the current tactic will be a massive distraction (Syria?), followed by dismissal of special counsel. Cohen’s team will take the fight to Supreme Court to wriggle him out! Just guessing the next set of tactics!
4
Loyalty. Mr. Cohen will soon find that the occupant of 1600 can't leaf through Websters L tab except to scream "Lies....Lies". When an attorney as sloppy and venal as he gets searched the evidence will reveal a 'lay down hand' for Justice. The indictment will be so easy to write that the under assistant US Attorney will be given the job as a gift for his future CV. Then 1600 will, as already reported, declare...." I know nothing". And truer words were never spoken!
7
Donald Trump isn't our President. He's a Mob Boss running the Republican Party. His minions Nunes, Gowdy, Cohen, the list goes on and on.
Where are the good Republicans hiding?
23
There are zero good Republicans any more. They all have proven that with craven silence.
10
Good, let Trump's attention focus somewhere else while Mueller works his inquiry unmolested.
5
I just don’t get it. Does the White House view this as a game? It’s like everyone knows he is guilty of something, but let’s play a game of keep away and see how long we can keep our “piece alive” so that the game doesn’t end.
This would be fine if we were playing Sorry or Trouble, but this is NOT a game, the US of A is at stake, and those in the White House (by their actions) are treasonous. All those acting unscrupulously must be held accountable... end of story!
17
Dear American cousins: looking on from afar, we think your utter travesty of a "president" is astonishing. Quite astonishing!
Not that we in the United Kingdom can claim better, given our craven, useless Prime Minister in thrall to him, and the Tsunami of Russian Mafia money flooding into our country, many of whom donate quite openly to the Conservative party.
Our own Foreign Secretary Baris Johnson was recently autioned off to a Russian Oligarch's wife in a Conservative Party's fundraiser to play a game of tennis for £160,000.
Very rich people all over the world are becoming vastly richer, and poor people are becoming poorer. What is to be done? We notice an obvious theme - Rupert Murdoch. He is poisoning civil discourse the world over.
"The three richest people in the US own as much wealth as the bottom half of the nation’s population"
http://www.scmp.com/news/world/united-states-canada/article/2119052/thre...
Sometimes I despair. I feel like a peasant on July 14th. 1789. I'm a silly old retired History teacher with many years of reflection behind me and I am absolutely certain we're reaching breaking point.
The rich have got too rich, and the poor have got too poor.
939
Dear Julian,
The revolution is coming. It will not be a violent revolt with guns and bombs. Rather it will be a public uprising similar to what happened in the 1960s. The start of this revolution is already evident in of all places, the United States.
There, school teachers have gone on strike for better pay, and they're winning. Even their own labor union can't hold them back. School teachers here in the Netherlands are also striking for better pay.
How much longer will the people in Britain put up with a shambolic National Health Service? How much longer will the residents of London and Amsterdam put up with a violent crime wave that has its roots in budget cuts in the police department.
People are tired of a decade of austerity and unfair treatment. They are tired of the rich getting richer and are starting to demand their fair share of the pie.
12
“A hard rain is going to fall.” Let’s hope it is soon.
14
Julian, you're not silly (though you may be old, I don't know about that), and I, a semi-retired English teacher, agree with you 100%. Especially your last line, which should be in lights: The rich have got too rich, and the poor have got too poor. For me, money is a bit like food: none or too little is very bad, but so is too much. What we need is the right amount: definitely enough for all our needs, and maybe a bit extra for a few comfort and joys, but that's all. Too much money really bloats people, damages their minds, and distorts their attitudes.
13
It appears that Judge Kimba Wood has been assigned to this case. Good. She is a tough, fearless judge of high integrity and intelligence.
17
Mr. Trump can fire whomever he wants but the truth of his perversity and criminality will be exposed. There will never be a way to conceal it unless he resigns. That is his only escape hatch since he will then be forgotten in the blink of an eye. Leave, Mr Trump!
You never have been and never will be our president.
16
Besides the litany of illegal aspects that will arise including campaign money there is the question of whether money in his current round of fund raising is mingled or used for the coverups. The SS Trump yacht is taking on water!
9
McClatchy reports Cohen was in Prague late summer in 2016 meeting with powerful Kremlin figure about Russian meddling in the U.S. election.Oopsie,game over!
11
I started acting like this when the youth division in my town came to my house because I stole some bikes, and took a car for a joy ride; but I was not planning a major strike with our allies in the middle east. Make up your mind Mr President: cowards live by the MO `save your own skin", a good leader and decent human being like Churchill, Lincoln or Truman could have been dragged away by the enemy and they would have KEPT their mind on their role as President. Lincoln said these fateful words Mr President: "none of us can escape history."
6
It's quite obvious from this article that Trump is quite concerned with what information was obtained by the search warrant. Why would an innocent person be concerned with what Cohen has in his records.
Cohen now has legal risk from the Mueller investigation. McClatchy is reporting that Mueller has proof that Cohen was in Prague in 2016. The Steele Dossier states Cohen was in Prague to meet with Russians.
What I learned from this NYT article is that Corey Lewandowski and Hope Hicks really do have legal risk.
11
This man is most vulgar high ranking politician that I've ever seen, and he is Our President. He Trumps George Wallace by just miles. His scowl is uglier than Wallace's whom was a million times smarter. George Wallace laughed, Trump appears incapable of shared mirth. At least with the American people. He's a great yuck-it-upper with his fellows of the feather.
There is nothing of apparent value or worth in the juvenile 70 year old. Nothing observably good but for the superficial "good" of thrilling his Republican base, a base group indeed.
We are dulling our sensitivity receptors for scandal and corruption. Every day it continues; sometimes more, sometimes less, but always coming forth, building on the foundations of months long revelations about how very rotten Trump is. Like the incessant sand in Woman of the Dunes.
It's amazing this could ever happen so crassly and openly. The Republicans have always taken these angles, but now their camouflage of religion and family values is useless, exposed for the utter and shameless lies it was.
My word.
24
The last few days have seen rapid developments in the Trump inquiry, and today events seemed to unfold almost constantly. It's as though Trump is in a giant hourglass with the sand pouring down on him, and it's now up around his neck.
14
From the article - " zero emails were exchanged with President Trump." Why were there no emails?
That's simple to answer. Trump doesn't believe in email, and probably for good reason, considering President Trump's modus operandi.
7
Trump's capo Cohen must have a lot of skeletons on his hard drives. Trump has been defrauding business partners, assaulting women, cheating contractors and customers and who knows what else for decades. I can see why Trump doesn't want us to know what else. I bet a lot of what Cohen has done happened in New York State, too. Where Trump can't pardon him.
20
Put yourself in the position of one of our allies or more worrisome one of the enemies of the US. You can be sure that they are factoring in all of this turmoil into their calculations on how to deal with the US.
For our allies, trying to figure out what President Trump wants is akin to "nailing jello to a wall."
For our enemies, they are probably just "enjoying the show" as the Trump "administration" flounders and thrashes about.
11
"For our enemies, they are probably just "enjoying the show" "
Not just enjoying the show. Also behind the scenes in the show. Trump has blocked any effective action to protect us from Russian interference in the 2018 election and beyond
We saw the flood of Russian bots eg after the Parkland shooting, and supporting the Nunes memo..
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/02/19/technology/russian-bots-school-shooti...
https://www.wired.com/story/pro-gun-russian-bots-flood-twitter-after-par...
1
Oh, what a tangled web we weave...
Sadly (?)(for them at least), Donnie and Michael are being caught up in their own web of lies.
THE TRUTH WILL OUT
10
The Cohen raid looks a lot like a prosecutor pursuing a mob organization. Nail the lawyer who uses attorney-client privilege a screen for conducing illegal activities. No wonder Trump is afraid - the main business of the Trump Organization for the last 25 years has been money laundering.
16
Why is Trump still in office at this very hour?
11
Trump called Cohen to “check in?” Seriously?
If this isn’t a sign that Trump hasn’t got a clue - about ANYTHING - or that he just makes up his own rules as he goes along, I don’t know what does! No wonder nobody wants to be his Lawyer: the man has the impulsiveness of a toddler, and the Intelligence of an infant!
Calling Cohen - what was he thinking? I guess he wasn’t.
8
Mr. Trump will rue the day he decided to run for president. Many Americans already rue that day. The entire government is in a shambles because of his ignorance of how government works, his lack of interest in Constitutional values, and his lack of concern for Americans.
If he were a Democrat, Republicans would have voted for impeachment a year ago. There is certainly cause, but the Republicans have now proved that the current policy of the party is complete hypocrisy. Based on what they gladly did to President Clinton, they should be making their stand for good government and their so-called "Christian" values. Instead they harm the very people they expect to vote for them without blinking an eyelash!
When the Republicans get a chance to govern, they just don't know how. How far they have fallen in just a few decades!
Register and VOTE!!!
21
to put it in Newman’s words to Jerry Seinfeld: your day of reckoning is coming, when an evil wind will blow through your little play world and wipe that smug smile off your face. And I will be there, in all my glory, watching, watching as it all comes crumbling down. Well, we the American people are looking forward to that day.
20
I always said: Women will bring Trump down.
And how appropriate this is.
6
Apparently, according to McClatchy report Cohen was enjoying a summer in Prague in 2016 rubbing shoulders with his Kremlin comrades.
I wonder...any other collusion facts and transactions took place.
8
Trump tweeted that Comey is a liar and leaker.
Then he pardoned Scooter Libby, who leaked the identity of a covert CIA officer and then lied about it.
The hypocrisy would be humorous if it were not so sad.
How this man became the president of the United States is one of the darkest chapters in our nation's history. I have in the past often been at odds with the GOP, but rarely--if ever--did I believe them to be indecent people. The current GOP lacks credibility. And Paul Ryan tossed out the window everything he stood for to stay on Trump's good side. They are all scared of Trump because they know one tweet can destroy them; the irony is that Trump already has already destroyed them all.
When this all crashes and it will one way or another, everyone will be held accountable. The GOP is done. Ronald Reagan is rolling over in his grave. Abraham Lincoln can't even watch.
We have a Twitter president. That's it. Nothing more. Think about that. A Twitter president wholly void of qualifications needed for the position. A Twitter president who lacks class, values and decency. A Twitter president who is the opposite of a gentleman. A Twitter president who knows nothing of any real value. A Twitter president who might go down in history as the world's biggest con-artist.
This presidency feels like a very long bad dream. I keep expecting to wake up from this, because it's all so unbelievable. The chief executive of the United States of America is a charlatan.
1242
Lincoln was an honest and compassionate man. He would not be a member of the modern Republican Party.
15
"Ronald Reagen is rolling over in his grave. Abraham Lincoln can't even watch."
That was worth repeating.
9
... and quite unfortunately, he is the RESULT, not the cause,
of social values which were once considered [relatively] irrefutable,
and which provided at least a certain degree of security and comfort,
now being thoroughly ERODED to DISRUPT what is left of any social fabric.
"Though this be madness, yet there is method to it."
every now and then my jaw does drop for a while
in the face of some people's unspeakable, greed ...
[jaw dropping won't improve history's course, i know,
but voting doesn't always help, either.]
3
Trump crime family has got to go for the sake of the country. Will this country be to far gone to save after this debacle--shame.
12
Ironic. Something tells me pretty soon Trump is gonna hate being on TV.
12
Yay! The rule of law is winning. And I can’t wait to see all these creepy, corrupt, venal swamp denizens get ground into sausage meat as the wheels turn. Suddenly, a bright spot in what has otherwise felt like a very dim forecast.
11
Could it be that there are state crimes in these files/communications that cannot be pardoned? Yeah! for States Rights!!!
9
Mikey’s going to the Joint, everybody! Long overdue. Wait a few-Those walls will come tumbling down. #TheThugGetsHis
3
I don't think it is a quiet Friday night in the White House. I don't the family is curled up on the sofa with the "world's best chocolate cake". It is not a good weekend for a few rounds of golf either...!!!
7
The media is awash with stories of Trump’s WH rages because all his chickens are coming home to his roost.
Should any WH staff member, or even one single American citizen, be frightened and made conciliatory by any presidential temper tantrum?
No. Stick out your tongue.
6
who are these advisors? Who are the aides that are afraid to advise him? name names! I want the list of names that refused to be loyal to the president!
When the rats jump off the sinking ship I want to know who everybody is!
I want the GOP to know all these names so if any future Administration actually thinks they can pardon anyone we want to have the names to make sure these people will never have any future in Washington or Lobby groups or any type of income from destroying America ever again.
4
Did he say he was going to drain the swamp or build one?
10
What is stopping Trump from pardoning Cohen? Could that be used against Trump in an obstruction of justice case? I know Rush Limbaugh has suggested that he pardon everyone, not that Limbaugh is a legal genius. I think everyone should feel sorry for the United States. I don't think we deserve this. We were foolish enough to elect him, although actually those truly guilty of this sin were only 62 million voters. The whole is nerve wracking, exhausting, humiliating, embarrassing, and outrageous. Remember, America, this is last time this happens- ever.
12
Mr Trump is the head of a crime family. The reason Trump is worried is that, like all crime families, he has something to hide and now that the evidence is in front of the New York Atty General's office, it will be just a few weeks before more people close to the Trump Crime Family will be swept up. Many of those people will spill the beans on Trump. My question is, will Trump's orange-tinted skin clash with his orange prison jumpsuit?
13
Everything is about Trump's well-being. What about the country? His "advisers" should be more worried that in Trump the country lacks a leader with even minimal leadership skills. All he does is hold rallies and speak in twisted dog whistle lingo to his adoring supporters. He couldn't care less about anyone else in this country. In fact, he couldn't care less about the country. Trump has set the gold standard for being the "slime ball"-in-chief of USA.
11
What a fix the "fixer" and his client are in. Law-abiding citizens everywhere can't help but hope that these crooks finally get their due.
10
The FBI is going to find something the great state of New York will take an interest in prosecuting, which will be out of reach for Trump's Pardon force field. Cohen's going to fold like your grandma's busted old card table
10
His reluctant advisers are busy trying to remove the fleas on their bodies and from their offices. They knew that Trump was a dog and didn't care.
5
Because of your wealth and privilege, Mr. Trump, you have gotten away with serious wrongdoing for many years. Then your hubris led you to think you were entitled to be president of the US, too. But that exalted position involves scrutiny of a type you have never before been subjected to. And your arrogance, narcissism and viciousness have resulted in millions of people hating you. When you get the punishment you so richly deserve, much of the world will cheer at your humiliation.
1040
Do you think trump is actually reading a newspaper or even cares or comprehends? The total Republican Party so called leaders deserves this comment. Voicing disagreement only when one is about to retire is garbage. And from either party of elected officials there are no statements of utter outrage....the democrats need a moral, smart leader...we the people need an individual through whom we can see the way out.
7
Well, we are certainly all struggling to keep up with the news--fast and furious. I guess the description of Trump in Comey's book as a mob boss was entirely apt, based on what we are learning. Anyone who lived in NYC for the past 40 years knew that Donald was a low level criminal at best. I guess with the presidency, he moved from low level goon to boss.
Looks like the Trump crime family exile will be happening soon. Maybe Jared was up all night talking to MBS about exile in the Kingdom or maybe Eric and Don Jr. were checking out the new family compound in the UAE when they went to that wedding last weekend.
7
We know the system is completely broken...one word is colossal GREED!
But what is really frightening is how we normalizing pardoning of obstruction of justice. CRIMINALS should not be able to pardon each other!!!
Talking about full blown Banana Republic.
9
Comey is right. Trump and the Trump organization is run like a Mafia crime family. Trump cares more about "the family" than our country. A man with such an outlook just views treason as a transactional deal if the price is right. Now he wants to demonstrate that he is above the law too, like the Godfather, and expects his staff to be "made men." How long must we endure this corrupt politician?
8
Who needs House of cards or Veep when you have these crooks and incompetents running the government!
And we moralize about the corruption in third world countries. We are down in the gutter with them.
4
I just wrote my Representative urging Congress to hold our President accountable. You who read this, please do the same.
9
So sad that truth leaks out of Trump's fortress of lies. Makes me wonder where America went so wrong that truth could be so valued that laws would be enforced!
One wonders, what is America's future, if truth is to be valued? Oh, the horror!
2
Buh-bye.... Pence is scary but not insane. We'll see...
3
Looks like Trump's scurrilous chickens are coming home to roost.
Perhaps he better resign the presidency, so he can spend full time trying to put out all the brush and forest fires he (and his fixer lawyer) have lit.
Anyway, I don't think we taxpayers are getting our money's worth out of Trump as president. He spends more time watching TV, tweeting, and throwing hissy fits than he does actually do the real work of POTUS.
If the White House were a business, Trump would be fired for neglecting the duties outlines in his job description, engaging in and condoning sexual harassment, misuse of campaign and government funds, and failing to fulfill the many promises he made when he accepted the job of President to helping the working class rather than the already rich.
Clearly, Trump is making the country worse, not better and is increasingly an embarrassment to our nation. Any any productive organization would get rid of him.
Are you paying attention GOP to your new hire????
9
Have patience ladies and gentlemen. His undoing is quickly approaching.
3
The only wall associated with Trump is the one closing in around him.
6
Itis so amazingly obvious that Trump and seemingly most anyone associated with him, are lumped into a group of sleazy people - no other word for it. I pity anyone who is working for him and might be drawn further into this mess.
3
The question is; Did Michael Cohen and his office staff, shred important documents and computer Hard Drives, before the FBI showed up?
No wonder the FBI showed up with a "no knock" search warrant.
3
I am afraid for my country. A crazy man is president and he is cornered, like a lamb before slaughter. This will not end well for anyone until Trump is removed from office.
GOP, it is within your reach to impeach Trump now. Do it or answer to history.
7
Trump and Cohen are going to jail for the rest of their lives...he cannot stop this.
2
If you dig this deep and hard into the life of anyone who has achieved the level of notoriety and "success" that Trump has, you're going to find something unseemly. This is all happening because the body politic knows that Trump is completely inadequate for the job of POTUS, and is a genuine danger to the U.S. and the world. The system has a virus, and he's being vomited out; it's almost organic. Let's not forget that in the early days of the last primary, Fox News and the RNC tried everything to derail Trump's campaign. Even they knew back then that he was a disaster. Nature is taking its course. Hopefully it will hurry and finish the job.
498
The trouble is that the investigators keep digging and digging but find nothing but unseemly and illegal acts. If there was anything of virtue, they would have reported it.
2
I know a lot of “successful “ people who are not serial liars, incompetent or criminals. Success does not always require lying, ripping people off and criminal activity, it’s just what Trump did to get his “success”.
5
Winter is coming - in June....
5
Trump will be gone, maybe soon, his supporters will not. Can America overcome this much ignorance?
18
Trump weeps. And the American people chuckle.
3
Comey hit it on the head when he said Trump was like a mafia boss. The special counsel and NY departments are approaching him as such. Take down the animals around him first and see what is left. Even if he is not personally prosecuted, his kingdom crumbles. Who wants to work for the guy with no "friends"?
6
Trump’s lawyers are trying to assert a so-called attorney-client privilege. Going into court to suppress evidence is Obstruction!! Mueller must arrest now!!
4
Oh really! As if corruption and collusion don't go hand in hand? Really people. These guys should just resign!
3
Well, only an innocent man would enlist the services of a "fixer".
Not.
5
As I read comments from Tramp's defenders, I have to believe it when he said it wouldn't matter if he shot someone on 5th Ave. Soon they will be like the poor child who just found out there is no Santa.
4
Can Mr. Trump make a plea deal in advance?
1
I guess it's now unanimous. EVERYONE regrets Trump's our president.
5
I had a dream during my afternoon nap and saw the future: Trump was in an orange jumpsuit, in a padded cell and I heard the audio: Comey reading "A Higher Loyalty" alternating with Obama reading "The Audacity of Hope."
More satisfying than my Stormy Daniels dream.
9
If the raid on Cohen's offices doesn't produce a smoking gun, I'll eat my hat. The desperation and stupidity of Trump's kneejerk reactions to the raid reflects the actions of a guilty person trying to pursue a cover-up.
A conversation between Trump and Cohen about the raid could certainly be seen as collusion.
5
With any luck the Feds have wire-tapped Cohen and have this conversation recorded; which would also be poetic justice considering that both the Capo and his Godfather are notorious for recording phone calls.
3
Cohen is an attorney in name only. His role is not to provide counsel. His lack of scruples and thuggish demeanor suit him well for the role he was chosen to play - Trump's "fixer".
4
We have watched democrats and the justice department try for over a year to prove that Trump colluded with the Russians to win the election. We haven't seen one shred of evidence in this politically motivated witch hunt.
Now Trump's lawyer is attacked in an effort to try and prove Trump cheated on his wife. What's next for democrats? Raiding the white house with the SPCA to try and prove he mistreats his dog.
Most Americans are fed up with this clear abuse of the law that threatens our democracy.
2
Attorney-client privilege? Nuts. Mr. Cohen gave up his professional status when he started collecting a paycheck from the Trump Organization.
1
[ On Monday, Mr. Trump called the raid an “attack on our country in a true sense.”]
No Mr. President. You are not the United States. You are but 1 person out of 330+ million people who make up the United States. And you are not above the law.
22
I want to nominate Donald Trump for an award: the worst possible client any attorney can have.
6
Americans will soon see the rest of Donald Trump's remaining dirty laundry. The tabloid Presidency moves beyond the full Monica Lewinsky into complete circus. He could do the world a big favor by resigning.
6
We should all just turn off the television and shut down the computer for a bit. Go for a walk. In your mind, try to zoom out and see all of this from a broad, historical perspective.
Lives are stories. Each one a little more boring, or exciting than the next, depending on the person living it. We combine our respective stories and there is culture, acting like a yeast of some sort, living, constantly teaching us something.
Zoom out, my friends, and view this from historical terms. The details are coming fast and are too numerous to retain your ability to see the long view of this. There is a madman in the Oval Office, a mobster and a thug who is the embodiment of pride, envy, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath and lust. He is the worst of the patriarchy, in human, walking, breathing form, able to alter forever the lives of millions, if not billions of innocent human beings with a single order or miscalculation.
Where are the patriots? Where are people who will stand up to this? Are they announcing that they will not be running again? Do they know that impeachment, even arrest of the President is coming, and they've gotten from him all they can.
Godspeed Mr. Mueller. Matthew Modine has to play you in the movie, since Fred Gwynn has passed.
Modine would make a spectacular Mueller.
350 pounds of orange oatmeal would be a perfect Trump.
20
Considering the extent and duration of the pre-seizure research and footwork, I find it highly improbable the courts will order the lockdown or the return of the documents and devices now in custody.
Trump can't keep his mouth shut nor his fingers stilled. It's no wonder Dowd and McGahn jumped ship. They are smarter than Cohen.
8
This is great, because you know that Trump called him to say keep your mouth shut and I'll grant you a pardon.
This is without a doubt one of the crookedest administrations that ever set foot in the White House.
Midterms cannot get here soon enough.
13
I can’t stand this endless saga anymore. I am way, way past disgusted. Every day’s news cycle is the same, just new lows. And nothing ends it. Criminal behavior is supposed to be stopped, not allowed to continue endlessly. I’m done. I’m going for a walk in the woods. I’ll be back in November. Please feed my dog.
25
What amazes me is that with all this going on Trump has still found a few minutes to go after poor people with some sort of executive order telling all the federal agencies to
Get those shiftless, able-bodies people back to work and off Food Stamps and Assistance.
I wonder which if his minions put that piece of paper in front of him.
The biggest danger facing the country now is that Trump is that the hooligans and scoundrels around him will take advantage of his distraction and get
him to sign off on all manner of cockamamie policies.
Oh, my.
8
Isn't there something in our Constitution about having a capable and sane President?
14
So rich that Sarah Sanders and Trump are calling Comey a liar as often as possible when Trump is the biggest liar of all I think he is averaging five lies each day.
Speaking of “slimeball”, I’ve been saying for months that Trump and his gang act like a mafia family. Based purely on looks and actions, Manafort ran the casino, Lewandowski and Miller are the enforcers, Cohen is the fixer, Pruitt is like the guy in Goodfellas who buys the Caddy and fur coat after a heist and doesn’t worry about attracting negative attention, and the list goes on and on. The movie will be directed by Scorsese or Coppola.
This is so much worse than the Nixon presidency. I am sickened by it all and just hope the U.S. can recover from what these
un-American people have done and continue to do.
25
It would be ironic that the one person Trump thought was his fixer turned out to be his executioner. He knows the smartest people!
14
Trump is not lasting four years, My hope is no impeachment, I would really like a slow bleed. As for Comey, he's not the choir boy he's playing himself out to be, got my popcorn ready..
6
Once again, can't anyone (s) in the current
political party in power from the White House down walk a straight line?
There was another payoff brought to light of 1.4 million to a young lady. Who was it really for?
4
Mr. Cohen argued that he should be allowed to review the documents first. What? Since when does the person being investigated get to review the evidence first? Do bank robbers get to watch the security tapes before the police and say, "That's not me?" Do muggers get to go to the hospital with their victims so they can comment on the wounds? Where did Cohen get the idea he should go through the evidence first?
46
Mr. Cohen 's civil rights and property and privileged communications with his client, will be before the US Court tomorrow in New York. Let's assume and continue the respect for those rights and hear the Court's neutral determination of a proper investigatory delineation albeit the covert warrants. Matter in camera or closed hearing assumed.
Anyone can privately talk to another in Prague, but questions other than ultimate protected privacy should be addressed lawfully and in good faith, as too the answers.
Also, lately the idea that Americans abroad per se are conducting foreign policy illegally is a little censorious and absurd.
cohen claimed to federal investigators that he had never been to prague. perjury seems likely.
1
If FBI and Mr. Muller are successful, X’mas will come early for all of us...
cant wait...
101
The wheels of justice turn slowly, but grind exceedingly fine.
98
In response to someone writing that Trump will just pardon Cohen, it’s my understanding that if charges against Cohen are brought at the state level then the President has no ability to pardon him. Trump can only pardon someone who is convicted of a federal crime.
93
This investigation is being done by the US Attorney in NY which is a Federal office so this must be federal crimes. However, we don't know yet what, if anything, the NY State's ATtorney is doing about alleged crimes by Cohen as surely the actions at issue would violate state law as well.
14
It seems virtually impossible to me, having read lots of reporting on Mr Cohen, that there would not be an abundance of state crimes as well as federal crimes.
That is very possibly one of the biggest concerns the president has, he won’t be able to dangle a pardon.
He was betting on client privilege and pardon power now he has neither.
Check and mate.
I can't resist sharing a bit about Cohen's alma mater:
"According to Cooley's ABA required disclosures, 27.4% of graduates from the class of 2015 obtained full-time, long term, bar passage required employment 9 months after graduation. 23.8% of graduates were unemployed 9 months after graduation. 53% of graduates passed the Michigan bar exam on their first attempt in July 2017, below the 83% average for other Michigan law schools. In 2017, the school was one of ten American law schools found to be out of compliance with the American Bar Association's requirement that schools only admit students who appear capable of earning a J.D. degree and passing the bar examination. The school was recently ranked the worst law school in the country by Above the Law."
100
The FBI should look at two fires at Trump Tower, too, It may relate to the attempts to destroy the criminal evidence.
As for the Cohen's criminal investigation, it may bring about damages to Trump and the Trump Organization, but the Mueller Team has been the driving fprce and strategist attack.
Also, there still are the Cambridge Analytica, the Virginia suit, and the criminal investigation of Trump's son and so-in-law, Manafort, etc. There seemingly no exit for the Stable Genius Fake President. Let's hope that the mainstream media, te silent majority and decent lawmakers will continue to support and protect the Mueller team's historic mission.
45
Oh wow I never thought about fire/evidence. Someone died for cripes sake.
1
Kimba Wood ... I know the name, but forget the context. Was she a nominee at a federal level? a decade ago? I can't remember, but I do know the name.
As for the 2 main sleaze characters in the story, the lawyer and his client/friend, I sincerely hope their fall is much more precipitous than either of them thought possible.
33
Bill Clinton was about to appoint Kimba Wood as the new US Attorney General in 1993, and the republicans derailed it due to their deep moral outrage that she had paid her nanny under the table. Now look where the republicans are ....
Bill Clinton nominated her for AG. She had hired an undocumented nanny when that was not a crime, and had paid the taxes. The admin withdrew her nomination.
2
Wikipedia: In the Nannygate matter of 1993, Wood was Bill Clinton's second unsuccessful choice for United States Attorney General.[7] Like Clinton's previous nominee, Zoë Baird, Wood had hired an illegal immigrant as a nanny, but unlike Baird, she had paid the required taxes on the employee. Wood employed the illegal immigrant at a time when it was legal to do so, before the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 made the hiring of illegal immigrants unlawful.[8] The threat of a repetition of the same controversy nevertheless led to the hasty withdrawal of Wood from consideration.[9][10] Janet Reno was later nominated and confirmed for the post.[9] White House officials said they were angry at Judge Wood because she had not told Clinton and other officials about the nanny, even when she had been directly asked. In her statement, however, Judge Wood said she had not misled the White House.[10]
2
The most insanely, ironic part of the past almost three years, is that none of it would have happened if Trump had not made that trip down the escalator at Trump Tower. I wonder if he thinks of that at night.
40
I cannot wait until the movie comes out detailing everything we have seen and are about to see. A Ken Burns series will be necessary for those who prefer more details (5 part, 20 part series?? I’m not sure what will be needed).
24
I never ever ever want to see Trump's ugly mug again. And there are quite a few others I'd love to forget. (Pence, Pruitt, Sessions, McConnell, Ryan, Bolton, Pompeo, and all the others as well).
103
Time for everyone to read "The People's House" by David Pepper.
Art reflecting life and before life has even happened - Russians and all.
8
Never bet agains the US of A.
At this time, I invoke one of my personal chestnuts, General Sherman's famous cautionary advice to a Secessionist friend:
You mistake, too, the people of the North. They are a peaceable people but an earnest people, and they will fight, too. They are not going to let this country be destroyed without a mighty effort to save it...
Beware Trump. Defy us if you dare. You will pay.
93
To the prosecutors of the southern district of NY (my home town) and Mr. Mueller I say "in bocca al lupo!" (Basically a hard to translate Italian "good luck.") I hope they can bring this disastrous presidency to an end. Preferably orange jump suits. Obviously it is a lot more than luck, but that's what I'm wishing as I sit here sending good vibes, sipping my red wine and hoping for an end to this nightmare. If Mueller could bring down the mob, he can bring down Trump. I believe the mob was smarter and had better lawyers than Trump. So there's lots of hope!
65
“My client’s years of criminal dealings with his lawyer are covered by Client Privilege...” is no doubt an excuse that has been heard before in Federal and State Courts all over the country. It’s doubtful it’s going to fly. In the time span of all these doings, Trump was just a Private Citizen at the time, which makes him unable to claim any hope of special protection. At least in this space, there’s not a lot of new ground. It’s almost certainly been heard and argued before.
12
These files are the equivalent of the Watergate tapes. There will be enough there to force a Trump resignation, especially because he values his business more than the presidency.
It's over.
46
The US Attorney for the SDNY, Joon Khim, was appointed by Trump after the firing of Preet Bharara. He clearly has a conflict of interest in this matter. The entire office works for Mr. Khim and is answerable to Mr. Sessions. They, too, probably have conflicts of interest. Mr. Mueller can't investigate the matter because it isn't included in the concerns that have been assigned to him. So, to get from this investigation to a lawful impeachment recommendation may just be impossible unless Cohen was involved in Russian election tampering. Bottom line, this matter may turn out to be a big to do about nothing.
4
Yeah? And when the information shared by Cohen (whom Trump can't pardon because these are state crimes) turns out to be just icing on the cake because Mueller already has the evidence needed to bury Trump and the GOP will you finally stop posting nonsense here?
1
There are reports tonight that Cohen met with Russian “hackers” in Prague in the summer of 2016. There is your connection to election tampering...
1
It's Kim, not Khim, and as of January 3, he no longer works for Justice. He's in private practice now. Currently, the position is held by Geoffery Berman, who recused himself from the Cohen investigation.
I believe you're wrong about conflicts also. The entire FBI works under Sessions, technically. And even short of impeachment, RICO or other charges could be laid. There could be State charges also. And, Cohen could still be flipped as a witness in Mueller's investigation. None of that sounds like "a big nothing" to me.
3
Is there a Trump/mob connection?
We'll find out if Cohen enters the DOJ witness protection program.
16
Such a great deal-maker, negotiator, stable genius! Perhaps if he hadn't made enemies of every single person he came within miles of over the past few decades he would be even better.
19
It's frightening that Trump simply does not understand that he is not above the law. He doesn't understand that he is a public servant who works for us. It's even more shameful that his supporters and republicans don't understand that either. Who in the world would keep Trump on as an employee much less let him represent their company to the world? Make republicans pay for this in November. Every single one of them.
77
Why would Trump understand he is above the law when his entire life has proven the contrary?
He has constantly used political connections, bribery, bullying, harassment, payoffs, bankruptcy, frivolous lawsuits, fraud all the while hiding under client-attorney privilege, and always come out on top.
1
Trump should realize the hole he has dug for himself and declare “I’ve done enough, I’ve accomplished all I could, I’m going back to my business. I am resigning.”
When a lawyer needs a lawyer who needs a lawyer who also needs a lawyer, then I know something is amiss.
59
Russia has certainly gotten what they paid for in Trump: the near implosion of our Constitutional democracy. Trump seems intent on bringing down the entire country on top of him as he goes
49
Trump resigns. Pence pardons him before he can be charged. Cohen and other Trump enablers do time in federal prison. 1975 all over again. Trump comes out on top, spending the rest of his life happily venting his spleen while soaking up his followers' undying adulation, while getting way too much attention from the news media, which is what he most craves. A happy man, living on his own terms, and oblivious to the wreckage he's caused. In F.Scott Fitzgeraldian terms, Trump is Tom and Daisy Buchanan rolled into one, Trump's followers are Jay Gatsby (except not rich like Gatsby), and the rest of us are Nick Carraway, standing back and watching the whole sad, sordid thing unfold. This is what happens when we elect careless people. As Carraway observes, "They were careless people, Tom and Daisy- they smashed up things and creatures and then retreated back into their money or their vast carelessness or whatever it was that kept them together, and let other people clean up the mess they had made.”
51
One hopes that Trump is more like John Gotti, one of Mueller's previous targets... the guy who thought he could get away with it.
1
Oh the joy of state level crimes. Even if Pence pardons, NYS can still prosecute.
Never have I seen a literary quote so aptly sum up this administration!
1
I very much hope that the leadership in Congress is in serious discussion now - across the aisle, all policy divides temporarily set aside - about the immediate (albeit highly unusual) steps that need to be and can be taken to protect our country and the world. Everyone knows that Trump sees any opposing or limiting force as a “punch” and that his rule of life is “when I’m punched, I punch back ten times harder.” There has been a lot of talk about the idea that Trump might use a nuclear weapon, start a war or cause similar havoc mainly as a diversionary or self-defensive maneuver. Most people, understandably, probably respond to that with some form of “oh, that couldn’t/wouldn’t happen.” But while the risk might be relatively very low, the consequences would be infinitely high. And again, I’m sad to say, it is more in line than not with Trump’s demonstrated MO. These are unprecedented times. We can’t just ride it out with “wait and see."
29
I just hope the U.S. Attorney's office is sharing information with NY State prosecutors also, if nothing else as insurance against Trump firing the U.S. District Attorney for NY, and/or pardoning Cohen and others.
20
Unless and until Republicans in Congress are bothered by obstruction of justice, collusion with a foreign enemy or any other crimes which may be uncovered in the special counsel investigation, none of these headlines regarding Trump's corruption matters one measly bit.
17
Trump may leave, by resignation or impeachment. But I expect that would not immunize him from prosecution for criminal acts, whether performed before or after his taking office. It must be made clear to his successor that a presidential pardon, such are Ford's pardon of Nixon, will end his career as well.
Those prosecutions should be, shall we say, "entertaining."
23
No innocent man behaves as Trump does. Whatever he is hiding needs to come out into the sunshine. This is not a reality TV show -- this is about threats to our democracy.
37
No innocent man behaves as Trump does
No decent man behaves as Trump does
No wily politician behaves as Trump does
I have yet to find an analogy that captures both the odious behavior and stupidity. Imagine if Trump was just as awful, but actually competent at getting stuff done.
My heart has been in a constant flutter since this news broke - I imagined this happening, but thought this was a 'pull the trigger' move and still far in the future.
Now it's in the NY Attorney General's hands, and Trump cannot intervene or interfere, which I've long believed was Muller's ace. The fact that he's played it is at once both incredible - they are zeroing in, there can no longer be a doubt this is going to explode into something no one is really ready to imagine) and terrifying.
We are at the edge of the precipice now, and I fear what this lunatic might do as he flails around, literally powerless to save himself.
But I'm also euphoric to think there's going to be some comeuppance here, and I cannot get The Beatles "I Got A Feeling" out of my mind...
26
I believe it is in the hands of the U.S. Attorney, a part of the U.S. Justice Dept. But the criminality probably also falls within the jurisdiction of the NY Attorney General.
5
Unfortunately, it's not in the NY AG's hands, it's in the U.S. Attorney for the southern district of NY's hands. The plan may be that they have more resources to investigate, and may hand it off to the AG when it's wrapped in a bow (if that's possible).
3
Good to hear. A two-pronged investigation of the Trump international crime family, team and appointees will lead to more cleansing.
I think the immense amount of inflammation Trump has caused nationwide is starting to abate. Since he has taken over the White House, I wonder how many of us in America have been made sick by the daily stress.
20
One must imagine that Mueller reads the papers and has anticipated the various tactics Trump might take to undercut his investigations. It was a subtle and quite appropriate move on his part to refer significant aspects of what he has turned up to another legal venue. Delegating the Cohen matters to the state of NY in effect decentralizes the investigations, handing off aspects of potential malfeasance by Trump and his minions. It makes it much harder for Trump to block/interfere/obstruct the wheels of justice. And if Cohen is as central to the dark and deceptive dealings of Don Trump as it appears, there will be plenty of grist for the mill.
14
So Cohen's lawyer is effectively arguing that the President is above the law? I think it's notable that in the quoted passage that he's not attacking the validity of the search (that the warrant was improperly obtained or executed) but arguing that the Justice Department (even a taint team, walled off from the prosecutorial team) should not be reviewing material related to the President.
12
This is a saga about the hubris of the American people. We have spent about 100 years praising ourselves about our exceptionalism. We had the only key.
Yet that certitude grew a nation with a large contingent that believed personal might, like national might, is an inherent good because winning is the only thing that counts, and a strong aggressive leader was always the answer to solve all ills. We got Trump.
Now we are an embarrassment to people who believe in rectitude. To people who believe in being trustworthy, loyal, friendly, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave clean and reverent. Instead we got Trump.
The Republican Party is A.W.O.L. yet they still control all the levers of the exercise of power. We are effectively in stasis, with only the legal system and dedicated public servants to protect us, until November.
Resist. Organize. VOTE!
34
Quit calling Cohen Trump's personal attorney. He is the Deputy Finance Chair for the Republican National Committee. He is the guy who was coordinating building a Trump Tower in Moscow with Felix Sater during the presidential campaign. Is it any wonder several Republicans are getting out before the ship bursts into flames?
21
Recent articles have compared Trump's advisors to Icarus. Perhaps Trump himself is Icarus, and his unbridled pursuit of raw power has brought him too close to the sun.
2
Trump's behavior with Mueller's investigation is easily predictable. Only Trump knows how his past deeds if revealed could be impeachable offenses, and if he senses Mueller's or the probe into Michael Cohen's activities will reveal these impeachable offenses
he will fire whomever he has to to impede and stop the investigation. He has nothing to lose if he fires Mueller if he realizes Mueller's investigation will reveal impeachable offenses. He will chance that the fickle Republican House will not bring impeachment proceedings. And he's probably right.
5
Here's yet another reason Trump should be worried. McClatchy News Service is reporting that Mueller has evidence that Cohen did indeed secretly travel to Prague in late-summer of 2016, confirming another part of the Steele dossier. Cohen has vehemently denied ever making such a trip.
http://amp.mcclatchydc.com/news/politics-government/white-house/article2...
18
This falsehood could have been part of the rationale for prosecutors to obtain a "no-knock" search warrant, in that they had evidence Cohen had been untruthful previously.
2
Of course he did. He was in Italy as well.
The real problem here is FOX News and the voters who consider it gospel. The Trump presidency is a product of FOX's mendacity and it's manipulation of people's emotions. It manufactures senseless anger by addicting it's listeners to them to lies and conspiracy theories.
We, as a country, have allowed this sore to fester and it has almost destroyed us. We cannot allow propaganda to run rampant under the flag of free speech. There has to be a better way. It's a shame humans are so suggestible but we are.
35
One thing that strikes me. There are many countries with corrupt governments. Ours is one of the few and maybe the only one that might be able to shed this off. Because we have a free press and an independent judiciary. I hope that these institutions will overcome the rot that is Trump and his minions. This may become a time of great pride. I hope we will get through the chaos that is building. The bravery of the free press and our judges cannot be overstated.
16
Trump is a coward.
I hope that is clear to 100% of people.
He can dish it out, but he can't take it.
55
Pathological President Trump's lies and the slimy people he chooses to surround and protect him and to carry out his agenda -- these demerits are more than bad enough. Beyond that and even more critical: that his admiration for Russian dictator Vladimir Putin (who has played Trump like a Stradivarius) does not translate into peace over Syria. Despite self-described billionaire Trump's dance with fellow, actual, even wealthier billionaire Putin, Russia and our USA may be headed into military conflict, into war. I trust nobody on our planet less than I do Trump to provide reasoned leadership to avoid this looming catastrophe of nuclear war between these superpowers. Where is our supine U.S. Congress?
113
I would suggest, as others have here, that there will be no war. This is orchestrated to distract from this investigation. I would not be surprised if Putin and Trump coordinated on this latest, suddenly important, gas attack - there have been over 50 of them and now, suddenly, it's crucial that we send a message? We'll send some cruise missiles to some abandoned airfield or factory, pump our chest and claim strength, when all along Russia was warned in advance. Besides, why should anyone at the U.N. believe NHaley? Trump assured that we have no credibility in the international community.
15
Everyone seems to be missing a key point about Mueller handing off the Cohen investigation to the NYS federal prosecutor. Mueller is buying insurance that if and when he is fired [ he will be], the investigation will continue. Trump can fire Rosenstein, Mueller, and the NY federal prosecutor. He cannot fire the NYS Attorney General who will pick up the investigation [I suspect he has already done so] because most of the criminal behavior of both Trump and Cohen took place in New York State. Thank God for the constitutional guarantee of federalism. All politics -and all crime-is local.
420
Oh, we haven't missed the point. In addition, the president can't pardon someone convicted in a state crime.
2
Don't forget that the US Attorney for the Eastern District of New York is investigating the Kushners. So, this investigation has become, from Trump's perspective, the many headed Hydra. And, even if he fired all the prosectors you named, the investigations, while hampered, would still go on with career prosecutors. It would take a lot of firing to shut everything down even at the federal level at this point. Moreover, NY is not the only state with connections to possible criminality here. I am given to believe that the Pennsylvania AG may also be investigating. Trump's pardon power does not extend to the states, so it may be that in the end, his criminality will be exposed. Finally, (and I speculate here) if Mueller has been seeking sealed indictments a Mueller firing would disclose a far wider investigation than what we, the public, now know.
18
There are indeed many facets to this development, from the significance of Mr. Mueller sharing information locally to the NY State AG to musing if Mr. Trump is ordering strikes against Syria as a distraction from the investigation. I won’t speak for others, but both local and global implications have weighed on my mind.
6
What is most disturbing to me is that regardless of whatever crimes Trump may be found to have committed, his base will simply dismiss them as "fake news!" and a "witch hunt". I would not put a violent response from his supporters beyond possibility.
Still. Mr. Mueller and the rest of the investigators must not be deterred or prevented from going where the evidence leads. If he do in fact have a Russian Puppet in the White House, we must remove him before we ourselves become a Puppet State.
122
Wake up. We are already a puppet state. And long before Citizens United v. Federal Election Committee was rules in favor of the plaintiff.
3
Trumps 'base' has indeed been 'forgotten' over the last few decades - Forgotten by the republicans and the democrats, by the entire power structure and the economy. At some point in the 80's America became complacent and forgot how to invest in the future. But those 'white workers' were not the only ones. Black workers and everybody else was also affected, but somehow it's only 'them'. We need to effect real change. Invest in alternate energy, get rid of a congress which listens to the money of big oil and big pharma. Invest in the future now, before it's too late.
Violence? Perhaps the last 20 years when many states cut taxes, cut education funding and pushed for narrow education without historical or social context has a cost.
8
I couldn't agree more with you CD. BOTH parties own responsibility, but the Republican-Conservatives own the lion's share, and now are standing by as their Fearless Leader finishes the job.
1
Those who claim that the legal attack on Trump is politically driven should remember that Trump had been a loyal Democrat in New York until the last election yet he was subject to considerable legal scrutiny for his racist business practices, financial chicanery and sexual entanglements. Ongoing cases predate his run for office. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Legal_affairs_of_Donald_Trump
93
When Montgomery prevailed over Rommel at El Alamein, the first Allied victory of the War (much aided by American tanks), Churchill famously stated in his November, 1942 speech: "Now this is not the end. It is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning."
I believe we are at a like inflection point in the process of flushing the cancer from the Oval Office. There will be reverses and delays, of course, but my trust in the rule of law has been greatly strengthened this week.
Firing Rosenstein would move things along nicely in the direction of speedy resolution.
66
So apt; so perceptive. I'm also relieved to a point. Trump and his ilk have already done so much damage to people.
1
Were the stakes not so high and the loss of stature for the country so great, I'd say this bit of operatic schadenfreude beats anything on Netflix. Having said that I'm watching as this twisted real-life version of House of Cards slowly morphs into an even crazier, surreal version of Game of Thrones.
64
The timing of this search is intriguing, coming just at a time when Comey's book comes out. The book goes to some length to paint the President as akin to a mob boss, and Cohen his consiglieri. And here's this raid with all it's potential for corruption charges. Can RICO be far behind? Billionaires in the US aren't typically caught up in this level of white collar crime, or rarely prosecuted. Why couldn't this case have been built earlier, before we elected the most corrupt self-serving President ever? Clearly this was the straw that pushed Ryan out. Who can run on this President's "accomplishments"?
81
So are we supposed to assume that now you can't even call your lawyer? Wow. What am I supposed to teach my law students now? "Don't have any contact with your clients! They can only speak with government agents." My head is spinning on all of this.
8
That's not what this means. It means that if the attorney conspired with the client to commit or conceal crime or fraud, that activity is not shielded by client-attorney privilege. As a law professor, can you help us readers to understand, if we are missing something here about the crime-fraud exception?
92
Keep it simple. Instruct your students that it is against the law for lawyers to engage in criminal activities with their clients and/or non-clients
6
Your law students would do well to study law elsewhere, unless you teach the exceptions to attorney client privilege. And that, if Cohen was not acting as a lawyer on a given matter (as is implied here), but rather as an enforcer and racketeer, the entire issue is moot.
8
Key question is what is the relationship between Mr. Davidson, who represented these women, and Mr. Cohen. That latest woman represented by Mr. Davidson doing a silencing deal with Mr. Cohen is the the paramour of the RNC official. It seems to be a clearly illegal relationship as Mr. Davidson was not acting in the best interest of his clients, but rather was plotting with Mr. Cohen to pressure these women into deals to silent them. Disgusting.
68
Disgusting and, I hope, grounds for disbarment.
1
We knew the Trump presidency would not go well nor end well. Now it appears that an even more exposed nerve has been tapped all while the indictments and allegations surrounding Russian conspiracy in themselves are mind numbing and shocking. We need to buckle up because a man who is incapable of placing the well being of the country over his own numerous almost endless shortcomings is president. An honorable person would resign.
87
This is an excellent test to find out just how resilient the institutions of our Constitutional Republic are in the face of this full-out assault on our democracy by Trump, his enablers and his apologists. If Trump and his cohorts in crime are not held accountable, then the America we once knew is dead. The system is vulnerable but it did force Nixon to resign before certain impeachment. It failed us with holding the Reagan administration responsible for Iran-Contra, it failed us in holding the Bush administration for the blatant lies and abuses conducted to justify the invasion of Iraq but in both cases we recovered. Trump is the Bridge Too Far for our Republic to survive if he is allowed to get away with his crimes, collusion and obstruction.
108
Trump is a different creature, being a populist who only ran as a Republican to gain office.
The invasion of Iraq was totally justified based on Saddam's lack of cooperation with international inspectors, btw. Nothing will change the fact that the invasion of Iraq was fully justified, legal, and necessary.
Trump is reported to have said "where's my Roy Cohn?". Anyone who has read the biography of Trump (the real one, not "The Art of the Deal") is familiar with Trump's legendary fixer, who performed all sorts of dubious functions for him and managed to keep him out of jail in New York. It seems Mr. Cohen fancied himself as his successor but was nowhere near as competent and didn't have the advantage of the pervasive corruption in the city at that time. Trump was probably channeling Lloyd Bentsen who gave Dan Quayle one of the greatest put-downs of all time when he compared himself to JFK.
29
This investigation is going off course, like a drunken driver behind the wheel -- it must be Mueller time at the FBI.
7
Staying on course and following all pathways that open up. They have been numerous and will lead to even more.
3
This isn’t Mueller’s investigation.
I am actually wondering why all these dirty stories come to light just now....more than a year after the election. Isn’t there any substantial vetting of the candidates that would protect this country from getting criminals or even “moles” into the White House. A regular person is facing the scrutiny of the IRS etc. at every corner and these folks can get into the center of more or less unlimited power and nobody knows anything about their questionable history and business dealings? I simply can not believe that and hope that there is enough information available - somewhere - to “flush out” these folks before desinfecting the White House!
53
All candidates for President should be made to disclose their tax returns. Perhaps a lot of this could have been avoided.
11
Republican Party definitely needs to up their game in terms of vetting candidates - at all levels.
1
If you’re not guilty, why be afraid of the truth?
56
If it is a witch hunt, one wonders why they would be concerned.
23
What happened to the story about all the recordings Cohen did on all his phone conversations?? No one is talking about that anymore. Wonder why. It's legal to record people without their knowledge in NY, so that would be very I interesting.....
11
Hopefully the phones were being monitored.
12
We have an odd system here in the U.S.A. In order to expose and convict a man suspected of decades of criminal activity, it seems we must first elect him President.
125
"The fickle finger of fate" sure did it this time! All those times in the past when the big mouth conman, "businessman", toyed with running for president and then just backed out, then he does it again and some quacks on the extreme right take him seriously and he doesn't back out. His feathers are fluffed and he enjoys that flattery. He figures he'll make a big splash, "shake things up", give his brand a boost. Then fate steps in and a confluence of outsiders (and inside connections to them) have a big impact and the election goes the other way. The minority wins! Now the conman is in a government job where everything is scrutinized and there are rules, laws, and all the media attention that comes with the job of president of the U.S. Trump never, ever, counted on being in a place where laws would hold him accountable for all of his secret deals and misdeeds. Karma is coming to get you Trump.
114
What's the difference between a don and Don--
Don doesn't know any tailors who work in cement!
15
Hooray!! Gosh Mueller is smart. What is Trump going to do? Fire the New York US attorney? Check mate! Does not matter if Rosenstein or Mueller are fired. If Trump is this concerned about Cohen's data on him, there must be some serious stuff that a lot of people now know about, particularly in the NY US Attorney's Office. Hopefully the nightmare of the last year and 3 months will be over in the not too distant future. (Not that Pence is a prize, but any change is an improvement of the current mob-like corruption.)
69
Trump thought he had picked out a "loyal" SDNY Atty General. He was wrong! And if he tries to fire him, the next one in line will certainly not take it any easier on him. A lot harder than beating Housing Court, isn't it?
38
These are a huge number of potential violations of Fedtal and State laws for Trump, Cohen and the RNC.
•The payoff agreement to the porn star is multifaceted. Trump denied any knowledge on the news. Cohen said he did it himself. Drafting and executing such an agreement without the knowledge of a client can be grounds for disbarment. Where’d the money come from? If Cohen paid( with his own money that could be legally a campaign contribution and misuse thereof. If he was reimbursed by the campaign as a generic legal expense even in several payments that would be the same with new violations. The RNC head quitting after approving 1,6 million as payoff to a Playboy Bunny in payments over 2 years is a huge campaign violation. Huge. There are a lot of facts that need to be clarified but there are big campaign and tax violations. All people involved are liable. His new warrior lawyer translate to “we are ready to fight” and that’s a big money fight for a billionaire . The corporate adage “he who has the most money to fight legally will win” won’t hold up. This is the United States of America and Trump and company sad the GOP are not bigger. There is the possibility Sessions knows all of the illegal aspects which is another set of violation as Attorney General. If the “warrior” lawyer thins he can challenge either the source of information, the FBI or Special Prosecutor then he should get out now because that won’t fly.
19
Cohen (and Trump) surely have the money and connections to have an easy prison life; kind of like the Paul Sorvino, "Goodfellas" role when his character and Henry Hill went to prison. I can imagine Cohen slicing garlic with a razor blade for his special marinara sauce, while Paul Manaforte, Trump and the other characters gather 'round to help. Maybe Cohen has a preference for matzo-ball soup and pastrami on rye. He has the power to get whatever he wants, I'm sure, and The Donald can have his special steaks and Champagne brought in as well. I can't imagine them having a difficult time in prison, especially if they manage to cut a deal and go to one of Trump's private prisons that he and his friends have invested in.
14
Great scenario.
1
Just as it was with Clinton Lewinsky it is about the cover-up and not the crime. At least Clinton was savvy enough to hire several of the nation's best lawyers to defend him whereas Trump uses a cheap ambulance chasing lawyer/fixer to represent him...as they say, you get what you pay for.
13
In football terms, seeing that he was likely going to be tackled, Mueller successfully lateraled to the Southern District, who is barreling for the goal line. In baseball terms, Michael Cohen is a free agent, and like all free agents is looking for the best offer. There's only one offer coming and that from the US Attorney. He should take it and drop a dime on his old boss.
17
Did Mr Trump collide with the Russians to cook the election? It still seems unlikely to me. Could he be hiding something worse?
3
Even if Trump didn't knowingly collude with the Russians (and that sure is a stretch considering how many contacts his campaign and transition team had with them), he knows that Russian meddling in the election puts the legitimacy of his election into question.
And, OF COURSE, he is hiding something more. Whether it's "worse" depends on how much you value democracy.
2
Collude -- very likely - but probably convoluted enough with cutouts - so tough to unravel.
1
I think he's hiding a 30 year career in money-laundering. There's good evidence he was doing it as far back as the 80s, when he was one of the few people willing to sell a condo to Baby Doc Duvalier, the violent dictator of Haiti -- who was almost certainly laundering money in the process.
I don't think money laundering is a worse crime than treason -- but to Trump it is worse, because it could cost him his fortune. He loves his money more than his country, so I hope he loses both.
3
This where the FBI will find out about his other crimes....not just the pay offs to his seemingly endless stream of dalliances. All this has nothing to do with the Mueller probe. Maybe we will evan finally see his tax returns!!
Trump has every reason to be afraid.
15
"He continued to struggle to hire a new criminal lawyer, and some of his own aides were to advise him about a response for fear of being dragged into a criminal investigation themselves."
Why is that, do you suppose? Because Trump has a habit of not paying people he hires? Because he won't follow legal advice? Because he's got so much to hide? All of the above?
23
"Joanna C. Hendon, a lawyer for Mr. Trump, said in court....'I’m not trying to delay. I’m just trying to ensure that it’s done scrupulously.'"
This lawyer made her own lawyer joke!!
By the way, I notice there aren't any chants of "Lock Him Up," which goes to show that the crowd that's for reason, truth and the rule of law is a classier crowd overall than the Trumpistas.
We've finally got some lovely warm weather here in New York City but November can't come soon enough.
25
... and in typical Trump spirit, when he talks about "threat" it's always a threat to his persona, his reputation, his money, his family, his blah-blah-blah...
To me obtaining clarity (i.e., the truth) regarding Russia's election meddling is of much higher importance and a much greater threat to us, the American People. And that is all our president should care about - first and foremost.
12
Its hard to know if he means it or if it is another falsehood. Better to go down in history as an adulterer than a colluder with a foreign power.... To any rightist evangelicals reading has it occurred to you that there may be abortions- I suspect it- with multiple partners having possibly been involved. Or would you forgive that too because it was in the past? If you believe there were not terminations, why is it not probable since apparently according to Stormy and Karen he does not punctiliously use protection?
12
I don't get it. Since they are both part of the same witch hunt and Trump did not do anything wrong, how can either of them be a threat?
1
Trump just solved one of the farmers' problems:
Exporting corn will not be necessary this year because the consumption of popcorn is going to be YUUUUUUGE. Believe me. BIGLY.
23
It seems that Cohen (and maybe Trump, based on his behavior) may be in serious legal trouble.
The Stable Genius had better get himself a good criminal defense attorney (if he can find one who doesn't mind not getting paid and has nerves of steel.)
He'll probably try to fire Rosenstein tonight or sometime this weekend. Get ready GOP.
11
On a lighter note, I *loved* seeing the names “Scully & Scully” looming over Cohen in your lead photo.
I won’t explain; either you know the truth is out there, or you don’t. Dana always gets her man.
11
Typical Trump putting his foot right in it. This is going to get SO interesting. I wonder how he will lie his way out of this one??
6
"both men?" maximum of one man in that conversation.
1
If trump employed Cohen doesn’t that prove he colluded?!
3
Steele's dossier documenting reporting of the Golden Showers is the kompromat that Russia used to manipulate Trump. And the discussion of that kompromat (the original sin) is likely discussed by Trump and Cohen - the evidence of which was just seized by the FBI.
22
This is just great because now it's been handed off to New York state and US Attorneys in NY.
There is nothing Trump can do to stop it now. Wow.
56
Is this right? It seems it is still the US attorney in southern district of NY, operating under DOJ, which would make is subject to Trump's pardon. It is not something the attorney general of NY signed off on, but rather the deputy US attorney general.
1
trump should preemptively pardon cohen from all potential federal crimes or wait until mueller gets some kind cooperation from cohen and then pardon him.
if he then has to face some state charges like some kind of fraud or possibly bribery he can take his chances/lumps there.
he'll consider this if he is truly loyal to the president.
1
Accepting a pardon means admitting guilt and will make a state court case thst much easier to prove. It also negates his 5th amendment right not to incriminate himself and he can be forced to testify against Trump or others. If he doesnt, or lies, he incurs additional charges of contempt of court or perjury. A federal pardon is not a get out of jail card for Trump or his people that many seem to think it is.
3
The investigators must have found some things of real significance to convince a judge to approve a search warrant on a lawyer. This is all still smoke, but this may yield more results about the creepy things Trump has been up to. It’s about time.
24
Trump may be right. Mueller will require congress to act on whatever he has found, but Cohen/Trump lawlessness will likely be more cut and dry.
Like how they nailed Al Capone with tax evasion.
21
Is it too soon to be planning for his departure from the White House? I fear the time needed for planning is already growing desperately short.
I envisage the declaration of a great national holiday, ten days of night and day celebrations, military parades with flyovers, battleships in the harbors, hundreds of marching bands replete with with high-stepping drum majors and baton-twirling majorettes, floats manned by Hollywood celebrities, fireworks over the Potomac and the ringing of church bells all over the land.
This is going to be a huge once-in-a-lifetime celebration, and we need to get started soon.
Yes, I know we are also going to have plan angry protests for the arrival of the awful Pence, but let’s leave that for another day. First, we must have our giant celebration. America has earned it.
63
Most likely Pence will be disthroned too. There is too much he knew during the transition period. He was the lead after all.
1
... replete with high-stepping drum majors ....
Yes, I know we are also going to have to plan angry protests for the arrival of the awful Pence....
1
Of course Trump is worried.
Trump may not have personally colluded with the Russian government during the campaign; that remains to be seen.
But I"d bet my next 5 paychecks he's been involved in money laundering and other shady deals with Russian oligarchs and officials over the years. Real estate is a classic money laundering vehicle. And no bank in America would lend Trump money, but the Russians would. They might have also looked for a few "services" in exchange for an interest rate reduction.
56
I was just thinking that now is when Trump might realize he should resign, to maybe avoid prison and financial devastation of his crime family. And maybe he will. But he still has to worry about Putin. I have a small, and maybe unwarranted suspicion, that the poisoning of the ex-spy in Britain was meant as a warning to Trump; a display of their reach and their unforgiving memories.
34
Do you think there were enough bars on the phone for the call to get through?
1
I hope this whole experience will stay in the minds of Republicans regarding the vetting of their future candidates. They should’ve asked any New Yorker about DJT and would’ve gotten an honest answer about his unsavory character.
38
Apparently, Mr. Cohen works more as a non-lawyer than lawyer for Trump. Does that mean most email etc. are not covered by attorney client privilege. No wonder Trump is worried.
18
I heard the impending charges on him are for “ non lawyer” acts. That is, acts he did personally.
3
If there ever was a time for the 25th amendment, now is the time.
21
Law should be fairly and equally applied to everyone, and folks who believe that wrong doers should be locked up should have the same opportunity to be licked up if they break laws and rules. As the possibility of war is also out there, I hope that any conflict with the inevitable resulting deaths of innocents would only be used if no other means to resolve issues exists and is not an attempt to distract from other matters b
3
Unfortunately our legal system is rigged - the rich with lawyers rarely go to prison
Trump knows that as president he can pardon federal crimes. But not NY State crimes.
Mueller is playing the long game here, and I'm sure Mueller has a succession plan in place if he himself gets fired. I like to believe that the plan includes Mueller being hired by the NY State Attorney General's office.
26
Hooray for the attorney-client privilege, especially its crime-fraud exception. Mr. Cohen is next to turn state’s evidence. Like Mr. Gates, he will want to know his children and avoid bankruptcy and long prison sentences. Personal loyalty to the Mob Boss in Chief has its price. I hope Mr. Mueller will indict Mr. Trump for lying that he lacked knowledge of the masochistic payoffs to beautiful women to obstruct free press and a fair national election.
13
Absolutely none of Donald Trump's business experience provided him with the knowledge to be President of the United States. It did, however, make him adept at avoiding criminal prosecution. Obviously one of his skills is keeping in line the people who "know where the bodies are buried." It comes as no surprise that he would be extremely nervous about Cohen cooperating with prosecutors.
22
Some day historians may write with a sense of inevitability about how Special Counsel Mueller's investigation led to uncovering financial crimes that brought down President Trump. If that does happen, we must not forget how all seemed to hang in the balance for anxious month after anxious month.
15
Trump can try to fire Rosenstein or Mueller, but he can't fire the entire investigative staff of the SDNY (or the New York state attorney general).
14
When Trump finally declared that he would run for the presidency, my first thought was that it will be is undoing. Some of his dirty, dark practices are in the process of being exposed. I foresee a mountains of toxic, Trump material with his brand straddling the peak. Perhaps Scott Pruitt will market this poison as 'clean' fuel.
14
How in the world did he ever think that none of his philandering and bad business practices would get exposed?
1
Now why would Trump see the Cohen inquiry as a greater threat if he wasn't desperately guilty?
16
This reaction by Trump, coming after all the anxiety he has had about Comey and Muller, sure makes him seem like a man who has a lot to hide. Doesn't sound good.
13
There are so many campaign, tax and other legal problems unfolding including the huge bombshell of the DNC 1.6 million payment to the bunny that the roots of complicity have a broad span straight to Trump and associates. This isn’t giving away and no bully billionaire tactics even as president can stop the inertia.
The warrior lawyer will likely of course try to spin impropriety in evidence getting. That’s what he’s getting paid s fortune for and he will dazzle us with vehement statements shocked at the facts attempting to circumvent the reality. It can’t work.
This isn’t a real estate deal or corporate tax hocus pocus. This is big collusion tax fraud campaign violations most likely. Indictment will follow. No attorney client gates will play as the facts show illegal attorney actions. More will be revealed too.
4
Makes sense that this would be worrying. Pence cannot pardon Trump for convictions in New York State.
13
It's looking like Michael Cohen may be going to prison for a long time. It should be up to the courts to decide but it sounds like he could be facing very serious charges. I wonder if Cohen would go to prison to protect Trump if it comes to that?
8
Pinch me! I think the beginning of the end actually has been set in motion, and the result will be the "end."
13
I hope the Judge realizes the magnitude of the decision. An independent attorney not immersed in the case may not be timely able to understand which documents are pertinent to the matter. The prosecutors working the case must be allowed to review. Additionally there is little chance Cohen or his legal team would hold the same definition of “relevant information”.
5
As watch this forest fire, as Comey has described it, I keep wondering when we'll have time to examine the utter devolution of the Republican Party, which delivered us Trump, and has shamelessly and obviously failed to provide any semblance of its proper democratic function. Then I remember that John McCain, who, despite doing some truly admirable things of late, did, after all, deliver us Sarah Palin. Then I think of Bernie Sanders jumping up and down claiming inequities are not being addressed. A guy who 'gets' root causes at least. This thought aligns with the political philosophers who claim voters feel that have no choices and vote to 'punish' rather than as anything remotely resembling affirmation of shared values. The one remembers the earth, and the abundantly clear failed global stewardship. Our cynicism is so great we can't begin to see it. And yet it appears we must, that is if we want to survive. Aristotle believed that the science that studies the supreme good for man is politics. We stand in the detritus of our failure to our planet and our humanity. Trump is the tip of the iceberg. He is us and we are him.
1
Michael Cohen is going to need more than a second mortgage to get himself out of this one.
The whole affair is beginning to remind me of 1973-1974. Watergate started slowly and seemed at times to begin to fade away. But there was always a steady drip, drip, drip of revelations and discoveries that carried their own momentum. In the end, it became a firestorm that even the Supreme Court or Congress could not bury.
Have we reached that point with Trump? Perhaps. I do know this, however: We are a long way away from the early denials of Trump and his minions about all the "nothingburgers" involving this "phony" investigation. I do not think that they are finding many witches but criminal behavior seems to be common place. Stay tuned.
6
This is the best detective story ever. I love it.
6
And there is even a political thriller that all but mimics what happened, but it was written before what happened, happened. The People's House by David Pepper
1
I hate it--hate that we are living through this.
Mr. Cohen’s files are the mostly likely place to look for where the “bodies” are buried, and there is no telling what those maps might uncover. Cohen has been working for Trump for many long years, has shepherded him through more than paying off women for silence, and it is no wonder that Trump is worried. He knows what danger this step in the investigation has put him in.
7
It funny to hear so many conservatives who decry the execution of a search warrant against Michael Cohen which had to be approved by lawyers in the US Attorney’s Office for the SDNY, numerous DOJ officials, and a federal magistrate, yet are untroubled by the shooting of unarmed black men by the police, often during stops for minor traffic infractions.
29
Trump hid his tax returns to avoid public scrutiny of his many shady business dealings. To protect himself, he had his enforcer do his dirty bidding. Now it seems that the enforcer learns something about the long arm of the law, which seems overdue. May the rule of law prevail -- wherever the evidence leads.
17
If anybody wonders for whose benefit Mr. Trump pardoned Scooter Libby, this article has the cast of characters: Michael Cohen, Hope Hicks and Corey Lewandowski. The Libby pardon is as subtle as a hit with a baseball bat: They stay loyal and keep their mouths shut, and he will pardon them for whatever crimes or misdemeanors they are indicted or even just investigated for. Cooperate, and Trump will hang them out to dry. And, yes, depending on charges, Manafort might be pardoned, too, but I would definitely bet $ 100 on a pardon for Cohen. I am now waiting for any sudden changes in the US pardon attorney (acting: Larry Kupers), as that person has to process presidential pardons.
5
>>He continued to struggle to hire a new criminal lawyer, and some of his own aides were reluctant to advise him about a response for fear of being dragged into a criminal investigation themselves.<<
This single sentence speaks volumes, doesn't it?
17
The Cohen referral is Mueller's CHECK MATE move! Removing Rosenstien or Mueller is sure to create a huge uproar with uncertrain consequences for Trump. But firing the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York, who Trump interviewed and recently appointed, without cause would be a bare-naked obstruction of justice. It will be facinating to follow the many twists and turns Trump takes to avoid prosecution. I just hope his proclivity for shameless behavior, outright lying and authoritarian violence does not drive the nation towards a further weakening of Democracy. The simmering national discord, daily misdirections, confusion and divisiveness are the ingredients for a national state of "delirium" during which those who wish to seize power become most dangerous! Wake up Americans of all political parties. Our brow beaten Democracy and abused institutioins are on the verge of total collapse. Now is the time to stand for nothing less that rule of law with no man above the law.
9
Hang on. We're close, but we're not there yet. Trump trashes everything he touches. That means the presidency...and that means America. We are not out of trouble yet.
15
The resignation of key staff and pulling back of lawyers and insiders for fear of getting caught up is telling.
Trump is isolated. Toxic to the touch. If he topples it will be due the sheer cumulative weight of painting himself into a corner. Checkmate.
15
And to think Fox News and the GOP attempted to crucify President Barack Obama because he wore a tan suit!
Homeland, House of Cards, Rubicon, The Americans, tally them all up and you don't come close the widening debacle that is the Trump presidency.
There are two solutions on the horizon we need to move forward with. The first is impeachment, and the second is a strong ballot showing in November 2018 to rid the Congress (and statehouses) of his enablers and abetters. All of them need to go--and go far, far away from Washington, DC!
316
Here's hoping Fox News becomes an irrelevant has been channel; laughed at more than lapped up.
1
There is no doubt now that the Mueller investigation is nothing more than a political attack on a duly elected president. This will provide the President with all the justification he needs to fire Rosenstein and Mueller and pardon Cohen, Manafort and Flynn.
7
What does this have to do with Mueller? His team found potential cause for concern and it was passed on to the local prosecutor for further investigation. A judge signed off on the search warrant of a lawyer - not something taken lightly. So there is some substance to the investigation of Cohen. Mueller is still after the issue of Russian involvement - that hasn't changed. Don't confuse the two. Mueller is not investigating Cohen.
123
A political attack. By Republicans. Because clearly Trump has done nothing wrong. "No doubt now," in your words. Okay, thanks.
3
Anyone that Trump pardons will likely end up being prosecuted by New York State Attorney General Schneiderman, whom Trump cannot fire and who will lay bare the crimes of Trump and his associates.
5
One thing we've gotta sort out -- nobody this deep in money laundering, shady business practices and payoffs should have had a pass for this long. The Trump syndicate should have gone down years ago.
I know that prosecuting white collar crime is expensive and labor intensive -- but this is ridiculous. Since Mueller put together a crack team of lawyers and investigators, let's keep them on the job after they're done with Mueller. Go after all the money laundering and corruption that touches our shores. Other countries will thank us, and victims of crimes like trafficking will too.
275
Good points Paula. Had Trump not been elected, this would have gone unnoticed. Still gotta give Trump an attaboy for getting elected, and in the process, probably going to jail, or facing fines that will bankrupt him, again but hopefully for good.
7
I think we have prosecuted a lot of white collar crime in the past. Usually when there is a Democratic administration. Republicans seem to lean more towards counting white collar crime as "its only business".
2
Full speed investigations, exposure, prosecution: Paradise and Panama Files.
The heavily perspiring president of the United States calls his personal "fix it"
lawyer to check on this new turn in a broadening, deepening federal investigation. We might soon call this investigation "the Trump criminal enterprise matter.
95
Trump is the worst mafia boss in history.
He's incompetent at everything.
379
Trump (and every other Republican): "We are a nation of laws." Oh, wait, it doesn't apply only to immigrants?
277
We are indeed a nation of laws, as Trump is finding out. No law was broken here. All legal due process was followed.
3
Please do not confuse "every other Republican" with Trump. I, along with many Republicans, including Robert Mueller and James Comey, disagree.
4
We all know that whatever he says only applies to other people, not him (or his family).
6
This is the beginning of the end for Mr. Trump. I'm betting he will have Mueller fired because he'd probably rather be impeached than go to jail once all his probable illegal activity is discovered via the investigation into Cohen.
172
I had the same premonition as well. Looking forward to the day is but a chapter in the history books, and we can return to stable American leadership.
107
Mr. Big,
Even if Mueller gets fired, the investigation will continue.... Especially in the STATE of New York.
Also, even the calcified Republican Leadership will have to deal with Trump if Mueller gets fired by some BORK-type replacement for Rosenstein, if in fact, Rosenstein gets canned. The outcry within the House and Senate would be substantial and very difficult for McConnel and Ryan to ignore. Of course McConnel's myopia is legendary.
9
When Watergate was underway, the Saturday Night Massacre in which special prosecutor Archibald Cox was fired did not actually end the Watergate investigation (though the Nixon White House initially claimed it should have). Massive protests and outcry led Solicitor General of the U.S. Robert Bork to appoint Leon Jaworski, and the investigation picked up right where it left off.
My take is that Trump will take the same path Nixon did if it comes to that. Nixon was never _actually_ impeached. After the "smoking gun" tape was made public, Nixon was told behind closed doors by congressional leaders that the votes existed both to impeach him in the House and to remove him from office in the Senate, so his choices were: resign, or be removed from office. He chose to resign.
Whether Trump would go to prison for whatever federal criminal acts occurred would fall to whether Mike Pence would pardon him. Given the lessons learned in Watergate, I strongly suspect that states would ALSO find their own charges to indict Trump on concurrently to prevent him from simply walking away, since a president can't pardon state crimes.
8
"At this critical juncture in his life, Donald Trump confronts a phenomenon with which he has never before had to reckon – the principled dedication of the men and women of the Department of Justice. The “deep state,” if you like. Though individually subject to all the flaws of any professional assemblage, their institutional allegiance is to no man and no party, but to the vigorous and impartial enforcement of the law. If Mr. Trump has, as he says, done nothing wrong, he has nothing to fear. But it’s now too late to prevent the Justice Department from following the evidence wherever it may lead." https://impeachableoffenses.net/2018/04/13/its-too-late-for-a-new-saturd....
239
"But it’s now too late to prevent the Justice Department from following the evidence wherever it may lead."
ACA - I hope that's also true of the Hillary Clinton email and FISA investigations now being carried out.
Trump thinks his pardon of Scooter Libby is sending a signal to people like Cohen to stiffen their courage against threats of prosecution. It won't work.
268
remember no pardons for state crimes - and if any crimes happened by these 2 it was in New York - where the attorney general is very aggressive...
5
No it won’t work Pete because this Cohen fiasco is a state matter. Trump can only issue federal pardons.
How many “ GO FREE “ cards are there in Monopoly ?
Like Manaforts multiple attempts to declare over reach this too will go nowhere.
The process needed to secure such a seizure of a lawyers files is stringent. Mueller is a hard nosed by the book prosecutor. the odds of him fouling up is slim to none. I suspect Cohen knows this but intends to stall them so Trump can fire Rosenstein and/or Mueller. In fact we should know this weekend.
78
Mueller has no role in this case. During his investigation he uncovered evidence that a crime had been committed by Cohen, and turned that evidence over to Rosenstein, who did his duty and ordered a further investigation by the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Geoffrey Berman, who is the acting head of that agency, and a Trump appointee, recused himself and turned the case over to his deputy, Robert Khuzami, who now heads the investigation. Even if Trump fires Rosenstein and Mueller, this investigation will go forward.
40
Talman: Why do people not understand this? We need to work on our educational system.
Don't you just hope and pray Mueller is as good as he appears to be? But I'm not doing an end zone dance yet, I got caught flat footed, along with half the country, on Nov. 8, 2016.
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More than half.
1
He and his Special Council team have been described as "elite". . . Have faith.
He is reassuringly competent and solidly fearless.
1
The beginning of the end. The end of what, yet to be determined. Either the end of US democracy, or the end of Trump.
136
"Either the end of US democracy, or the end of Trump."
Occam,
And doubtless the end of the fruitless Russia collusion probe - which was the original purpose of this whole thing.
November will bring back democracy
Trump sees the Cohen probe as a bigger threat then Mueller so obviously he and his attorney are hiding something. Trump is now afraid. Good. Maybe he can be stopped from doing further damage to our country.
158
My fear is he will be stopped from doing more good for the country. So far, I am very happy with his results. Way better than the previous 8 years by a long shot.
Seemingly endless court hearings will define trump if impeachment is presented by Dems and acknowledged by the GOP. One of the worries is that he will continue to destroy both our internal and external methods/policies and have time to do so because of our temporal litigation constructs.
Oh I agree miss rational! So many scandals! It’s just like tv! So much better than boring old government types that, you know, govern.
With his outrageous and unseemly behavior, Mr. Trump asked for this and now he has it. Will we have another Saturday night massacre? If so, I hope it brings down Pence as well. Pence has been silent but that doesn't mean he is not complicit.
208
Barbara,
Hopefully it won't happen until and if the Democrats take Congress and Ryan's term ends.. Otherwise, if Pence goes too, Ryan becomes the president.
3
Agreed. Flynn's connection to Pence is tenuous bc Pence could have known Flynn talked to the Russians. Flynn didn't lie to him.
3
I was hoping that Jared Corey Kushner might have introduced peace to the Middle East by now.
Now that would be a distraction.
86
Just to be on the safe side, President Trump should fire everybody that he can; the Justice Department, the Executive Branch staff, the White House butler and kitchen staff, all of his lawyers and the people who brought them coffee, Devin Nunes, Jason Chafee, Mitch McConnell, Chuck Shummer and Nancy Pelosi. He should not fire or divorce his wife, however because then she could testify against him and he doesn't want that.
81
This is excellent. You have hit the nail on the head.
The Cohen inquiry may very well be a greater threat to Trump, because it may expose Trump's engagement in felonies like bank/wire fraud, money laundering, etc., which would put him in prison. At this point, Trump would rather just be impeached over the Mueller findings than lose his income and go to jail.
148
I figure Cohan created all those dummy corporations and off shore accounts that the Russians used to funnel money to Trump via real estate "loans" and purchases.
1
And if it's a RICO case...he looses a lot more than just his income.
A greater threat than Mueller? I thought "Honest Don" had nothing to hide. He should be welcoming the scrutiny if everything is above board...
81
Trump should be very afraid, like a mob boss, eventually either they kill you, or they throw you under the bus, and let you do the time. John Gotti, look what happened to him, he was the Teflon don, until he went to prison, where he died. No better person more fully deserves what Mueller and the rest of Trumps already squealing mob are going to deliver, than Trump does. For those who have blindly supported Trump, including the GOP, you day is coming, and you will be left, with an empty shell of a political party. And this is why, the GOP has never been able to hold onto power as long as the democrats. Remember before Gingrich and company won the house, it had been 40 years since the GOP has been a majority party. We need to return to civility, and the rule of law, both parties need to participate in governing. Not one party at the exclusion of the other.
154
It might be worthwhile for both parties to eschew shrill hollering, and rather identify serious national ambitions, which necessarily include serious ambitions for the world with respect, and put those ambitions to task.
In the 19th century, Lord Acton wrote, "Power tends to corrupt, and absolute power corrupts absolutely." Trump, who apparently never reported to anyone, has been in absolute power of his Trump empire, but cannot make the Federal Government yield to his corrupt ways. I hope this eventually leads to a trial as the line prosecutors in the S.D.N.Y. are some of the best in this country. As for the GOP, the party of Trump - as the price of gasoline goes up, the rate of inflation goes up, the Federal deficit goes up and the stock market goes down- retire now or face the voter's wrath.
84
I wonder if Cohen's lawyers want to jeopardize their careers by participating in Cohen's crimes by reviewing the seized documents and withholding documents that are evidence of Cohen's and perhaps Trump's crimes.
54
What a good point that no one else has made and Cohen's lawyer's are apparently unaware of. They could become parties to the crimes! As for Trump, it is precisely in his business dealings that he is likely most vulnerable to the law. It is abundantly clear that he has a lot to hide.
2
As soon as incriminating evidence comes forth and he refuses to cooperate, Cohem’s lawyers will bail. They value their licenses and careers more than any single client.
3
Maybe I'm wrong, but doesn't this feel similar to the final months of Nixon? The monster, isolated in his white castle while the wolves circle ever closer?
We live in "interesting times."
116
Well, well, well, for Al Capone it was tax evasion. Could Trump go down for conspiracy? Bribery? Maybe even tax evasion?
Trump is/was a NYC real estate mogul(?) this is how the game is played.
59
You bet, they could not get Capone : but the got him finally - on TAXES!
1
"Checking in" with defendant under criminal investigation? So as to get their stories straight? Oh what a tangled tale we weave when we seek to obstruct.
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Probably so Trump could tell him "Watch what I'm about to do for Scooter Libby. That deal could be yours."
Remember that Cohen needed apply for a second on his house to get the 130,000.00 paid to Daniels. While it is well know that Trump is cheap and doesn't like to pay his bills, it is mind boggling that Trump's personal lawyer and trustiest advisor and hatchet man would not have easier access to $130k. The logical inference is that Cohen was in personal financial difficulty. I think the prosecutors will be focusing on the statements Cohen made in the loan application to borrow the 130k and other business transactions. Lying on a loan application to a federally Insured financial institution (Bank) is a crime regardless of whether the loan was even made, whether it was paid back and it is no defense that "everyone does it." It will be interesting to see what Cohen's loan application for the loan to pay Daniels will say. I doubt it will say the intended use of the funds is to pay a porn star 130k on behalf of his friend Trump without Trump's knowledge. If it says anything like it will be used for home improvement, etc. that is loan fraud, a federal felony. If so, for this and other reason's, Cohen must realize he will at probably at best lose his license to practice law. And who knows what else is in those files. No wonder Cohen and Trump are acting like cornered wild animals.
116
The real interesting question though is did he really do it "without Trump's knowledge?"
I agree. But I think the loan thing is made up to steer people away the idea that the money came from campaign funds.
And if Cohen had his wife co-sign the loan, he placed HER square in the eyes of this investigation. Was she innocent? Who cares! She is now a suspect, and powerful leverage over him.
1
Trump is clearly guilty of obstruction of justice on multiple fronts. Anyone who helps him do this will be guilty as well.
37
What is stranger still is that Cohen did not appear in the Federal Court today with his attorneys and his attorneys could not provide responses to key questions from the judge or his own lawyers could not find Cohen during the proceedings. Wow! Now, this federal judge will lean in favor of the prosecutors when she asked about Cohen's clients. If there is any way to lose a motion, Cohen and Company will get there. Hubris? I saw him smoking cigars with friends in NYC during the proceedings. Hoping for a pardon?
56
Probably already assured of one from the chief obstructionist of Justice.
Think about citizens that the FBI and Muellar is chasing after the President's maybe ex girlfriends affairs. If the United States President's own personal lawyer is raided and has a obvious lawyer/client relationship with the President HOW safe are we from the government?. This should frighten all including the Trump haters.
5
If you aren't conspiring with your attorney to commit a crime, then you and others needn't worry. Moreover, not all documents or data in a lawyer's office is subject to attorney/client privilege and even when it is, there are exception. You apparently haven't been reading about the process whereby a neutral team of lawyers will be going through the Cohen documents and will only turn over to prosecutors those that are not protected by attorney/client privilege.
Last point, Trump said that he knew nothing about the Stormy Daniels NDA or payment so any actions by Cohen in this regard could not have been protected by attorney/client privilege.
38
Well, Larry, it WOULD frighten me - if I had done the things Trump et al. have done. There is no defense like innocence, but Trump cannot invoke that defense.
2
Do you really believe that? Or is it what the angry man on the AM Radio said?
The ex girlfriend was paid hush money apparently from the Trump campaign. Not reporting it as a campaign expenditure is a crime. At a minimum.
I am guessing it goes MUCH deeper than that.
3
Wonderful. Fantastic. Break out the band and put on your dancing shoes!
27
Lock him up already. If not impeached while in the office, Trump will be the first president to go to jail after he leaves the office. I said that months ago, and I believe so even more today.
55
The wheels of justice sometimes grind slowly...but ultimately the truth prevails.
Looking forward to Monday. Cohen belongs in the jail. And so does his master who currently has Presidential immunity. But one day, he will cease to be President.
The arms of the law are long indeed, I hope it has good memory too.
29
If nothing improper has been done, there is no threat. A stable genius should be know this.
49
Since Rod Rosenstein approved Monday's raid of Michael Cohen's office and homes, I can't help but wonder if we are going to get another Friday 10 PM firing.
20
It is vitally important for people to begin to view these cases, both the Mueller probe and this developing Cohen/records case as not being about the "President," or the "Presidency." These legal cases (with the exception of obstruction of justice following January 2017)) will hinge upon behaviors and potential illegalities of a private citizen. Trump was acting like a criminal -- if not committing criminal acts -- long, long, long before he launched a campaign or was sworn in to public office.
There may be findings of illegal behaviors in both positions and time-frames, but the actions and behaviors of Donald Trump the citizen, should have and, without the insanity of today's politics (from Russian interference, to Tea Party crazies, to the bullying of opponents, to GOP Party-cowardice), would have disqualified Trump from office from the very beginning. Face Trump voters...you got conned by a conman of unusual -- if not criminal -- skills.
39
It should be law that presidential candidates must disclose tax returns and financial records. I think if such had been the case in 2016, much of this mess could have been avoided. In the end, greed will not prove to be good.
81
I’m not betting on tax returns. I suspect a lot of under the table activity would not be recorded.
It should be law that any candidate running for any office passes a basic background check. You know, like the ones that most companies run on individuals before they hire them??!!
Why do we keep finding out about compromised individuals after they have won election? Wouldn't the easiest way to drain the swamp be no letting it fill up in the first place?
1
His voters were sheep. They don't care about tax returns...
So, Trump's advisors think the Cohen corruption investigation is a greater and more imminent threat to the President than the special counsel's investigation?
First, an honest, ethical and law-abiding businessman would have no legal exposure in the first place, and thus nothing to fear from any investigation.
Secondly, maybe Trump's advisors already enjoy insiders' insight into Trump's possible criminal exposure.
Thirdly, we're all waiting with bated breath for Trump's "No Corruption!" tweet.
18
I have no doubt that while the entire mess that is the GOPTP wrings their collective hands, donald will pardon Cohen, donald’s family, Manfort et al. I hope NY can indict them for something. Donald can not pardon someone charged on a state level
20
Indignant President Trump should realize that if a President and some close associates appear to be criminals there will be some law enforcement response (see: Nixon, Richard).
18
For a man who called himself the candidate of "law and order," Trump sure is flat-footed in realizing that law and order apply to him, too.
45
Anybody want to give odds on whether Melania has renegotiated her pre-nup in exchange for sticking around with this loser through the end of his presidency?
Donny should have just admitted to the affair and taken his lumps like the Deputy Chair to the RNC just did.
29
"Prosecutors also seized recordings of conversations that Mr. Cohen had secretly made, but he told people in recent days that he did not tape his conversations with Mr. Trump."
He's lying. He covered so many bases for Trump that he'd want his master's words recorded to verify names, dates, and instructions.
He's lying because he is afraid.
39
After suffering every day for more than a year of the Trump reign, I'm guardedly looking forward to a day of reckoning. I never had much hope that the Congress would do anything about Trump, or that Mueller's investigation would lead to much, since Congress would be required to act on his findings and recommendations. But I've always had faith that New York, through it's federal and state courts, would bring Trump and his crime family to justice sooner or later. Kudos to Mueller for sharing information, which of course he should do. After all, no one is above the law, something Trump still doesn't understand. Sooner or later, he and his whole criminal enterprise are going down, and we'll dance in the streets when it happens.
3060
I agree with you totally, BKB. Enough is enough — Trump and his entire criminal enterprise must be taken down before he destroys America. I am VERY PROUD to be a native and resident of the Great State of New York; we have known the truth about Trump for years and I am sure most New Yorkers can't wait to see justice done. And believe me, I will be dancing in the streets alongside you and everyone else.
25
I agree -- but where have the NY regulators, prosecutors and courts been for the last 50 years that the Trumps have been looting the place?
28
Indeed, I'm 73 years old, and even if it takes years to see Trump lose his real estate "empire" in a RICO action, the hope that it will happen gives me one more thing to live for. in the autumn of my life. I don't want to die with that horrid man in the White House.
29
A lawyer who has only one client and rarely does lawyering work, is not an attorney - which means none of Trump's thousands of communications are privileged, and I've heard he has kept tapes.
This is some wild stuff.
153
I am cancelling my Netflix. This creates a far more interesting binge watching.
Thank you Donald.
290
Yes, but the price the country is paying is way higher than a combined netflix account for all of us.
42
LOL!!!
Also far better than any $300.00 Broadway theatre ticket!!
1
Nothing surprises me anymore. This group has forgotten what ethical behavior looks like.
80
But his unethical behaviour does not matter to his evangelicals who have conveniently forgotten the 6th commandment. Also in the NY Times there was a report of 2000 DJT lies in a year or so. These were all clearly provable falsehoods not committed years ago before Trumps presidency began but since then. If there is a cessation of adultery during his presidency it would not be due to a moral epiphany but rather lack of opportunity or a likely loss of libido between the ages of 60 and 70. In reference to the 2000 indisputable and proven Trump lies, I would like to draw the attention of Christian evangelicals to John 8:44- quote: ...When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies... unquote.
Thus could Trump represent the father of lies that you believe exists? Think about it.
1
Forgotten? DJT's business record suggests they never knew.
1
They never knew what ethical behavior was in the first place.
1
You know, when I read today about beating death in custody of the father of that young woman in India who accused a prominent politician of raping her, I thought to myself, thank the Lord I live in America - and then remembering all the police and prosecutorial malfeasance that has come to light, I wondered how far from this we are, and it seems, not very.
70
What “prosecutorial malfeasance” are you referring to, and why in response to this article?
I wouldn't be surprised if Trump has more to fear from a closer look at his financial dealings. I'm sure there is a reason why those tax returns, promised if he were to be elected, never materialized. I met a woman recently whose late brother was a widely known and well respected tax CPA in the Philly area years ago. She said he was summoned to Trump's NYC HQ many years ago for a job interview. When he returned, he told his family that he'd never been on an 'interview' like that in his life. Trump just kept showing him tax scenarios and asking if he could 'make them work.' He said most of what he was looking at was either illegal or skirting legality so closely that most professionals with a reputation to protect wouldn't touch them.
302
Remember -- Al Capone ultimately went to prison for tax evasion. Mobsters, mob bosses, and their fellow travelers always need ways to hide the true sources of their money, and they are often also tax evaders generally.
4
So, Trump is pumping this man for free accounting advice under the pretext of an interview. Typical. But if the advice is wrong, he has no recourse against the “interviewee” because no accountant client relationship was created.
Enough already--Trump is a bad guy--he knows no other way to operate. Please. Republicans, do your duty for the sake of the country and start impeachment procedures. Not only will you be saving American democracy, you might even save your majority in Congress.
113
There seems to be plenty enough corruption, lies, and questionable financial transactions for as many investigations as can be done. At some point, they may merge.
29
I am starting to feel the rest of my fellow citizens did not get the memo. Sad.
There is Trump Law, suited to the man, The Leader, and his whims as he sees fit, and meant to shield him in any eventuality no matter how egregious the behavior or potential crime.
He also gets to make the law and adjust on the fly as he sees fit and circumstances require. This great and tremendous law, really the best ever, is above the courts, constitution, law enforcement, well everything really.
It is great for Trump and we all should know by now that what is great for Trump is amazing and fantastic, and truly wonderful and incredible for the entire nation!
And then there is US Federal Law, and individual State Laws which are for the rest of us common un-anointed losers.
60
The extreme silence of the republicans and their party, in general, is troublesome. Troublesome for the republicans. Republican politicians are jumping ship so fast it is indicative of their fear of failure and in some cases, I wager, indictment. Stating they want more time with their families is epidemic and laughable. Cohen is not going to jail for Trump. He will fold even if Donny promises to help. Cohen already knows how Trump keeps promises. It is a wonder how "tapes" keep showing up in the most damaging ways.
76
I think you forget that most of these Republicans actually came out very publically against Trump, the nominee of their party, even after he was nominated. They didn't want him, but they got him, and you can't really blame them for trying to get the most that they can out of bad situation. We ended up with Pence as VP because no one respectable would touch the position. As a liberal, I still blame the corruption of the democratic party for putting forth a candidate that was so tainted she couldn't beat this man.
It's funny, but I remember a certain president saying these words this past January: "I do solemnly swear that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."
I wonder whatever became of him, this man who vowed to protect our nation and its rule of law?
43
Sadly, that was just an actor — and not a good one, at that....
2
It was a lie then and is a lie now. This should never have happened.
1
MattNg, He never understood the words to begin with.
1
We need to see those Tax Returns. We the People Deserve this.
70
The past week must be the most extraordinary news cycle I have ever experienced!
I have never seen this kind of chaos.
Today's headlines alone cover the gamut and are breathtaking in their scope; from this to Andrew McCabe's IG report, to Rod Rosenstein making peace with what he perceives as his soon to be firing, to the pardon of Scooter Libby.
I wonder what kind of message Trump is sending?
Perjure, perjure, perjure?
The howls from Trump supporters are deafening as well and those who oppose him, such as myself, are no less dramatic.
None of us know how all of this is going to play out, but one does have to wonder if our system can withstand the kind of polarities it is currently facing.
And to think it can only get worse from here...
The midterms cannot come soon enough.
60
I don't know if you were around for the Nixon drama in 1973-74. But I recall that people were calling radio talk shows, crying because of Nixon's disregard for the law. And people were afraid that Nixon and Kissinger might take some military action, perhaps as a diversion, when Kissinger had the US troops put on alert. It's curious that both Nixon and Donald Trump were mentored by Roy Cohn, the fixer for Joe McCarthy. Nixon was finally defeated by the Supreme Court's unanimous vote to require the tapes to be produced as evidence in court. I am not so sure about some of today's Supreme Court justices, whether they can be as independent in their decisions. And the GOP is a weak facsimile of what it was in Nixon's day, when both parties worked together on certain topics and retained the idea of occasionally working on improving things for the general public. Today's GOP seems not to remember those days.
13
Donald Trump DOES NOT CARE about the law. OK? We all know it. If the US is to remain a nation of laws he must be removed from office and prosecuted.
117
Future presidential candidates, take note.
Be transparent in your campaign, or your dealings will one day become the domain of law enforcement, detectives, and judges.
43
As a New Yorker who was born in the city and read the Daily News and New York Times decades ago, I would have thought it preposterous that Trump would ever be elected to any office. He was such an obvious con man. Now we are going to learn just how much of a con man. It's not going to be pretty.
218
Most native and long term New Yorkers would agree, which is why very few voted for him.
4
"Karma" doesn't need any esoteric explanation. The GOP allowed this to happen by letting integrity and transparency become the purview of Democrats. When the GOP leaders are running around trying to defend a king with no clothes, people notice.
45
I find your statement stunning considering the exposed corruption within the Democratic party candidate selection process as well as the payments of millions for speaking engagements of prominent Democratic politicians from Clinton, to Pelosi, to Obama. As a former stock trader, I'm completely jealous of their near-omnipotent financial acumen as well. Yes, I know that this is standard behavior for Republicans but that is why I don't vote for them.. either.
When is the general population going to stand up and demand accountability from everyone from Fox News to Devin Nunes? Corruption only exists when a complacent citizenry allows it. Would these bizzaro world antics of Trump been able to exist back in the day of Cronkite and Huntley/Brinkley? How is it that we as a people have allowed an organization like Fox to be able to become the US version of Pravda? We are now having breaking scandals multiple times in a single day and 30% of the population just dismissed them because Fox and Friends and Hannity dutifully tell them its all fake. We need decent people to stand up and take back this nation.
203
How did an organization like Fox (FAUX) News become the US version of Pravda?
Thank St. Ronald. It was under his watch that the "Fairness Doctrine" was eliminated. And that gave Rupert Murdoch (why hasn't HE been deported, by the way?!) and Roger Ailes free rein to lie to the public 24/7 with NO repercussions.
1
Clearly how Donald Trump is reacting to the Cohen investigation is not how an innocent person behaves. DT must be getting increasingly desperate.
49
Trump tried to make the Justice Department an apparatus of his personal operations. However tenuously, the rule of law is prevailing. Trump, Cohen and their ilk are all equal with us before the law.
28
Here's a stock tip. Invest in companies that make popcorn.
Then sit back and enjoy the show...
35
Everything else aside, Donald Trump is an absolute nightmare of a client for any attorney. He calls his personal attorney just says after he got raided by the FBI to “check in”? Seriously, does anyone on earth actually believe that? Even if it’s true that it was just a casual conversation, that is the absolute LAST thing any attorney would advise him to do.
And people wonder why the special counsel’s investigation has expanded from its original scope.
59
Why is an individual like Ms. McDougal referred to in these stories as a "Playboy model" rather than as a "nude model"? Is that brand supposed to tell us something meaningful and useful about the person? I haven't seen any mention of, for instance, the companies for which Ms. Clifford performed in pornographic films.
The question isn't directly related to this case but the promotion of the brand, while probably inadvertent, strikes me as an unnecessary overlay on an already complicated story.
11
If the search was conducted because the prosecutors believed their target would destroy evidence, why haven't they yet turned Trump Tower upside down?
That's what I'm waiting for.
And what about those bugs Obama put in there. What do they have to say?
10
Oh, come on, GOP. Isn't it time to throw Trump under a bus? He's about to throw Cohen under the bus. Ryan is the first rat to leave the sinking ship. Jump, or sink with him. Or stand up for the American values you say you believe in, have a come-to-Democracy moment, and make a move to impeach. We all make mistakes. But there is no question how history will judge you if you continue to support this sorry excuse for a President of the United States.
65
Perhaps Trump and his legal team can convince a judge or jury that poor, poor Donnie is a victim of "affluenza" and not responsible for his actions.
31
"Depending on what was said, the call could be problematic for both men."
When has that ever stopped "Mr. I'm Above The Law"
He can't dodge the bullet forever, his time is going to come.
17
Corruption investigation is always a problem for the corrupt.
22
All of the pleadings in the emergency hearing which Michael Cohen's and Donald Trump's lawyers appeared should be posted by Monday on the Federal Court system's online docket called "PACER".
Those pleadings should be very interesting to both the press and the public. Hopefully at least one of the documents filed by Cohen's or Trump's lawyers will be posted for the general public to read online as a PDF so that people with PACER accounts can look at and download EVERYTHING from this new case in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.
9
A couple of ironies here regarding Judge Kimba Wood:
1. She was Bill Clinton's second nominee for Attorney General before being derailed due to having employed an undocumented worker (though doing so was legal at the time). Don't be surprised if Trump tweets or Fox declares that Trump or Cohen can't get a fair shake because of this.
2. Given the links of Cohen to pay-outs for former Playboy models Karen McDougal and the unidentified woman involved with former RNC deputy finance chair Brodie, it's also ironic (though less significant) that Wood briefly trained for a few days to be a Playboy bunny. It would be ridiculous but not shocking (given that it's Trump we're talking about) that Trump would tweet about this as well.
9
Everyone enjoy the last days of a free country with a an independent judiciary and FBI. As we enjoy this spectacle, the Republican Congress is investigating the FBI for having the nerve to investigate someone who might have committed a crime. That's right, our dear elected officials are doing everything in their power to protect someone who might be corrupt. Trump, Cohen and the rest of the charlatans might pay for their crimes, but this will probably be the last time anyone in their position will not get away with it.
Laws will be written so future "masters of the universe" will never be bound by the rule of law, except for us peons.
11
How much time will "Criminal Attorney Cohen" get? I think it will be a substantial sentence if he doesn't flip. I think he'll flip, though - he doesn't strike me as having much spine.
10
"It is rare to seek documents from lawyers in any case [ESPECIALLY one involving a sitting US president], but doing so by search rather than subpoena is unusually aggressive and is typically reserved for cases when prosecutors believe that the lawyer would conceal or destroy evidence if asked for it."
Which all are well aware of when Cohen asks if his attorney can review it first. Trump has basically been Cohen's only client, and after 10 years of Trumpian and Cohenian maneuvers I'm sure "Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen still were trying to determine what exactly was seized." ... probably stuff about which we can only imagine. I can see a need to sort material into "Now" and "Later" piles, which would require court cases to determine whether it constitutes fraud or a crime. Or maybe this will follow Trump's idea about seizing guns from mentally unstable owners... take it now and worry about due process later.
8
The reason behind this headline is that Trump thinks (mistakenly) that he can pardon anyone including himself for the crimes that Mueller would uncover, while he thinks (correctly) his presidential pardon power does not extend to state charges.
5
Let the massacre begin. The evidence is already out there. The genie is out of the bottle. Mueller is leaving enough evidence to anyone that would replace him. On the domestic front, Avonetti (Stormy Daniel's attorney) is an absolute shark and is going for the president's jugular. If Trump fires Rosenstein, the red senate is where the massacre will be.
12
"Mr. Cohen wants his lawyers to be able to review the files and withhold privileged material before prosecutors can see them."
I'll bet he does!
I can't be the audacity of these people.
14
Speak plainly. Every action Trump took today, from the pardon of Libby on through his call to Cohen, was a blatant and brazen assertion that he is above the law.
20
Garrison Keillor famously said of Trump before the election: At the end of it all you will have nothing that you want.
Prophetic words - Trump is increasingly isolated (people don't want to get caught in the investigations themselves) and most talented professionals don't want anything to do with Trump.
His businesses are suffering, and in the end his name will be a liability, not an asset. It seems likely that the corruption inherent in his use of foreign and dark funds will be exposed and jeopardize his whole family.
Being president isn't a "fun" job, and Trump's obsession with "winning" will not be fulfilled.
23
This microscope into President Trump's personal and Trump Inc life must be very distressing for the man. Wouldn't he rather just resign and return to his life as a run of the mill con man?
17
Trump seems pathologically incapable of admitting he has ever made a mistake. He feels compelled to try to "win" every contest. If he had any sense at all, he would have resigned months ago due to some conveniently imagined illness. (No one would have believed the "spending more time with the family" excuse).
1
When is enough, enough? Congress must be held accountable.
21
The call between Trump and Cohen was passed over lightly here, but it seems to be significant, if it means they were coordinating their stories. Imagine asking a court to let the target of a Grand Jury investigation look over the seized evidence, and decide which of it he wishes to share with the prosecutor -- AFTER conferring with the president! He would of course want the prosecutor to have only the most incriminating material. You couldn't make this stuff up in the most preposterous B-movie about Washington.
14
Donald Trump is correct that there has been an "“attack on our country in a true sense.” It's just that it's been perpetrated by him and the people around him who that flouted the law since the moment he won the electoral college.
25
What are they SO terrified we'll find?
Trump knows his days are numbered - expect some quick pardons and last-minute deregulation efforts before he takes that lonely helicopter flight out of here.
17
Doesn't it seem likely that Cohen's phones are being 'monitored'? After all he's apparently been under criminal investigation for some months. And calling him to 'check in' seemed like a good idea?
16
I realize it must be agonizing and burdensome for the few true geniuses of the world to have to deal with so many people who aren't so gifted: we the 99.9-percenters, barely able to slug through every odious day.
I feel badly for Mr. Trump. His genius -- his extraordinary facility to out- lawyer his lawyers, for instance -- must be a terrible cross to bear that the rest of us just can't begin to comprehend.
12
Good strategy by Team Mueller. If the US Attorney in Manhattan can flip Cohen, they'll have a key Trump confidant.
14
The Washigton Trump-swamp is full of crocodiles these days.
As Trump never expected to become president, he did not behave like a true candidate should. All sorts of messy businesses will surface. This will be coming after him and might bring him down. Beware of the damage!
7
Trump is now on a faster track, than Nixon, in the world of impeachment politics. When the rats start to isolate them selves from the "King Rat", the "King Rat's" days are numbered.
Trump is now dealing with it from two ends, his personal lawyer, and a New York/FBI investigation, and a special prosecutor investigation.
No tweets, "Fox and Friends", National Enquirer, or what is left of his inner circle can save Trump now. meanwhile, the GOP is quickly in tatters, as scandal enters its ranks.
Trump, should save the nation a long, drawn out process and resign. A long drawn out process will hurt both the nation, and the world.
As for Pence, before he is made president, Congress needs to vet him to make sure he was not part of the growing scandal.
Finally, for Trump, he, his minions, Choen, et. al. deserve a nice, deep dark cell in Leavenworth.
29
Trump does not lean toward helping others, so I doubt it bothers him to upset a country of 300 million or more people. After all, in his mind, he is the most important person in America.
1
This is so far beyond the pale. While most presidents have avoided even the appearance of impropriety, this president wraps himself in it and broadcasts it on Twitter. He flaunts the law and issues decrees like a dictator. Meanwhile Republican leaders who should be the checks and balances on this madman are more concerned about their donor's checks and their personal account balances as they prepare to bail ship in January. November can't come soon enough. But it might be too late to save us, our justice system, and our democracy.
236
They are complicit, there’s no way around that fact, and anyone of them that has gotten close to Trump, is now dirty. That’s the funny thing about dirt, it gets on anyone that gets close to it, whether they had anything to do with that dirt, or not. Guilt by association as they say.
2
Your founding fathers put in place the levers you need to take back control. Clear the power and money of the Superpacs from the system and limit donations and the corruption will weaken and the people will once more have a voice.
1
Don’t despair, the truth will regain it’s place in November.
1
To quote a line heard over and over again by those on the right (against the rest of us): If he's done nothing wrong, what's he afraid of "the cops" looking at?
99
It's unlikely that the president would be considered a flight risk, but Cohen may be looking for someone to assist him in "getting away from it all." Both men may have conspired to commit crimes and I trust that the FBI has tapped their phones--or certainly will do it now!
43
Mr. Trump...collusion. The phone call with a man who is under federal investigation for mail fraud and wire fraud is collusion with a suspected criminal. Why not just give him the Scooter treatment now, as there is not even a shred of legitimacy about your presidency.
58
Trump can't take care of any state charges against Cohen.
No Dave, it’s still only a Federal case, just not Mueller’s.
Surprise, surprise maybe Mueller has found out the Cohen is connected and so may be Trump. Becoming President may have been the worst move the Donald has ever made.
107
"Prosecutors argued in their court filing that the request by Mr. Cohen’s lawyer 'belies the true intent of his motion: To delay the case' and 'deprive' prosecutors of evidence."
I believe the prosecutors meant to say that the request *betrays* [i.e., reveals] the lawyer's true intent. It does not *belie* [i.e., contradict] that intent.
11
Probably clearer if they had said "...the request by Mr. Cohen's lawyer fails to reveal the true intent of his motion...," but "belie" is also appropriate in the context of the sentence.
Cohen wants his personal lawyers to decide what can be reviewed by federal investigators? Trump and Cohen, who both could very well end up being charged with federal crimes, are openly communicating and coordinating strategies over the phone? The wealthy certainly aren't like the rest of of us. Apparently, they think our laws don't apply to them
74
For a lawyer Cohen made some rookie mistakes. I mean cell phones the data never goes away, and you have no control over it.
3
The difference between investigating the president and investigating a private citizen for suspected criminal activity is that the private citizen doesn't have the ability to fire the investigating officers and prosecutors until they find one more friendly to their thinking. Congress, which should be ensuring the power and security of those entities, has abrogated their responsibility to prevent this eventuality. How would you feel if the person who burgled your house was allowed by the courts to fire the police and DA until they found one who saw the writing on the wall and dropped the charges? You would, rightly so, lose faith in the laws of our nation. Let's hope against hope that we don't have to lose faith. That way lies chaos.
75
Remember when all we wanted to see was Trumps taxes? I don’t either.
66
My two cents on the attorney client privilege issue.
The U.S. Attorneys will follow the same process that was used when they went after the radical attorney who was defending the mastermind behind the
WTC bombing back in the early '90's. After her client was convicted and imprisoned, the lawyer facilitated and participated in a scheme to smuggle messages in and out of the prison so that her client could continue to manage his network of terrorists. There was no hue and cry at that time about the destruction of attorney client privilege and apparently no information was disclosed other than what was needed to indict and convict the attorney. The privilege does not protect against situations where crimes are being committed by the attorney and the client. Cohen is a poor excuse for a lawyer - a cheap imitation of Ray Donovan with a law degree and fewer muscles.
31
So, the question in front of Judge Kimba M. Wood is was the Federal Magistrate who reviewed and approved the request for the warrant and seizure, knowing full well the special Federal requirements associated with reviewing such seized items, wrong in doing so. I guess we all have to wait until Monday to see the next episode.
Geez, wish this horrible saga in America was over so I could just binge watch it.
18
Once again ... for many years it seemed as if Trump was a somewhat successful, and somewhat acceptable, real estate mogul.
But having had experience in DC, I thought that without ANY political or governmental knowledge he was not suited to lead the most powerful military and economic country in the world.
Turns out it is worse.
He is not capable of that, or anything remotely related to what we have been trying to do for a century or so.
He still thinks he is dealing with concrete subcontractors.
108
Or purveyors of pianos.
All I want to know is this... Do the Feds have Trump tax returns? If they do, I'm hoping the tax documents will he leaked to the Media.
109
Mueller is too ethical to do that, but he and his team obviously so greatly outclass the opposition that it will not likely matter, cross-my-fingers.
3
If the Feds want someone's tax returns, they do not have to ask or beg. They just pick up the phone and get them directly from the IRS. Maybe they need a warrant. At any rate, tax returns are easy for the FBI to obtain.
3
I've got no doubt that Mueller has had Trump's tax returns for a long time.
1
The Smartest Man in the Room shows once again that nobody can come close to him when it comes to strategy. Not that anybody would want to.
26
for someone who claims he has done nothing wrong he sure spends a lot of time worrying about all this. If there's nothing criminal to find, then what could be the worry?
63
So, in the face of widespread search warrants issued and executed against Cohen, Trump calls Cohen, acting as if he's oblivious to the possibility that warrants may have also been obtained to monitor Cohen's phone communications.
Brilliant! Simply brilliant!
88
They confiscated his phones. He's probably using new "burner" phones and had numbers communicated to Trump by paper and courier.
Get ready for Trump, Cohen et al to attack the Judge Kimba Woods as a far left Trump hater as proved by the fact she was appointed to be a district judge by Ronald Reagan. I actually remember her confirmation issues as several from the Republican party with "values" voter constituencies that today support Donald Trump challenged her values because over 20 years before her appointment as a broke undergraduate in England she spent about 2 weeks working as a Playboy bunny in a club in London. Obviously one of the first women to graduate from Harvard law appointed by left wing hack Ronald Reagan could not possibly have the morals to judge Donald Trump or Michael Cohen.
66
I believe a court ordered search warrant is not issued for general reconnaissance but has to indicate specific reason and intent to gather evidence by convincing a judge the search is warranted. Evidence collected outside of these established goals would be inadmissible in court as illegally obtained, correct? However I hope he's toast!
19
Not if it uncovers a crime.
That's been adjudicated over and over. The typical analogy concerning you and me mostly is the police stopping us for a broken taillight and then searching the car for anything else they can use against us.
3
Okay, so which social media recorded, transcribed and stored the conversation? Which CEO is going to use it as a bargaining chip, and with which branch of government?
7
Conservatives have supported the idea that unsought things discovered during a different search can be used against the party searched. It struck me that they liked how someone (POC, I suspect), pulled over for a brake light could be arrested for some marijuana if they found it.
Can the FBI use information from those materials, even if under client confidentiality, to find evidence elsewhere and use it against Cohen and Trump?
3
The short answer is yes, however it depends if Cohen was "acting as his lawyer" or just an administrative assistant. Plus even if he was acting as his lawyer if the content of the materials relates to crimes committed (past, present or future) then the privilege does not attach and the FBI can use the materials any way they see fit.
If I have a conference with a client and they tell me that because of all of their tax problems they are going to defraud their partners and the IRS, I would have an ethical obligation to inform the authorities. Thus some of the communications between us would not be privileged.
2
Technically, no. The doctrine that is supposed to prevent that is called “fruit of the poisonous tree.”
1
If they find evidence that Cohen and Trump colluded in a criminal activity - oh yes. Read how attorney client confidentiality works. Read the law- it's fascinating .
1
If Cohen has been the subject of a federal investigation on multiple charges, isn't there a chance the courts authorized and are wiretapping his communications?
If so, there could be a chance this reported call from Trump to Cohen may have been picked up and recorded and the authorities know what the two men talked about.
29
"Mr. Cohen wants his lawyers to be able to review the files and withhold privileged material before prosecutors can see them."
Translation: withhold evidence.
51
I'm glad Mr. Trump made it clear that Cohen was acting as a "Lone Wolf" with the Stormy Daniels payment. This way he can be prosecuted without regard to attorney-client or executive privilege.
52
There is no question that the US Atty has enough evidence to indict Cohen without the search warrant. The warrant was issued in support of that evidence.
In fact I would not be surprised if the Grand Jury has already issued a True Bill but it has not be released. The effort by the attorneys for Trump and Cohen to prevent the reading of the material is laughable. Since, it is the purpose of the search warrant-based upon supporting affidavits(s) to obtain the material AND READ IT. The US Atty office has strict proceedures to follow when reviewing material that might be subject to attorney client privilege. Frankly, this is so disturbing that our government has been basically brought to halt because we elected to the office of the President this man.
49
Correction, not WE elected, but the minority of the electorate by 2.9 million elected him with the help of the obsolete Electoral College.
4
Constitutional rules should always be applied regardless of the politics or the target of the investigation. if Mr Trump and Mr.Cohen have committed a crime, the government has to prove it by following legal procedures. The fact that the it involves Potus is even more of a reason to take it slow and methodically through the courts and in the light of day so political shenanigans are minimized.
8
If this action by the FBI is considered "unusually aggressive and typically reserved for cases where prosecutors believe that the lawyer would conceal or destroy evidence if asked for it", makes me believe that the FBI must already know that this is what Cohen would do.
And to think that Cohen had to swear to uphold the law when he was admitted to the bar. I do not think that hush money is legal, but then I am not a lawyer.
I cannot wait for the next chapter of this very sordid story of Trump and his attorneys . Anyone with any sense as an attorney would not get near Trump with a ten foot poll. I actually thought Attorneys upheld laws, not break them.
13
Anarchasis the Scythian, visiting Athens in 6th century BC, was asked by Solon what his opinion was of the laws that Solon was writing. "Written laws are like spiders' webs, and will, like them, only entangle and hold the poor and weak, while the rich and powerful will easily stride through them." I hope that our laws stand up stronger than Solon's Spider Webs under the assault of the Rich and Powerful Trump and Company. History makes me doubt it, but I still have hope.
44
For over a year now something has happened ever month or so in the various legal actions circling around Trump which has caught his lawyers flatfooted. I guess at this level of litigation it requires a different level of legal talent from scaring off Jersey drywall contractors suing 'cause you stiffed them on a bill. Donald doesn't seem to have adjusted. Sad.
18
No Trump supporter here. But I think we should all be very concerned about this extraordinary raid and what it means for the future of our republic. Attorney/client privilege should be sacrosanct.
3
The attorney-client privilege protects most communications between clients and their lawyers. But, according to the crime-fraud exception to the privilege, a client's communication to his attorney isn't privileged if he made it with the intention of committing or covering up a crime or fraud.
1
It is a strong privilege and the ethical duties of lawyers is high, however if a crime was committed (past present or future) then it does not make sense to allow an attorney to stay silent or allow his client to hide behind the privilege. There is also a duty of an attorney to not have conflicts of interest. Did Cohen step over that line as well? To seriously violate any ethical standards as an attorney can lead to disbarment. It holds true with Psychologists and Psychiatrists as well, they keep information confidential unless they see harm being done or threatened to be done.
3
An attorney is covered by attorney-client privilege even if he knows his client has murdered someone. But if he helps his client bury the body, the attorney is then an accessory to the crime of murder and attorney-client privilege no longer applies. Nothing sacrosanct here.
3
I live in the DC suburbs where newsdump Fridays have been commonplace for years. From the televised Clinton sagas during my HS years to the tumultuous early 2000s, and the congressional sit in a few years back, I never really stayed glued to the newspaper like I am these days. Truly unprecedented! This leaves me hoping for a bluer wave to hit in 2016. Washington seems unbearable sometimes, quite literally! I hear my parents comparing this era to Nixon, but when my grandmother references how this administration is even more corrupt than the likes of Herbert Hoover, you know America is forever changed.
16
*2018* of course!
Please, please, please delay until after the 2018 elections. Otherwise with the GOP in control of the House and Senate McConnell and Ryan will allow Trump to resign like Nixon without jail time.
7
While attorney client privilege exists, it shouldn't protect the guilty of being discovered having done something illegal.
We ordinary citizens get stopped when there is a suspicion of activity related to drugs or guns, it seems, yet major nefarious mischief is pretty certain and those with the loudest mouth seem to be able to scare others off from making sure there isn't some activity which has crossed the line of right and wrong.
9
A lot of speculation; too few facts. The new information is that Mr. Cohen is under investigation for matters not related to his work as an attorney, but which apparently intersect his work as an attorney. As with all these teaser "under investigation" artlcles, it is odd to see so many comments when it seems like the responsible thing is not to comment before information is released that amounts to real evidence that he did something wrong.
1
It seems almost a certainty that Messrs. Trump and Cohen both committed serious crimes involving obstruction during that conversation. How are we going to find out what they said to each other? More to the point, how are the prosecutors going to find out? Oh boy I wish I knew!!!
2
The situation Cohen and Trump are in will surely test our justice system. If the duo gets away unscathed with hiding so much from the courts then I certainly would question the integrity of the US Justice system because, as previously mentioned, nobody, not the President of the US nor his lawyer Cohen should be above the law and allowed to hide damaging or incriminating information from the Justice Department's "preying eyes". I am a firm believer that if you have done nothing unlawful, then why do Cohen and Trump have an objection to an investigation by Snyderman and Mueller that is the million dollar question. Clearly Trump has things to hide otherwise why would he call Cohen as their lawyers went to court? This sounds very fishy indeed. I do not trust Trump or Cohen, how can I when Trump very rarely ever spoke the truth.
5
Who needs to go the movies anymore?
This has become more suspenseful than any plot-twisting thriller ever made.
I'd advise buying stock in Orville Redenbacher at this point.
This is about to get very interesting indeed.
8
Trump was so naive to think he could avoid this level of scrutiny while holding this office.
18
Agreed. Remember he said he was smart enough to learn on the job. It seems he has failed to apply himself, refusing to do his homework. Like a child, he wastes his time watching TV while he could be studying. Pesky thing, this public service art of winning an election.
1
As much as I would like to see the downfall of this administration, I ultimately believe it will come to naught.
Trump will 'pardon' his supporters and he will end up walking away with as much of the nation's business information to use as he sees fit.
What is sad is that people will still seek him out as a business partner.
1
What a long week this Friday has been.
216
Could this have been another, "I hope I can count on your loyalty" pep talk from the president? When does this become obstruction or collusion or whatever? It seems Herr President walks that thin line every day.
38
The rot of the R-Party just shows what a danger they are to our democracy. I for one am tired of talking heads being mystified by Trumps actions. It has been well documented that he is a con man, who has left a trail of despicable destruction in his wake. The Republican Party is a menace and have done nothing to stop him, next war?
92
Ed, the reality is that the GOP rank and file has been trembling ever since Donald Trump took control of the Republican party during the Primaries, and now as president. So, the party has been doing his bidding ever since and very few individuals have the courage to confront or even criticize the president. The result: a corrupt Republican party with spineless leaders and without a unified forward looking agenda and future. But maybe this is for the best.
Can you do realty shows in a jumpsuit form a prison cell or courtyard?
One can hope.
39
I'd watch that. At least the first episode anyway.
2
Guantánamo a Lago.
2
I would assume that Cohen's phone is tapped
48
I thought the same.
They obtained a warrant to seize Cohen's docs and electronic communications, having a warrant to tap his phone would be not at all surprising. Not too bright- as usual.
3
The issuing of this warrant only shows the type of people these people are.
14
These are they type of people who are charged with identifying criminal acts and dolling out punishment to those who break the law. Suggest you study the rules of law.
2
I should have been clearer who "these people" are. I didn't mean those in the FBI or the Justice Department in the least. I meant that the warrant was issued because a judge clearly saw the type of people, Cohen/Trump, he was dealing with.
1
Looks like a bunch of DOJ and FBI staff just lost their relaxing weekend, they're going to be working 'round the clock till Monday afternoon.
27
This is the end of the beginning and the beginning of the end. Trump can do lots more damage as president, but only the looniest of loons will stand with a man so corrupt. His fixer is clearly a crook. Like other mobsters, he will flip and Trump will eventually be destroyed.
60
It must be remembered that when the FBI gets involved even Christ becomes a suspect, and before long you know they'll be looking through Joseph's lumber and tools records and a list of who he broke bread with trying to get him to flip by whatever extra-legal means.
There's nothing more righteous than a Holy FBI team doing favors for the two Politburos, e.g., Mueller and his swamp--corruption replete. QED
5
Check out the word "blasphemy," you just committed it, big time. And we won't even discuss you're being on the wrong side of history and just a tad bit mendacious. Though it is nice of you to grab an oar and try to keep this tainted, fetid, ship of state afloat.
1
The U.S. Department of Justice is a cesspool of anti-Trump bureaucrats.
It needs a thorough cleansing.
2
Have you read /listened to all the lies trump has said? He makes promises that he can't keep- Mexico will NOT pay for a wall. He can't keep a cabinet? What exactly has he done that make you think that he is so great? Yes, we got a tax cut but have you thought how we are to pay for all the things he has promised? Look at the National Debt going to the trillions!
We're okay with paying more taxes for ourselves. We think the cuts should be greater for the lower middle to low earning families as they would go out to buy things they want but didn't have expendable income.
And who do you think is going to do all of the agriculture work if immigrants aren't allowed? One of the southern states, Alabama or Georgia, tried hiring US citizens at $10 an hour hour and most of them lasted a day. One man said he couldn't do this hard work!
I don't care who he sleeps with but I do care about how he is spending our money with the excessive flying to His properties. And he had the gall to criticize Obama when he has out spent him totally.
5
Let's interpret your statement so it stands up to reality...
The U.S. Department of Justice is full of people who believe in the rule of law and are professionals.
They are American heroes and should be celebrated through our history.
See, now that's the truth of the matter.
8
.... You realize the US Department of Justice is full of people that Trump has appointed?
1
I'm sure Trump's calls are monitored by the CIA and FBI and everybody. I think Mueller should break in to the White House because he feels like it. Maybe he will find an unpaid parking ticket. After all, you cant just ignore a crime if you happen to see it, right? Like maybe when Hillary erased her emails and smashed her blackberry?
2
Nice "What about," deflection attempt there, big guy.
1
Time to start playing the theme music from the TV show Dragnet when ever there is breaking news on Muller's investigation of Trump. Also time to rethink subjects for TV real crime shows, how about one on crooked lawyers and their dirty politician friends?
13
Mr. President, what are you so worried about if you've done nothing wrong?
59
I wonder if it occurred to the President that the FBI was probably listening to his phone call to Michael Cohen.
29
Don't we know by now that he's just not that smart, and his uncontrollable impulses drive everything he does?
1
Friday the 13th. Interesting
47
Good point. Unlucky for Trump, but lucky for us?
1
All of this protesting and freak-outs by Trump scream guilt. Over and over he yells NO COLLUSION NO AFFAIRS Dost protest loudly. I hear GUILTY OF SOMETHING, hopefully impeachable. This shim sham con man needs to go before he breaks something, like our future.
39
What's the under/over on the number of abortions Trump paid for his girlfriends?
31
That's the sweet breaking news I've been waiting for sine the beginning, you know, a hundred years ago when the evangelicals all circled 'round him, laid their hands on him, and welcomed him into their fold because he told them he was pro-life.
1
I’m pleased to see that the party of “law & order” is going belly-up on this latest development.
Remember to vote in November folks.
55
Donald Trump is being revealed for all to see as the wiseguy that he is. He has demonstrated the qualities of a mobster, and the law is bearing down.
24
Trump probably called to tell him that he would be pardoned, just like Scooter Libby.
18
Problem for Trump: can't pardon state crime in New York district--Cohen has crimes under New York jurisdiction. Manafort under DC jurisdiction. Big problem for the Don the Con. He is running out of room to lie and bully folks and the wiseguys who did the dirty work for him are going to jail. Sad. For someone. Not for most of America.
Do we know whether Cohen is ACTUALLY an attorney?
11
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael_Cohen_(lawyer)
He received his B.A. from American University in 1988 and his J.D. from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1991.
https://abovethelaw.com/2017/11/cooley-law-school-asks-court-to-prevent-...
Quote:
On November 13, 2017, the same day that Thomas Jefferson learned its fate, the ABA notified another law school — the Western Michigan University Cooley Law School, colloquially known as the Thomas M. Cooley Law School — that it was out of compliance with at least one accreditation standard, and that a public letter would be published online within 24 hours. Unlike every other law school in the country that has been publicly censured by the ABA, Cooley Law has refused to accept the hand it had been dealt. What the school decided to do will blow your mind.
Apparently completely unfamiliar with the Streisand effect, Cooley Law filed a motion for a temporary restraining order and preliminary injunction with the Eastern District of Michigan in an attempt to prevent the ABA from publishing the letter online.
2
We get what we elect!!! A president trump does not speak well of us.
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The loyalty that Donald Trump demanded of James Comey will pale next to the loyalty he must have demanded of Michael Cohen in their recent chat.
27
Sincerely doubt the raids on Attny Michael Cohen are strictly about the many hush money trails and "his own business practices".
Sells newspapers though, while Mueller grinds away with the goods.
5
Guess Trump forgot that all of his phone calls from the White House are recorded.
7
I doubt it. But those that happen to be to - or from - some nefarious creature already in the FBI's crosshairs, with a court-approved phone tap in place, seems highly likely. Just as communications of U.S. citizens are inadvertently harvested during conversations with foreign spies, so too could Trump be surveilled.
It's the weekend, folks. Prepare yourselves for a category 5 tweetstorm by Sunday evening.
32
“According to two people familiar with the call” ???
Name them.
1
No doubt the two individuals provided the information to the Times with the understanding that they remain anonymous.
1
The prosecutors obtained a search warrant from a judge who reviewed the request under the understanding they were targeting the president’s lawyer. And still the judge granted the request. This is not about porn star payments. This is about some grave criminal issue or issues involving Mr. Cohen and probably Trump as well. Republicans must know that Trump is a clear and present danger to our Constitutional order and that he is ready to do whatever it takes to hold on to power and avoid prosecution. All it will take is one strategic leak and the Trump con will finally be exposed in all its fetid glory. All it will take is the release of one tape. Are Republicans still willing to enable the corrupt fool? Are they willing to self immolate at the altar of a corrupt con man and his family of grifters? Time is running short, the Mueller team is closing the net. Party over Country will not cut it anymore.
25
Surreal
Bizzare
Crazy
Bought to us by the Republicans
What is President Obama’s thinking? A penny for his thoughts....
8
I'm no lawyer, but even I can see how that phone call was a very foolish thing to do. As Cohen is not now Trump's attorney, there is no privilege, but there are grounds for a possible charge of conspiracy to obstruct justice. Cohen, as an attorney, should have known better.
There is no end to the stupidity of and around Donald Trump.
17
The Constitution really works! God bless those framers. They got this. They were bigger and better than Donald Trump could ever dream. Let America work its rule of law magic. Pull the string...
7
"just checking in". Did he borrow Scott Pruitt's cone of silence?
8
I'm so glad that I can wake up each morning and know that our president, the leader of the free world, is hard at work, focusing on things that really matter -- like blasting the former FBI director on Twitter, obsessing over "golden showers" and calling his shady lawyer on the lawyer's way to court to suppress evidence gathered in a search of his home and office.
Are you kidding me? How about you "check in" on the American troops who are trying to protect us, and our values, around the world? Or maybe you can "check in" on the hardworking people at the FBI/CIA/NSA/etc. who have dedicated their lives to protecting Americans and upholding the rule of law? Or perhaps you "check in" on regular people -- like the millions of delusional people who voted for you -- and see how their lives are going under your reign?
It's so comforting that our president has the spare time to watch hours of cable news each day, waste time on social media and worry about his minions' legal problems.
I can't wait for this national nightmare to be over, for the various members (accomplices?) of the Administration to cash in and vent about their captivity in the Trump White House. I'm including you in that, Vice President Pence -- wherever you are.
23
Whoa collusion!
2
If there was enough basis to believe that evidence of criminal acts would be found or that Cohen was not fully responding to the records subpoena to issue the search warrants, then surely there was enough basis for a warrant permitting Cohen's phones to be tapped. If so, the FBI already knows the substance of that call from Trump to Cohen. Trump's calling Cohen was plain stupidity. It continues to amaze that Trump is so painfully stupid that he is totally unaware of how stupid he is. He is the walking embodiment of the Dunning Kruger effect.
10
Whatever else you may say about 43 and 44, both were men with the highest moral standards, both demonstrably devoted to their wives. Now we read almost daily about sex with porn stars, playgirls and now with Russian prostitutes urinating on each other. And yet 45 brags that he is "very presidential". What a disgrace.
15
43 had morals? One of MANY depressing outcomes of the first (and, hopefully, last) year of this presidency is that it seems to have provoked widespread amnesia. Suddenly no one remembers how terrible George W. was.
It's important that we remember that, lest we end up with another George W. when the dust settles and naively think, "Well, at least he ain't Trump..."
4
Not the brightest bulb in the room is he. You can bet the Cohen's phones are tapped and possibly Trump's too. Wow.
37
So funny! Trump’s lawyer used the word “scrupulously!”
26
It is interesting to see how many people Trump has around him use all the right words and how loyal they are to one who uses so many wrong ones. Says something about the world we are living in, doesn't it?
""Trump Called Michael Cohen as Their Lawyers Went to Court Over Seized Trump Documents"".... And... yes... there is a "Tape" of the call....
Is that a good idea?? taping calls?... I guess Cohen had his reasons for taping calls... Can I hear the Tapes??... Please??..
20
Get your stories straight, boys. How do those bus fumes smell, Mr. Cohen? Heh heh heh.
9
EpHey Debra Victoria and the other folks have a
1
One key point that continues to be under-reported is that the entire investigation is actually being conducted before a grand jury which is the operative legal entity. The grand jury is presided over by a Federal Judge who alone has the power to dismiss the grand jury and thus close the investigation. Trump can't fire a federal judge or the grand jury. The special counsel is simply the lead prosecutor on this case. There are dozens of other prosecutors on his team who are not going away. If, and when, Mueller is fired he will have to be replaced by someone acceptable to Congress. The investigation will not stop as Nixon learned years ago when he thought firing the special counsel would end the investigation. The judge in the Watergate case refused to allow the grand jury to adjourn. Congress then appointed a new special counsel. This is not simply an investigation. It is a court proceeding that is beyond the control of Trump or Congress.
56
I barely remember the days when I could wake up and check the news and it would not be filled with stories about the president of the United States' various prostitutes, hush money deals, money-laundering schemes for his Russian pals, and illegitimate children who may or may not exist. I barely remember the days when we had a fine upstanding family man in the White House, with a beautiful family who adored him, and didn't have to worry about what sleazy filthy things he might be doing in a Russian hotel room. I long for the days of class and integrity to return to the White House. I long for the days of civility and reason to live again in our politics. I hope all those fine "family values voters" and so-called "evangelical christians" who put this piece of criminal filth in office live to realize and regret what they have done to this nation. I'm not holding my breath.
258
Thank you. I could not have said it better myself.
1
"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesops
38
The fact that Cohen serves as a National Deputy Chairman of the RNC finance committee is giant!!!!!!! How did the press miss that???? The same committee that Steve Wynn and now Baby Daddy Cohen coverupster Elliott Broidy just resigned from. No wonder some republicans are running for the hills and the others are running interference into the greatest act of espionage in the modern era. Brooklyn Russian Mob Hack at the RNC finance committee. Wheres that story?
37
Better call Saul and hand the wheel to Jesus.
20
Hillary for President, April 2018!
22
No--Pence. A moment of stunned silence, please.
What was discussed? Really?
We all know Dictator & Pervert Trump knows his fixer, Michael Cohen, has recordings and transcribed instructions from conversations with COTUS Trump that are in the purview of the Southern District of New York - not the Mueller Russian probe per se, but look for Cohen's financial records related to Trump and the sleazy bunch he associated with in New York to wrap themselves around Trump's neck like a boa constrictor on a lab rat.
Just like Adolf Hitler was in his underground bunker in Berlin as the Russians encircled Der Trump, this is going to be one of those moments in which Trump is trying to separate out this full extent of legal jeopardy and who else could spill the beans on decades of sordid and illegal behavior. The Mueller and SD NY circle is closing in. Watch for Trump to totally go nutso and bonkers - just like Adolf Hitler in that bunker.
We are now entering a VERY DANGEROUS stretch of the United States' protection of the Constitution. I wonder to what extent will FOX News (perhaps the present day equivalent of Joseph Goebbels when it comes to misinformation) and the spineless Republicans in the House and Senate who refuse to walk the talk will proclaim to Americans this is "perfectly normal"; "POTUS Trump is allowed to be above the law while you aren't".
32
I still think the American people - talking in the aggregate, not about my relatives back in Illinois who still say "give him a chance!' - are smart enough to know when they've been used and are done.
We need to be ready to take to the streets and DEMAND action.
And we should be fully prepared - despite any obstacles thrown in the way, and we know they're coming - to vote out these GOP jerks who have clearly lost their spines, souls and brains come November. Can't wait.
1
Trump called to say he was bringing Cohen's Sicilian brother to the US for a visit.
16
It's no wonder Trump can't get a lawyer to work for him. The man can't keep his mouth shut.
14
Can't really feel sorry for Cohen given the utter nastiness of the threats he made to a reporter awhile back—when he thought he was the stronger one.
Now the bully gets to see how it feels when a bigger guy (The Law) comes along.
22
Trump's presidency should bring another American revolution. This whole system is corrupt. Sit on your hands, shut your mouth politicians... how disgusting.
10
We can only hope to see the look of startlement.
Et tu Brute.
What a pathetic side show that we are living through.
13
Hmmm.... Trump or Comey? One of these two men is a "slime ball". I wonder which one it could be...
8
All Trump ever wanted to do was to stick it to President Obama after he humiliated him. Now he caught that tiger, and never thought about the microscope that would look at his life would come out. He’s truly a fool. If he’d have just kept to himself.....
27
Yeah, his unexpected win in the election ruined everything for Donald.
President Impulsive the Potential Obstructionist just can't keep his mouth shut, or his finger off the twitter trigger.
He is like that little Tasmanian Devil character in Bugs Bunny, out of control and subject to whims.
Being Trumps attorney must be pure hell.
13
Trump knew of his criminal past so why would he run for President and shine a spotlight on his messes. Why, because his is dumb as a rock.
28
He didn't expect to win. He was in it for the "name recognition" and the profit he could make from it in his real estate deals with foreigners.
2
For all the TrumpBots and members of the CULT OF TRUMP who think that the FBI are a bunch of jackbooted thugs, read what Michael Cohen said about the searches conducted on Monday:
https://www.cnn.com/2018/04/10/politics/michael-cohen-fbi-raid/index.html
Michael Cohen to CNN: FBI was 'professional, courteous, respectful' in raids, counter to Trump's depiction
"I am unhappy to have my personal residence and office raided. But I will tell you that members of the FBI that conducted the search and seizure were all extremely professional, courteous and respectful. And I thanked them at the conclusion," Cohen said in a phone conversation on Tuesday with CNN.
Oh yeah, ... just exactly like the Nazis in Germany.
(Michael Cohen happens to be Jewish. If this were Nazi Germany, he would be lucky to still be alive. But what do you lovers of the alt-right and White Supremacists know about that. right?)
15
MSNBC journalists, who also share offices at Rockefeller Center, stated that they had had no idea what had gone down in their own building - that's how professional our FBI agents were. Not a peep.
1
Trump insists he has nothing to hide. Yet he screams and carries on exactly as would someone with everything to hide. His futile attempts to deflect via non-stop name-calling have made our country the laughingstock of the world.
This is ugly. What is he so afraid of?
15
To paraphrase Tom Lehrer:
Trump and Cohen may be feeling like Christian Scientists with appendicitis.
12
Nice photo choice: Wanna get away?
My amateur theory: search warrant regards the hiring of a thug to threaten Stormy Daniels back when. Death threats still not considered Presidential in certain circles.
9
"" Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen still were trying to determine what exactly was seized"".... I'm thinking it included... Well... Everything... like... All of it...
and Cohen thought that taping calls would be a great idea?? Really??...
Bless his heart... what a Smart idea... getting it all on tape... Thank-you...
7
Trump had two words for Cohen: Scooter Libby
17
I am no presidential astrologer, but I predict we’ll see Trump bomb Syria many times over to serve as a distraction to all of this porn-star hullabaloo,FBI raid, and impeachment-worthy obstruction.
9
well, that prediction was accurate
Can you spell - collusion?
7
Trump thought he was a hot player in the Minors with a lot of strikeouts and no homers...a few stolen bases. He thought he could make the Majors and by some fluke found himself the clinch hitter on a failing team.
He's finding the Majors are definitely out of his league...the Little League.
There is no Joy in Mar-a-lago tonite.
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"Oh Lordy, I hope there are tapes". Trump is the head of a minor crime syndicate and is coming apart at the seams as the Feds move in, finally. Love that Moe and Curly have no idea what was seized. I hope today's call was recorded, as in they "tapped his lines". Maybe he will do us all a courtesy and stroke out while Mueller does his righteous work? Can't wait until that mean illiterate Trump thug is gone baby gone.
17
Where's VP Pence in all of this helter skelter?
16