In Cohen the democrats have finally found a kindred spirit from out of the Trump orbit.
They seem made for each other.
The DOJ 's memorandum is not the law of the land. It's not a statute or settled case law. And it is not relevant to the current situation with Trump and his possible numerous offenses with established civil and criminal law. It appears that with the numerous civil and criminal violations committed by Trump and his company that the Rico Federal statute should be charged against Trump and his organization.
I wondered why the Trump University case wasn't considered a violation of Rico. Maybe it should have been.
The DOJ memorandum was written during Clinton's impeachment proceedings and clearly illustrated that Clinton should not be indicted for a consensual sexual crime, which was in no way - even if proven - to be a threat to this country. Trump's possible violations are so serious that the memorandum would allow literally a madman who assumed the presidency to be shielded from an indictment, such as shooting someone on Fifth Avenue in New York.
It's not a real remedy when you can only indict a dangerous man AFTER he leaves office from crimes committed while in office. This violates basic criminal law.
Let's forget about the DOJ memorandum in this case, because it's not the law or incorporated in our constitution.
The Rico federal statute is more applicable here because of the many civil and criminal violations alleged.
4
@Donald Coureas
The current law may prevent a sitting president to be indicted while he is in office, but that shouldn't prevent it going forward in 2020 when this president's term is finished. He shouldn't be allowed to run in 2020 without clearing the campaign finance allegations.
If the Southern District of New York has as much evidence as we think, he won't have a safe place to land coming home to New York either.
One of the top reader picks states "it is a much worse crime when the President of the United States lies to the American people for his own personal gain. The Republican members of Congress who are enabling this president's deceitful behavior are guilty of treason ". No, neither are crimes nor treason. Moreover, plenty of Presidents (if not all) have lied to American people about one thing or another for their own personal gain. "Read my lips, No new taxes"; "I did not have sexual relations..."; "If you like your insurance..."; ... . Name one who didn't. I wish the public was more knowledgeable about such things. Do they still cover "civics" in school?
I can see it now.......If the Democrats ever get someone back in The White House, I know, I know, you're wish, wish, wishing upon a star, for Trump and the country to fail, so you can say, "I told you so...!", but if you can manage it, the Republicans are going to throw everything they have at the new guy. No doubt about that. But it is also doubtful that you'll get anyone back in that office. After all, you've thrown away a "sure thing" before......
1
The headline was Mr. Cohen was going to provide evidence of Trump wrong doing, lying and cheating.
My first thought was, why doesn't give it to Mueller. I assume he did. Not only was there nothing new to digest, he shot down some of the Russian collusion malarkey.
Now, into year 3 of the Trump presidency and still no evidence. No, wait. The evidence is there, but only to the ones that believe it is there. When there is a picture of the "evidence", call me.
1
Let us fervently hope and pray that this fiasco is coming to an end, with the Trumpet revealed in all his ignominy, felonious wheeling and dealing, his downfall, and the restoration of American decency and respect for ourselves and country.
This problem of Trumpet's election should not have taken two years off the greatness and international stature we have enjoyed in the past. Let's move forward and oust the Trumpet and all his appointees. America will survive this "bloodbath" and "bad blood."
3
I found Cohen to be credible today, clearly attempting to change his ways and atone for past sins. For those who question his credibility because he lied previously, keep in mind (and I mean this literally) Trump is the greatest liar in the history of the world. Here's the math: thousand of lies times millions of Twitter followers and TV viewers equals billions of lies spread - greatest ever! Here's how I rank several liars from most to least believable: Cohen, Pinocchio, Trump.
4
Dear GOP,
Cohen is a liar. He has admitted that. He is going to prison as a result. At some point in the past year or so, he looked in the mirror, came to the realization that he was enabling a criminal, and decided to come clean about it.
You? No introspection for the party of God! The irony verges on the sublime when you snipe at Mr. Cohen for admitting to being a liar, and when you do so in defense of a man who it has been documented lies to the American people on a daily basis.
But hey, Party over Nation, right? What price for the soul of the Republican party?
5
J Oberst, he didn't actually have a "Come to Jesus" moment. He was threatened with losing everything, possibly life imprisonment, unless he pointed the finger, in something with which he was deeply involved with, something he made a great deal of profit from, and got caught. So he got 3 years and is hoping for a reduction, which, if he brings down Trump, he'll get as a reward. But he didn't do this out of any heartfelt guilt or change of heart, he did it purely to try to save his own butt. He was coerced.
"Testimony From Cohen Could Compound Legal Issues for Trump"
Ya think?
Legal issues, and "the law", are so passé.
Who cares? "The Bachelor" is on tonight.
1
Michael Cohen is not a savior. He is not a victim. He is a con-man until he got caught. Let's not ignore that his mea culpa does not excuse that he was an enabler of wrong for years and years. We only "like" him to further corner a man we loathe more. But this is nothing but a mob of one mobster against his boss. And we have given him a national microphone for that effort.
1
My biggest fear is that it won’t matter one whit to some people. His supporters are absolutely magnetized to the dastardly Don, thinking he’s the second coming.
Isn’t there something in the religious literature about people like this? Certainly “anti-Christ” fits...
1
Republicans dig themselves in ever deeper. Surprising to me, Cohen comes off as a sympathetic witness, a man seeking redemption, a type which Americans love. The Republicans are failing miserably to besmirch his character. They appear to be nothing but bullies picking on a man who has rediscovered his basic decency and wants to come clean.
Oh the irony and hypocrisy! I'm sure it will be said a thousand times. Trying to tar Cohen as a liar while defending the greatest liar ever to occupy a place in American politics!
5
Michael Cohen is the anti hero who may well be credited with helping save this country from the Trump Plague.
Although he is headed to jail, Cohen painfully purged his demon Trump to layout a narrative that the President is a probable crook, who took the oath of President only to enrich thevTrumpian Empire.
May the 2020 election find Don Trump out of the White House, and hiding in Mar A Largo, partly due to the heroic testimony of Michael Cohen.
3
Gettin' greater all the time...
1
Everything Cohen testified to today was known more or less by people prior to the election. If they wanted to hear it, there was plenty of evidence presented that Trump was a liar, a racist and a cheat (intellectual midget and a misogynist to boot). He won election anyway. His supporters have no second thoughts and only double down on their reverence, so let's sadly face it--this is the new national character of America. Shame on us.
2
How does a Democratic House not impeach a President who perpetrated a fraud on the American people (to have any shot at winning the 2016) and, then, engaged in a criminal conspiracy to over up the federal crime that, in effect, enabled his election?
3
The Far-Right, Honorable Mark Meadows better do his homework next time on what disclosure documents are actually stating. He looked like an absolute fool and was called out by a junior Rep (D).
In fact, he is an absolute fool.
2020, buddy.
2
Trumps a successful billionaire businessman like I'm a 100 pound supermodel.
Seriously.
3
Republicans didn't even attempt to rebut Cohen's accusations, only denigrate his character. They are excellent as staying on point, shamelessly on point; obfuscating reality to bend it to their narrative. Tacitly, they conceded Trump is sleazy. Trump's base, however large it is, isn't concerned with guilt or innocence, just "winning".
Cohen did a lot of sleazy things in Trump's sleazy orbit. He's a liar, but he's Trump's liar.
2
Well, I believe Cohen was telling the truth today. If he were lying to Congress once again about Trump, his position only gets worse. The Republican house members reacted like trained monkeys - all decried his testimony calling him a liar - because he is saying things they do not want to hear and are following the party script. One outrage is one of the Southern congressman trotted in a black woman who works (or worked) for Trump to prove that Trump is not a racist. How inane, deplorable and stupid. The biggest tragedy is why these Republicans debase themselves in this manner for this man Trump. And they didn't challenge the behavior attributed to Trump - they just attacked Cohen. Nauseating to watch. Lincoln was right when he said we get the kind of government that we deserve.
3
funniest part of the day? finding out Mr. I'm a Billionaire paid Cohen in installments!
2
It is utterly ridiculous that according to Department of Justice "guidelines" a sitting president can't be indicted for any crime.
Ergo Herr Trump could indeed shoot someone on Fifth Avenue in bright daylight and get away with murder.
Were is that "guideline" in the Constitution?
2
Isn't the most damning testimony from Cohen that he heard Stone tell Trump on the phone that Assange, a known Kremlin asset, had assured him (Stone) that a new tranche of damaging e-mails were about to be released? To me that justifies impeachment and removal from office. But, be cautious!!! Cohen's credibility is suspect. He testified that he heard Donald, Jr. tell Sr. on the phone that the [Trump Tower] meeting was set. But, last year didn't Cohen, through his attorney, walk back an assertion that Trump knew in advance about that meeting? There's got to be a glaring, illegal connection to Russia for impeachment to go forward. Who really cares if women who had consensual assignations with Trump were paid to keep quiet? Or how they were paid? And why aren't they being prosecuted for blackmail and/or extortion? Better concentrate on removing this guy from office via the electoral process in 2020.
Although impeachment is a possibility in this case, the United States needs to look at some way that could nullify a tainted election, and call for a new round of voting. Even if Trump were removed from office and replaced by Mike Pence, we would still have a President who does not deserve the position because the means that put him there were corrupted from the start. The Russian collusion is undeniable, yet the GOP's response seems to be, "A win is a win, who cares?"
3
Comment 1: Hmmm. Cohen paid Daniels and was reimbursed by tRump... it's quite a stretch to argue that the prez was not aware of the illegal nature of these payments, or he would have made them directly. Comment 2: the behavior of the GOP members in Congress is unpatriotic and disgusting. I still wonder how many of them can sleep peacefully knowing that they are doing their best to dismantle our precious democracy. Comment 3: Thank you, Mr. Cohen, for apparently, and finally, coming clean.
2
Jim Jordan, the ranking Republican on the committee, is noteworthy in his disdain for Mr. Cohen and his actions. Jordan was the wrestling coach at Ohio State University, where it was an open secret that the doctor treating the student athletes, was sexually abusing them for 8 years. During those 8 years, everyone connected with the program knew exactly what was going on. Everyone, this is, except the coach, Jim Jordan. He has an ungodly amount of chutzpah to be lecturing anyone on their moral failing, in my humble opinion.
5
It appears that Michael Cohen has confirmed that the Current Occupant of the Oval Office and his offspring, are being investigated by the SDNY, for turning the Presidency into a multinational crime organization.
Nice.
I hope after all of this is finished, the cost the taxpayers have to pay to process this investigation to it's conclusion will be recovered from what's left of the Trump Organization.
Golf, anyone?
1
Why would believe a man who is convicted of lying in court, about Trump tower meeting. This guy will continually lie to get favor some how.
That huge illegible scrawl of a signature of his has grown alarmingly offensive over the past two years.
The first project of President Pelosi's administration should be to white it out from all Presidential documents on which it appears.
3
It’s so weird that Cohen is going to prison for lying about when Individual #1 was dealing with Trump Tower Moscow—-the same lie Trump gave to us.
1
It is so very telling that no republican came to Trump’s defense despite the characterization made of him by Cohen, calling him a cheat, racist and con man. And why is that? Because they know Cohen is speaking the truth! If they really felt Cohen was lying and saying things that were not true, they would have offered another picture of Trump. But they did not. Just imagine if Obama would have been portrayed this way. We would have witnessed a very different defense. A comment from Sweden where our political system is equally being tested by incompetent politicians.
1
AOC will have many more than 5 minutes of fame. In just 4 minutes and 14 seconds of crisp questioning of Michael Cohen, she got Cohen to agree that Trump routinely undervalued assets in order to reduce local tax liability and that the way to confirm whether this was so was to obtain a copy of his federal and state tax returns.
Then she referenced a story in The Times suggesting that Trump had engaged in outright fraud to greatly reduce his tax bill when his parents’ property was transferred to him. When Cohen couldn’t confirm (“I wasn’t working for him then”) she asked him who could confirm, thereby setting the groundwork for the committee to issue a subpoena to Allen Weiselberger. She then again asked Cohen whether it would help to have a copy of Trump’s tax returns and he again agreed. She then yielded the rest of her time. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oP5kkEEiKRo
This Congresswoman is smart, focused, and comes prepared. An unbelievably impressive performance. Don't miss it.
7
About that cheque to Cohen....a couple of scenarios spring to mind...
If the president had to say to Cohen that his cheques were in the post, Cohen must have asked for them. Since many report that Cohen was disappointed he did not get a White House appointment, might he...just possibly....have threated Trump with exposure if the (now) president didn't pay up?
Also...If you are sending a Fed Ex from New York, how does it get caught up in the White House system? Sounds like a delaying tactic by....er...someone being pressed for payment...
Trump has never been sufficient to be President, and would never have been elected, had the Russians not interfered in the election. He is totally incompetent.
From the beginning, all Trump cares about is being the Grifter in Chief, using the Presidency to fatten his wallet. He has shown that he doesn't care about anyone other than himself.
What is unbelievable is that the GOP supports Trump despite his incompetence. They have probably benefitted financially themselves being larded by lobbyists with gobs of money.
Our system is broken, democracy is on the wane, especially since Trump's administration has cut funding to counter the Russians, who have already started to interfere again with our system.
Trump's swamp is prevailing and destroying our country, unless the rest of us stand up and protect it from demise.
9
@Quandry Seriously Russians had nothing to do with it, D.C. had enough with the Clintons. SO they gave her the boot.
The concept that a sitting president cannot be indicted was an ad-hoc decision by one man in the 1970's which has been retained on the specious basis that a president is too busy to have to deal with the consequences of the indictment.
So, if the president kills someone and Congress refuses to impeach him, does he escape indictment? Moreover, in other countries heads of state have been indicted, and Israel, for example, has sent its president to jail. We have provisions whereby an incapacitated president hands over his authority to the vice-president. Finally, even following present thinking, you could indict the president and wait until his term is over and then prosecute him. Under this scenario, popular pressure on him to resign would be fierce. Anyhow, the idea that someone, because of his position, can not be held accountable by the law is repugnant.
19
Not a big fan of the President and there are things he has done that will make me and most people think twice about voting for him again. But it will have nothing to do with what Michael Cohen said today.
Cohen has made accusations but they are not proof. He's angry and hurt and disappointed. He will say anything. What he has said are based on assumptions and speculations and his written testimony underscores this. Enemies of the President will give Cohen all benefit of the doubt while his supporters will probably remain indifferent.
Cohen is going to prison for lying to Congress and to prosecutors. Why should anyone see today's testimony as nothing more than payback for his perception that the President turned on him? He is being vindictive. His speech was self-serving and certainly not going to change many minds among the general public.
6
@PeterW
Apparently today he was lying about everything except the things the GOP wanted to hear.
2
@PeterW
It's true that absolute proof of Trump's guilt has not been established by today's testimony (albeit we came closer)--but would you trust Trump enough to buy a used car from him if he assured you of its perfect condition?
1
@PeterW - "What he has said are based on assumptions and speculations and his written testimony underscores this."
Did you happen to notice the check for $35,000 with Trump's signature? There is probably plenty more documentary evidence in the material that Cohen turned over to the committee yesterday, letters, tapes, more checks, contracts...
Whether it will change voters' minds of course remains to be seen. I suspect that Trump's hardcore supporters will never change their minds. But there were a lot of Republicans who voted for him reluctantly, all those people who would rather have seen Jeb Bush, Cruz or others be nominated.
As long as the GOP continues to control the Senate they will try to present a united front to the public, but I suspect that there are fissures and power plays going on inside the party already. They probably understand that their immediate hold on power depends on keeping Trump in place, but that there long term future depends on finding an alternative.
2
One of the things that jumped out at me was Cohen’s statement “that Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress. That’s not how he operates”.
This is very similar to Comey’s account of his meeting with Trump where Trump suggested that the Flynn investigation be dropped.
29
"Testimony From Cohen Could Compound Legal Issues for Trump"
certainly hope so. More lawyers about to get stiffed
14
In my view, Trump's most egregious crime is his total failure to uphold his oath of office. He has not acted in support of the Constitution in his continuing attacks against the free press, his disdain for the fundamental principle of separation of powers, and his indifference to the law. A president is supposed to keep the country safe and make sure the laws are properly executed, and Trump has ignored those duties in favor of seeking profitable business deals. Trump's public statements over the last two years have encouraged violence against reporters, against Hillary Clinton, and against anyone who protests his actions. We could have remained a colony of England, but we did not want a king. Someone needs to explain that to Trump. He will be accountable to the people, with or without Congress' help.
26
The most exasperating waste of time in this hearing was the Republicans' repetitive harangues about Cohen's track record as a liar. Yes, yes, we know he's a liar, but that's not the issue. If he has new revelations about Trump's dealings we need to hear them. They can then be investigated to determine if they are just more lies, or grounds for action if they are not.
25
To properly characterise his misdeed on the asset valuation front - either he inflated net worth to obtain bank financing that he would not otherwise get or undervalued net worth to obtain tax benefits that he would not otherwise get. The man is a fraud, in every dealing in every aspect of his life: his business dealings, his so-called charity, doing his job (if you can call it that) as POTUS, to his wife and family. The GOP is a party of worthless reptiles to continue to provide cover for Donald Trump.
27
@AW It's not "either/or." It's "both."
Anything said by a professional liar should be taken with an entire mine worth of salt. If documented it is redundant; if not it is unbelievable.
3
It’s quite obvious he is telling the truth. And everyone knows it. Nice try though.
2
@mikecody So, redundancy, or unbelievable? Neither absolves Trump. And as the Dems pointed out yesterday, if witnesses, such as mobsters, decide to tell the truth, criminals are convicted. If courts disallowed their testimony, many criminals would not be in jail. Past lies don’t prove future lies.
@Margie Oh, I am not trying to absolve Mr. Trump, the process will play out and I doubt he is innocent. I am just amused by the sudden lionization of an admitted and convicted liar as a beacon of truth.
“Mr. Trump directed the Trump Foundation, which is supposed to be a charitable organization, to repay the fake bidder, despite keeping the art for himself.” Fake bidder, fake hair, fake everything.
18
Bit it's NOT collusion with Russia .... hence, it should be ignored.
2
@jhanzel Whether or not collusion is proved, obstruction of justice, tax fraud, violation of campaign finance laws, charitable trust laws, and perjury are all crimes.
Next time try reading the article before commenting.
1
@jhanzel
Yhat was not the reason the hearing was done.
Trump has no humanity, and could care less about anyone other than himself.
The only thing he values is HIS money, and making it off his Presidency.
One of the talking heads today noted that if it came down to himself and his children, he would sell them down the river.
And they were right!
17
Surely Mueller must know everything that Cohen said today? After two years of investigations? How can today’s hearing change anything but the public opinion? Something is wrong here, there are so many different allegations against Trump, many of them serious, but nothing happens.
18
The purpose of Cohen's testimony is to help find truth and to provide the path and pursuit of any wrongdoings of Trump.
Yes Republicans- notably Hice, Meadows, Jordan etc. Americans DO want to know the truth and know if Trump has committed crimes and if substantiated, hold Trump accountable, his family and associates.
Yes, we already know of Cohen's lies and crimes. There was no need for Republicans to continue to chastise Cohen, wasting valuable time and opportunity to find truths. The same belligerence that Trump spews everyday was compounded by Republicans today. It is getting tiresome and old. America doesn't need more of it.
Cummings has stated, "We are better than this". Yes we are.
Cummings stated, it is up to Americans to decide what to take away from this hearing. Yes, we want and expect the truth, the opportunity to make the decision from this hearing, our own interpretation about Trump. We deserve to know.
Cummings simply reminded everyone, we need to get back to normal. He is so right.
20
The most chilling moment from today’s testimony
Michael Cohen: "I did the same thing you are doing now for 10 years [referring to Republican members of the committee]. I protected Mr. Trump for 10 years. … And I can only warn people that follow Mr. Trump as I did, blindly, are going to suffer the same consequences that I'm suffering."
63
If Donald Trump had been accused of these misdeeds before becoming president, very few would have doubted their veracity.
No one is saying "the Donald Trump I know would never have done this".
The problem here is that the party occupying the Oval Office is more afraid of losing power than of losing credibility. So they persist in pretending they can not see nor hear. I wish they could also pretend that they can not speak.
17
Then there are the potential R.I.C.O. violations which could be lodged against the Trump Organization at some future date, resulting from a plethora of illegal transactions committed by the "First Family's" closely held criminal enterprise. If this prosecution is successful, that will produce the utter destruction of the Trumps' entire world, as they presently know and experience it.
9
There are the many legal questions that I’ll leave to experts in the law.
Then there are two ethics questions that I believe all thoughtful people should be asking ...
How did such an unethical person become president of the United States?!?
How do even a minority of voters, and the GOP as a party, continue to support such an unethical person?
I wish I knew the answers.
22
@Rich Crank. One answer is that the Democrats nominated a candidate whose likeability was greatly underestimated and who colluded to prevent Bernie Sanders from ever getting the nomination.
Another answer is that both parties have ceased to work for the American people having sold their souls to lobbyists and special interest groups. Trump managed to tap into the resentment most Americans were feeling at the time of being left out of the political process.
It didn't hurt his case that traditional old-school Republicans, who have also sold out the American people, went on the attack and Trump was able to punch back.
Trump made some bold promises and he was able to deliver on one even before he was elected by getting Carrier to retain jobs in the U.S. when that company was thinking about relocating to Mexico.
Trump's election wasn't so much a vote of confidence in the man as much as it was a thumb in the eye to both political parties for holding the American people in contempt for so long.
If the Dems or a third party candidate really want to ensure that Trump isn't re-elected, they should come up with a viable plan to improve the lives of all Americans many of whom are still struggling to make ends meet. Attacking the President clearly doesn't work. It generates sympathy. Maybe a developing a plan to move the nation forward will be a better strategy.
Did anyone else note the blockbuster comment in Cohen's closing statement? He said that if Trump loses the 2020 election he (Cohen) fears there would not be a "peaceful transfer of power". If that does not portend a dictatorship I don't know what does.
25
“Mr. Stone told Mr. Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr. Assange told Mr. Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign.”
The fact that, prior to this, Wikileaks had announced publicly that they would publish the damaging emails, cannot be uttered in corporate media. Wikileaks must be vilified - Wikileaks pulls back the veil of secrecy on official misconduct.
@Ed Watters
You miss the point. The point is that Trump said he never spoke to Stone about this. If that is also his testimony, and can be refuted with Cohen testimony and all those records they got from Stone, then DJT could be charged with lying to Congress.
The DoJ policy of not indicting a sitting president is not law. If the special counsel finds the president guilty of a crime and refuses to hold him accountable due to tradition or “policy”, then that is cowardice, and we deserve whatever negative consequence comes next.
11
Elijah Cummings' inspiring summation showed us what this country could be. Cohen's testimony about Trump showed us where we are.
Now, can we work together to save our country?
9
The Republican line, that if someone lies in the past he/she should never be believed must be good news to millions of convicted felons. Everyone in prison who had another criminal testify against them should call their Republican congressional rep and demand a new trial.
6
I believe Mr. Cohen and am disgusted with Jim Jordan and the rest of the republicans on that committee. Trump is a problem, but the rest of the trumpites are too.
10
What I found stunning about today’s hearing was how ordinary it was. I found myself muttering “We know all this already...”. Cohen’s testimony seemed tame, a simple rehashing of the obvious, of what we have come to expect and presumed, through Trump’s public lies, prevarications, and bullying, to be be beyond doubt.
Two surprises. First, that Republicans struggled to paint Cohen as a liar for merely reiterating the obvious...and which many are on the record for decrying. And second, that Trump is afraid of the release of his grades and SAT scores. He’s even smaller than we knew.
25
@Alex I would of course be shocked !! to learn that Trump might not be the "stable genius" he claims to be.
Enough is Enough The democrats are the ones tearing this country apart. When in history has their ever been so much disrespect. Stop! Trump won and is President. Let him do his job! Pelosi and Schumer exasperated this terrible situation. It is time for us to come together or forever we will be divided!
2
@BB As a citizen, I cannot respect a president who does not believe in or support democracy. Trump also ignores the separation of powers, and the freedom of the press. He disrespects the Constitution. These are not little quirks, but significant crimes against democracy. We certainly do not need a president who subverts the founding principles of the country, as Trump does daily. He fails to grasp that in democracy, the citizen is above the president, and the president is supposed to serve the country. We must respect the Constitution, not the unqualified person who stumbled into a job he cannot do.
@BB
So..you are okay with the behavior of the President these 2 years?
President Trump only is responsible for legal issues that have surfaced since his entering the white house. What he did before as a businessman is his business and Cohen is not the judge, jury or executioner of the Trump presidency.
During the 2020 election cycle those who think that his perceived wrong doing exceeds the good that has been happening during the Trump presidency then they will have a choice to not vote for him and choose between the Democratic nominee whichever emerges from the dozen or two dozen democrats or Howard Schultz the independent candidate. Of course there is Mueller report awaited and so the presidents men that have been found guilty of wrong doing unrelated to their association with Trump will have to bear the consequences for their own sins.
Finally, as characterized by one of the congresspersons, it was a partisan charade that may have looked like an exercise for the president to look bad just like the Kavanaugh hearings, the low credibility of Cohen dis not rise up to any impeachable offense especially when the attorney who was supposed to give sound advice to his client was flawed and fraudulent who seems to have received according to one congressperson a light sentence instead of a cumulative 70 years imprisonment.
2
If Cohen has anything, why wouldn’t his lawyer have traded it for immunity? Why is he going to jail if anything he says about Trump is true and criminal? It makes no sense.
As for inflating wealth, no one knows how much real estate is worth anyway. Properties get cut in price from $100 million to $30 million overnight.
Was for cohen’s testimony, “Where’s the beef?”
2
@Hooey
In real estate you get a series of comps and average them. Trump had Cohen find the highest $/sqft and apply that to his square footage. Not right.
Listening to the Republican indignations not about Cohen's messages but with the messenger for "helping the Democrats to take down the President", I thought it was a mistake - the whole undertaking to call Mr. Cohen to testify in the open. It will essentially add nothing about Trump, but only energize and even augment the army of those who believe in a myth that he is a "revolutioner" who came to "drain the swamp" and the "liberals" are pulling him back.
@valentine But the Congress wants to be seen to proceed with transparency to the public. It is a kind of political theater. Meanwhile the real evidence gathering goes on in Mueller's office, the FBI, and the Southern District of New York prosecutors' offices. It was the same way in Watergate - the televised hearings were not what built the legal case against Nixon (except when one particularly honest Nixon staff member revealed that tapes existed). The evidence on Nixon's attempts to manipulate the FBI and other agencies, and on financial irregularities were compiled by the professional investigators, not the Congress.
1
Cohen's testimony demonstrates once again that Donald Trump should never have reached the White House. His election is tainted by the illegality of his actions throughout the campaign. Even barring the information about Russia's involvement, Trump's actions regarding campaign finance should disqualify him from the Presidency.
It also underscores the ridiculous anachronism that is the Electoral College, which has given us both Trump and George W. Bush, the two worst presidents of our lifetime--if not our history.
8
Sorry but I just don't see much here. This is political theater. Cohen was threatened with all kinds of things if he didn't offer dirt on trump. So he did. Won't impress anyone who hand't made up their mind already.
1
@Mike Livingston Actually he and his family were threatened by a Republican Congressman if he did offer dirt on Trump. Maybe you missed that part. He had already been sentenced to jail so there wasn’t anything left to do to him. He’s not getting a pardon and the only way he will get out jail before he serves a full sentence is to behave himself as a prisoner so he will be eligible for parole, just like anybody else.
9
There are no tapes? All the talk about Cohen taping Trump doesn’t exist? He talked about 100 tape recordings today, but seemed to indicate only one of Trump exists, the one that has already been made public? Seems strange...
Let's start with the Republican strategy for rebutting of Michael Cohen: Blow smoke.
Yes, Cohen previously lied to Congress, was shown to be doing so, and then confessed and was convicted and sentenced to prison. So, why believe him now?
Well, there's the little matter that if he repeats that performance, his relative wrist slap of a punishment becomes essentially a life until death sentence. He is only in his '50's, a young man compared to millions of us, and he has minor children. He has been informed of that, understands that, and has decided not to do that.
He told the Republicans he would refuse a pardon from Trump, if only he would lie again. Hmmm.
It sounds like the Republicans, in an effort to corner Michael Cohen, have painted themselves into one. They are now the ones lying for Trump, as Mr. Cohen pointedly pointed out to them, yet still they persisted. A perfect example of the rule that, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every problem becomes a nail.
3
No one could write this scenario and be believed. Trumplandia has more twists and turns than a dystopian roller-coaster, and all at the expense of the civic health of our democracy and global alliances to protect freedom, human rights, the rule of law, and reign in autocrats. Cohen does not deny that he lived a self-centered, opportunistic, law breaking life personally and with Trump as his consigliere. However, the nation's business is not to skewer Cohen at this point, he has been tried and will be punished. He has been disbarred. The US is being led by a racist, con-man, crook, serial lial and un-repentent narcissist. Said narcissist is an ignoramus who refuses to inform himself about policy and leadership issues, a showman who performs for his 'base'. and apparently a man who is 110% dedicated to making as much money as he can from dubious, possibly illegal ventures. Nice. It is time for a reckoning for Mr. Trump if he is proven to have committed crimes.
4
We are nearly at the point where Republicans will try to defend Trump by arguing that any incriminating statements he makes on camera, in writing, on Twitter, in public, to employees, to family, to prosecutors, to his lawyers, to investigators, in a deposition, anywhere - simply aren't credible enough to indict Donald Trump, since after all, Donald Trump is a known liar of dubious mental capacity.
After all, they're already impugning the credibility of Donald Trump's lawyer's attacks on Donald Trump on the merits of "he's already been shown to lie about Donald Trump's criminal activity, at Donald Trump's behest! How can we trust such a person!"
1
@Alex The dubious mental capacity issue is one that the 25th Amendment was designed to deal with. Trump's cognitive and psychological impairments are serious enough that he can't function adequately as a president. But as long as the GOP supports his delusion that he has "a very big brain" and "knows more than the generals," they will never agree to removing him for being incapacitated. He would be just a grumpy old guy in a gilded tower without the GOP protecting him.
I saw the whole thing and the hardest part was watching several of the Republicans who were practically foaming at the mouth. What was THAT all about? Theater? Fear? There seemed to be no interest in getting to the truth, only in bullying Cohen.
8
@Jean Maybe the Republicans were imitating their Great Leader, whose only means of dealing with conflict is to try to bully his antagonist, or if that fails, make a pay off. There's a court house saying, if the evidence supports your client, you argue the evidence, if not, you pound the table and yell.
1
Trump has been running a criminal enterprise and now as President of the the United States he is largely above the law. He has 95% of Republican Party representatives running cover.
Cohen is trying to come clean but Republicans attack dogs out in force. Serious challenge to our democracy.
I absolutely believe Cohen when he noted in closing remarks that should Trump lose in 2020 there will be no peaceful transition. Ditto on impeachment. Trump is an authoritarian with powerful dictatorial tendencies. With Republicans still behind him, it will get uglier.
6
The irony of the Republican position in these hearings was delicious. Cohen is a liar, as their argument goes, therefore one should not believe what he is saying about Trump. This is especially true about Trump cheating various agencies out of the taxes he owed.
I wish Cohen had played them a little better so as to expose their hypocrisy. For example, he could have asked Meadows whether he believed that he (Cohen) should be disbelieved now because he lied in the past. Meadows would have of course assert the affirmative. But then the trap is sprung. Trump was convicted (he pleaded "no contest") of defrauding the city of New York of taxes on his buildings and paid over 21 million in back taxes back in the 90's. Trump out and out lied about the revenue from the buildings even to the point of initially providing fake accounting books, and then when that was exposed, claiming that the real books had been destroyed. It was only when the City Attorney threaten to bring criminal charges that Trump relented ( sounds like Trump got his accounting degree from Trump University or from the Gambino School of finance).
So, using Meaow's and the Republican criteria that they have applied to Cohen, they should acknowledge that Trump is a liar; a conman; and a crook. And this is just looking at his dubious financial dealings.
6
I can’t believe that a man with so many cupboards resembling ossuaries would run for President in the first place. It certainly backs Cohen’s claim that Trump never expected to win. His ego prevented him from taking the sensible course once his “infomercial” had gone far enough. Now, a criminal gang occupies the Whitehouse, headed by a caricature of a godfather. aided and abetted by rabid ideologues. It doesn’t look for democracy.
Cohen, for all of his sins, has opened up Pandora’s box for Trump et al. It is up to the American people, however, not just Congress, to reject this monstrosity of an administration. Faith in politicians is at an all time low, Trump is not a politician, so I’m not expecting much of a demographic swing in his support. He will still claim victimisation even as the FBI evict him from the White House likely in shackles.
7
One reason Cohen is so credible: When he didn't know the answer, he said so. And guess what? Much of the criminality he was unable to attest to? Well Flynn DOES know about it. And he'll also take a turn.
5
The Trump brand was trashed today. I recall when my home state of NC lost convention business because of racist decisions.
What self respecting US Corporation will plan their next convention at a Trump hotel? Who in their right mind would want to associate with Trump after Cohen's expose'?
I was wrong when I voted for Trump but somehow I will have to learn to live with my mistake.
5
@Randy Letters Your honesty is appreciated !
I think the bigger story to come of all this will not be how Donald Trump became President with the help of a foreign power, but how a major American political party (one of only two) completely collapsed after 162 years (1854-2016). No shred of the once proud ideals of the GOP has survived this incredibly successful Russian intelligence operation to destabilize the United States. Putin has indeed accomplished something that might truly be thought of as revenge against the U.S. for winning the cold war with swagger and glee. It's like a modern-day version of Germany's reaction to the Versailles treaty at the dawn of the Third Reich.
2
As many others have pointed out, the Republicans brought nothing to the table today. They did not even try to defend Trump against Cohen’s accusations, but instead only repeated over and over again that Cohen is a liar — charges to which he has pleaded guilty and for which he will soon be going to prison.
What hasn’t been mentioned much is the faux Republican outrage about all the “important work” that was being delayed because of what they called a “charade” and “political theater.” Yeah… Such important work like another Benghazi hearing, or another investigation into Hillary’s emails, or Uranium One, or any number of other “pressing” issues that they ignored for the past two years, during which they had control of all three chambers of government.
8
In compliance with the Constitution it is the duty of the House to begin impeachment proceedings. The evidence that Cohen presented today is enough o convict the fat man in the white house. It will also tie him up for the next two years and reduce his influence in this country and the world. The Republican Party will have to come to its senses or it will find itself just a bunch of old Mafia soldiers and "just fade away."
1
Republicans repeatedly stated Cohen was dishonest and could not be trusted or believed. Shouldn’t we be concerned that our President continually employs people that can’t be trusted?
@Marsha Frederick. In the case of Flynn he was even warned not to hire him.
2
Republicans did themselves no favors today. As Cohen himself observed, they were so intent on damning him, they evinced no interest in Trump’s possible acts or behavior. They thus violated their sworn oaths to support and defend the Constitution, given the amount of evidence apart from Cohen’s testimony that implicates Trump in wrong-doing. 2020 cannot come soon enough.
60
More fine writing by Michael Shear. I watched the hearing, and it became increasingly clear that Republicans were on a scripted strategy to defend trump by denigrating Michael Cohen. It was a strategy that did not defend trump.
The hilarious part of this is that Cohen has already been convicted. Thus, Republican committee members were on a useless endeavor. Trump supporters get upset with me when I call them dumb, but if Republican congressional members undertake a useless endeavor in defending their leader trump, then they are, uh, dumb.
So there were the ineffective Republicans and the exceedingly effective Democrats. Republicans came across as nervous and tongue tied. Cohen and Dems were calm. Trump is in trouble, as Michael reports here, for two reasons: One is that Dems have uncovered more material against trump, and the other is that Republicans failed to counter it.
This hearing raised two broad evidential categories against trump: One is the legality of trump's actions, but the other is his stark lack of ethics. It makes the trump takeover of the G.O.P. a demise of that party. As Rick Wilson says, "Everything that trump touches, dies."
The importance of this hearing is not so much getting more information from Michael Cohen, which it did, but it shows that history will record the abject failure of the Republican Party under trump. This nation is in terrible trouble.
38
One problem is corroboration, which is so far lacking (as far as public knowledge goes -- Mr. Mueller may have it). Another problem is that the Republicans in Congress will give Trump a pass on almost anything and an impeachmen proceeding without rock-solid evidence of something truly awful will go nowhere.
So wait for 2020? One of the more chilling bits of testimony was Cohen's fear that if Trump lost in 2020 there might not be a peaceful transition.
21
Not a peaceful transition in 2020? Big deal...there was not a peaceful transition when Obama left office. Remember all the Oval Office legislation he hand wrote? All the Presidential pardons, wiretaps on the press?
@View from the street, yeah I’m surprised to see how little attention the media has given to Cohen’s concern that a Trump loss in 2020 may not result in a peaceful transition.
I’d like to see White House correspondents directly ask Trump about it.
2
@Jason Anderson (1) Legislation is not written in the Oval Office -- it's written by legislative counsel in the bowels of Congress. (2) You are repeating a right wing meme which, per Snopes, is mostly false. (3) Partly true, but wiretaps require court approval and no journalist is above the law. Trying reading Geoffrey Stone's book on the First Amendment.
1
Mr. Cohen may be finally telling the truth. But it is too late. He should have told the truth before the election so we could have made a more informed decision about Trump's suitability for office. The enormity of that cover-up is beyond forgiveness.
33
@Thomas
“A more informed decision about Trump’s suitability for office”? You honestly needed more information than was already available? And you are saddling Cohen with the responsibility for your choice of candidates?
6
@Thomas
Especially when you consider that after all the other accusations of sexual harassment and the Access Hollywood tape, the sordid Stormy Daniels porn star
affair had a really good chance of sinking Trump.
Cohen prevented that from happening. I have no problems with him serving time. We will have to deal with the aftermath of Cohen's lies for decades to come.
1
“We” did make an informed decision. We voted for Hillary
2
Chairman Cummings was the only person to emerge from the hearing with class and dignity. He was fair when he needed to be and forceful when the hearings was going astray. His closing statement, delivered extempore, was masterful. In my opinion, he was the unquestioned (and only) winner.
91
@Bottles: Yes, but Dems and Cohen were calm relative to Republicans who nervously delivered their scripted speeches. You fail to note that Democratic committee members extracted important information from Cohen.
Yours is the typical cynical social media post... "all is failed except..." trump thrives in that environment.
17
The American public is the winner as well. They gets facts and documents to be able to judge for themselves directly upon review without all the political chatter and framing.
4
As all Republicans in Congress and across America, know, or should have known, or about to find out, Trump is a liar, con man, thief, adulterer, and crook.
Republicans are hearing it from his own personal lawyer, who knows his character, his behavior, and his secrets better than all of you together.
"Facts are hard things."
Live with it.
Comply with your oaths to "support and defend the Constitution... against all enemies, foreign and domestic."
313
@JMT
I am gobsmacked by GOP hypocrisy in this hearing. The GOP bows at the feet of King Trump while berating Cohen for doing the same. Cohen sits in front of them, testament to the wreckage of selling one’s soul, while every pompous GOP word strengthens their contract with the very same devil. They may boast now but, like Faust, they too will have their day of reckoning.
18
@JMT
Agree with every word you say. If only McConnell agreed, too. It's unbelievable that any Republican would support Trump with his ties to Russia. I am ashamed of the Republican Party.
18
Greatest most appropriate use of the word "gobsmacked" ever! Rah!
6
As much as I wish to believe Mr. Cohen, and I do believe Mr. Cohen, it would be nice if he weren’t an admit perjurer. Still, I’m hoping his testimony, now and the rest of the week, will help end our short national nightmare.
71
@Tomas
It is not a short nightmare. I wish it were true. This will go on and on. Recall that many have questioned if Trump will peacefully turn over the office of the presidency, whenever that day comes. This is way too long to be short I regret.
5
@Tomas
"Admitted" is the operative word here.
Cohen ADMITS he was a lousy human being while working for Trump and has agreed to pay for his criminal acts.
Yet the mastermind and co conspirator of those criminal acts, Trump, goes scot free.
7
@Tomas- Everyone in Trump’s orbit is a liar, con artist, fraudster, thief, scammer, cheat, or some type of crook. You aren’t going to find innocent persons with impeccable character hanging around Trump. And admitting to perjury is actually a step in the right direction towards redemption. So with Cohen, we have one former Trump associate telling the truth about lying. Don’t expect Trump to be hit with a dose of conscience like Cohen, it won’t happen. Trump would rather see the United States brought down before he will ever concede defeat. Because being the one man who destroyed the US is still winning in his mind. He is a malignant narcissist, enabled by the crooked Republicans in Congress and now maybe even some crooked Republicans he has planted on the Supreme Court.
3
Michael Cohen provided reasons why people should not vote for Trump if he runs for re-election, but he doesn’t allege that Trump committed crimes. In fact, he said he knows of no collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia and said Trump did not tell him to lie to Congress about the Trump Tower Moscow project.
Cohen also said that Trump (1) personally directed the Trump Tower Moscow project while campaigning for president; (2) ordered him to pay hush money to Stormy Daniels and then reimbursed him for it; (3) knew about the Trump Tower Meeting in advance,; and (4) knew from his communications with Roger Stone when WikiLeaks would release emails damaging to Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
All these thing may be true, but none of them are crimes.
https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-2d31-dc75-affd-bfb99a790001
10
@William Case
Considered in isolation, those items might not be crimes, but considered together with other evidence, they could bolster a criminal case against Trump. In a conspiracy crime, the agreement need not be explicit; it can be implied from the circumstances.
51
#2 is a violation of campaign finance laws
43
@William Case Phew! You set a low bar for the President of the United States to clear. Victory!
52
As someone who listened to the first two hours of Cohen's testimony, it is hard to see how the Republicans on the committee could rant about Mr Cohen's lack of honesty before Congress when the President of the United States has blatantly lied continually to the American people. It is one thing when a lawyer working for Trump lied to a Congressional committee to protect his former client, the President. But it is a much worse crime when the President of the United States lies to the American people for his own personal gain. The Republican members of Congress who are enabling this president's deceitful behavior are guilty of treason to the people who elected them and to the Constitution of the United States. Their turn will come in 2020, and their current grandstanding to protect Trump will not look good by then.
942
@RLW They can rant because Cohen is looking for retribution and, in so doing, making sure he is employable when he gets out of prison. The Trumpers and Trumpettes are even more resolute in their support after Cohen's testimony. Unbelievable.
25
@RLW. Trump is a chronic liar, that’s for sure. Inauguration crowds, murdered babies, and saving us from war with North Korea. Trump hasn’t fooled me once because I graduated 6th grade. If he’s standing in front of you with his Pinnochio nose don’t believe him. And worry, instead, about all his hateful policies. That’s where the real damage is done.
115
@RLW
The credibility of a witness is always at issue.
8
Michael Cohen is every person who should not be believed nor credible. He is a liar, con, fixer many times over. He may even have lied in his testimony today as pointed out by the Republicans and unworthy because he's the only felon (not!!) to be given a hearing in Congress. But not withstanding the truth solely about Cohen as a person, the evidence and time-line presented cannot be overlooked or disregarded. It is not Cohen who will nail Trump but his evidence that surely will.
12
@NNI. Could be. But shame on the lawmakers in the room who wasted so much time scolding Cohen. We all know he’s had trouble with the truth but I, for one, tuned in to hear what he had to say, in his own words.
1
@NNI
And Mr. Cummings told Cohen prior to the open hearing that if he lies to Congress again, he would nail Cohen to the wall in a heartbeat.
2
If we learned anything from today's hearing, it was that any wrongdoing presented in the Mueller report will pale in comparison to what the New York investigations may find. It was the reason that people thought that Trump would never run for President. Forget Meuller-what will the SDNY present?
70
>>> "Forget Meuller-what will the SDNY present?"
Indeed. And which crimes under New York -- not pardonable by a president -- law will Cy Vance, Jr. and/or Letitia James get to choose from?
@jonr...
It's exaclty why the folks in Trump's own home town refused to vote for him.
They are not fools.
@jonr
Have at it SDNY!
As I watched the Republican members hysterical attempt to undermine Cohen's testimony by calling attention to his previous lies (Duh... that's why he's going to prison under a plea agreement, and thus has no reason to lie further!!) I kept expecting them to lapse into their native Russian.
212
@Phil
Yes, it made me wonder how many of them were made Russian assets through the NRA-funds connection.
39
Even if turns out to be legal, cooking up a scam using a bogus charity to buy a portrait of yourself is pure Donald. Almost comical, the things our president simply assumes he can get away with. And he may be right!
46
@JR,m I wonder if they will let him keep his portrait in his jail cell so that he has someone he trusts that he can talk to. After all, he paid for it fair and square.
3
@JR
The chickens always come home. Be patient. What goes around comes around.
1
@JR Right up there with asking Shinzo Abe to nominate him for the Nobel Peace Prize and expecting that to fly. Norwegians have had first hand experience with trumps lies and it's doubtful that they have forgotten, as it wasn't much of an effort to engender peace.
2
How far we have fallen as a country when Trump continues as president despite overwhelming evidence of his moral and financial corruption!
That a person so weak is our president says we need to reassert ethics and expectations of our leaders.
131
@Joe
I don't think Trump is weak; corrupt, yes, but very shrewd. Narcissism, gall, and greed have carried him very far.
Well, Cohen is a sleezeball, but at least he's now trying to make amends. I commend him for showing up to this circus and I wish him well in the future. And, thank you for doing this so the American public has a better understanding of what has been going on.
94
"Fair is foul, foul is fair, hover through the fog and filthy air" - from The Tragedy of Macbeth
When the perceived bad people become the good people to overthrow a corrupt king.
42
@PE or when the perceived bad people have been good all along.
Bottom line, Trump maybe not a nice human being, but he ain't dumb enough to tell Cohen or anybody, "go talk to the Russians." He already accomplished that by simply saying it out loud in 2016 disguising it as campaigning. Trump found a loophole of doing despicable things without being implicated.
16
@Bobb Some loopholes are simply mirages.
2
@Bobb Guess you missed the part about his phone call with Stone. Try paying a little more attention. I know SF can be kind of distracting.
Riviting enquiry. You do not need a lie detector test to figure out that Michael Cohen was trying to come clean today. When people respond directly to questions over a period of eight hours, you can sense their sincerity. Contrast that with Kavanaugh when he spent all afternoon obfuscating. When Mueller raided his office and called "check mate" it eventually meant that Cohen would have to grow up. A clear conscience has no price tag.
64
Just watched much of the House committee hearing on/by Mr. Cohen. Nice job by Chairman Cummings, not so much by the Republican guys and new members Tlaib and Pressley. Between Trump and these Bozos, easy to see why the US has 0 credibility.
43
@John R. Kennedy
Oh c’cmon JRK, I know you and
When we chat over this We can delve into it more. But, why is he going to prison if he truly has anything on Truno? Even today, if anyprosecutor thought anything he said would stand up, it would make a career. They would be all over it. Cohen would have traded it in the first place. He has nothing but insults. Maybe we’ll deserved, but not material for courtroom.
@John
Why do you single out Tlaib and Pressley? I thought they behaved wonderfully. Maybe I’m too young to understand what was so offensive about speaking truth to power?
2
@John R. Kennedy
I agree and every time Republicans speak they come across belligerent. One would think if you are representing others in some form or fashion they would know how to ask questions and make statements that are and do not have to be so rude, belligerent and angry. It can be done without the "Trump style" of grandstanding.
3
I get so tired of people bringing up "the Justice Department's policy of you cannot indict a sitting president." OK ... to me, that means the president is above the law.
He could be a serial rapist or serial killer for that matter ... and no problem ... he gets a pass.
Would the Supreme Court agree the President is above the law? Gawd, maybe our current Supreme Court would.
116
@Gail Jackson: New York can indict him, convict him and imprison him, and he can't pardon himself for state offenses. Feel better.
5
@Gail Jackson
The two memos that form the DOJ policy that a sitting president cannot be indicted do not apply here. Those memos are applicable to a crime while in office.
Here we have a president who committed crime s to attain office. That is a different issue. Can a president hide behind the fact he holds office despite his having attained the office by committing crimes? That is the issue.
Any person who loves our country would have to put aside the DOJ policy if crimes were committed to prevail in the election.
2
@Gail Jackson. It's really hard to understand, that if no one is above the law, why a president cannot be indicted. Seems bizarre to me. If someone has broken the law they should be indicted. Period.
3
So, it seems to me we learned almost nothing we didn't already know today. Trump is a con man, a liar, and a racist. Michael Cohen is a sad figure. Our politicians are an embarrassment on both sides and Democrats still do not have a viable candidate or a path to victory. So, at the end of the day, I don't see that a single vote or voter was changed by what Cohen testified to. For anyone anti-Trump, it was confirmation of what has already been largely speculated if not proven outright. For anyone pro-Trump, it is all fake news and lies anyway. So what is the difference?
8
@Stuart M
Viewed in that light there really isn’t any difference. But despite the political theater aspect, today was not about swaying voters (or at least nominally so) and I cling to the quaint notion that despite appearances our system isn’t completely broken and hearings such as this are still important.
24
I saw a bigger peak in to the SDNY involvement. That’s where he is going to get caught. Rico charges are going to take he and his children down.
2
@Stuart M Last November 10,000,000 more votes for Democratic House candidates than Republican ones. And you claim there's no viable path for victory. What is your problem?
As for having a viable candidate, we don't vote for twenty months! Of course we haven't selected a candidate yet.
I gotta tell ya, I'm real tired of hearing this kind of nonsense.
1
Trump must go to jail.
Forget impeachment.
Jail.
This kind of assault on American democracy must be loudly and publicly punished to the fullest extent of the law.
A Russian asset became the president of the United States.
It actually happened. There is no doubt.
Russia bought Trump using dirty money possibly funneled by and laundered by Deutschebank and Bank of Cyprus For some time, Russia has literally owned this man.
Trump cannot get away with his naked treason against the United States.
Simply resigning would be Trump getting away with it.
Trump must be jailed for the rest of his life.
If he is not jailed, the precedent will be shattering to the safety of and everything the United States of America stands for.
To put it another way, if Putin gets away with this it will be the beginning of World War III. It may already be that.
Fight with everything we have.
Don't let it happen.
100
@Eric
I am convinced that Trump is certanly guilty of treason. Since we are tehnically at war with North Korea, Trump has been dealing with the enemy during wartime, and has done numerous things to downgrade and make this country weaker. Gee I wonder what the penalty for that is?
2
Watched the entire hearing except the first few minutes, Cohen's opening statement.
Impressed by AOC, who came prepared and squeezed a lot of value out of her 5 minutes, ending it with a solid list of future avenues for investigation.
Not impressed by Tlaib, who rambled, and then got caught up in uncivil behavior. She is clearly still a rookie. Afterwards, when people were milling around the chamber, she could be seen tete-a-tete with Cummings, looking very apologetic. I have a feeling he rebuked her in private.
The GOP seemed all to be reading from the same playbook, "Can't trust a liar." Their solidarity weakened their message. It made it look like they were only interested in distracting the hearing from the issue at hand, what Cohen knows about Trump.
The GOP exception was Justin Amash, who stepped completely out of line and seemed very sympathetic to Cohen.
It's fascinating to watch the real emotions on some of their faces, Cohen tearing up several times as he thought about his family, Meadows tearing up too, in his conversation with Cummings.
Cummings is a superstar. He is somebody who knows how to wield power.
256
@J Jencks
Elijah Cummings was wonderful!
57
@J Jencks - One more ... Jimmy Gomez (DEM) laid the groundwork for getting Trump's tax returns, pointing out that he was the only member present who also sits on Ways and Means committee, which has the power to obtain Trump's tax returns.
71
@J Jencks
Yes, some of them were actually utilizing the point of the hearing- such as setting up the decision to pursue injustice or not. And getting to the facts to support it.
14
Couple of disconnects at least to myself- how can the testimony of Mr Cohen be impuned now and yet a week ago the testimony
of someone like Mr Abrams was not only sought and lauded but defended?
Mr Abrams, a resurrected and appointed official was proven to have lied to equally august bodies; as well it has been uncovered upon a wealth of humanitarian research the tragic knowledge of hundreds of victims and the war crimes that condemned them having been committed by persons known and defended by that same confessed liar/official.
In any other country claiming to be a democracy wouldnt such a person be condemned as a co-conspirator in war crimes?
And why or perhaps how are the 'tweets' of anyone not present at this gathering, and not under oath being written into the record?
16
a singular repub line repeated with raised voices and no attempt to glean more information into the trump organization and allegations against the man.
Shame on them for purposely avoiding any effort to shed light on the 2016 election and the long shadow it has cast on this administration. Once again, republicans fail to support our democracy.
50
Trump - Prison! Don, Jr. - Prison! Ivanka - Prison! Jared - Prison! Eric - Prison! Roger Stone - Prison! They and many more around Trump are going to prison. If one iota of what Cohen has testified under oath to today is true (and I think it will be proven true beyond the reasonable doubts of a jury of their peers) these people and several more will go up the river either on federal or state criminal charges or both. Those related to or associated with Trump better move quickly to make a deal to minimize their sentences. Trump cannot be allowed to take a plea bargain. He must bear the brunt of all of his criminal misdeeds. The sooner the better for America.
47
So Cohen lied about Trump’s shenanigans with the Russians. Ergo they’re true. Republicans, what kind of defense is that?
10
Trump's Purple Heart - Folks this about sums up the character of Trump. And to date, no one knows if the medal was original or replica.
But everything we know about Trump begs the question. Did he buy the medal from that veteran for TV spectacle? And did he pay for it with Trump Foundation's funds?
Someone - please ask Cohen if he knows anything about this.
10
Elijah Cummings summation was absolutely brilliant!
44
Trump is somewhere on a spectrum from unethical to possibly treasonous. Cohen certainly made clear the shady character of the president as if Trump's constant lies and bizarre behavior haven't already done so. If Mueller has incriminating evidence, it is long past due that he help put an end to the travesty that is the Trump presidency.
19
I don’t think he’s on a spectrum. I think trump is 100% unethical and treasonous.
1
For New Yorkers, nothing new was learned today. We've known Trump as a lier, cheat and con man for more than 30 years. What was revealed today was just how shamefully low GOP members will go to grovel for the good favor of a soon to be deposed president. Clearly, when the air finally clears, there are a lot of Republican Congresspeople to be thrown under the bus by voters. Hopefully today's hearing will help expedite the ending of the saddest chapter of American political history.
55
The article fails to mention another little problem that the fraud in the WH will face - apparently he frequently "inflated" and "deflated" assets, depending on which financial ruse he was trying to play. This has the potential of putting him and all his pals ( Don Jr, Jared and Ivanka among them) in jail.
27
@acm - AOC got some good information on that in her 5 minutes. I have a hunch she plans to pursue it.
21
Right. Insurance fraud, bank fraud.
2
Can hardly wait for the SNL cold opening. Woody Harrelson as Meadows: Maybe Sammy "The Bull" Gravano as Cohen.
9
To have this hearing end on a high note kind of blew me away. That is thanks to the grace and charity of Chairman Cummings whose restraint at one point, in the squabble about racism, was class itself, referencing his own history as a son of slaves and saying, mildly, "I get it." Then the way he sewed it all up, bringing Michael Cohen (and me) to tears with his compassion. A real gift to that poor self-described 'fool' who is still a person, a father, and so much more we can't know. Then Cummings' gift to all of us in his original and signature 'we're better than this' remarks, and his unquenchable ambition, and hope, that we can find our way. A better way ahead of us that maybe can include health care adequate to keep people alive who now die because they can't find $300 to pay for their insulin.
152
You are misquoting! And, just plain wrong historically!
*Great-grandson* of slaves, perhaps? He couldn't have been the *son* of slaves! Slavery ended in the U.S. in 1865.
In fact what he said was this:
“In response, Cummings said, "If there's anyone who is sensitive with regard to race, it's me. A son of former sharecroppers that were basically slaves. So I get it."
https://www.businessinsider.com/michael-cohen-hearing-tlaib-meadows-cummings-exchange-over-racism-and-trump-2019-2
So, he was the son of sharecroppers, not slaves! Let's avoid historical illiteracy!
Still, I agree 100% with you. The ending was moving; his remarks compelling; and it was a call for justice and a restoration of democracy and fundamental norms of decency. Cohen himself echoed many of those same themes during his testimony.
15
$330.
7
@Marsha Pembroke yeah, I paraphrased. Beg your pardon! Will strive for historic literacy! and for Cummings' wise way of focusing on the heart of the matter.
1
Democrats need to take some acting lessons from whoever teaches Republican Congressmen to put on hearings.
Dems spend too much time trying to get at the truth and not enough pitching their propaganda to the audience.
21
@J Anders You make an interesting point. And it of course points up what has long been the stark difference in styles of the elected officers of the two parties. But I suspect that at this very dark point in time the public is craving, actually starved, for the straightforward, pragmatic, who do you think you're fooling, we're better than this approach of the Democrats than the forced, one-note, distract from the real issue histrionics of those seated across the aisle. Timing is everything in politics, and there's a sell-by date rapidly approaching on the Republicans' standard issue fall in line, everyone's a hypocrite but us take on everything. The shift had already been building, but vile Lindsey Graham's vein popping overreach during the SCOTUS hearing kind of put it over deep into alright that's enough territory.
1
Wow! Just finished listening to the hearing. Can't help but feel compassion for Cohen, who appears to be trying to leave a better historical legacy of his role in the Trump campaign. The tragedy seemed worthy of Shakespeare, such an anti-hero, not quite Richard III but full of pathos nonetheless. Chairman Cummings' closing speech brought tears to my eyes.
49
@teacher
To Lie or Not to Lie:
That is the question, and Cohen answered with a resounding "Truth, Justice and the American way".
6
Fifty years from today, when the failed Trump presidency is mentioned, Millennials and Gen Ys of today -- the elder people of tomorrow -- will remember the hearing of Michael Cohen, Mr. Trump's personal lawyer and fixer before the House Judiciary Committee. Our country has strayed away from normal under Donald Trump. Our democracy has taken a terrible blow. Mr. Cohen's testimony today about his 11 years of working as Trump's personal lawyer (while Trump is meeting in Hanoi with DPRK leader Kim Jong-un) was an extraordinary testament against a sitting president. Today was the beginning of the end of Donald Trump's presidency. No matter what has happened today in Vietnam, no matter the president's attempt to distract his base, no one who witnessed Michael Cohen's heart-wrenching words to Congress today will forget them. Today was a watershed in American history and democracy.
72
Nixon met with Anwar Sadat, months after the 1973 Israeli War, and travelled with him on a train trip down the Nile in June ‘74. By August he resigned.
Chairman Cummings did a remarkable act in calming the scene after Rashida Tlaib's monologue which framed Lynne Patton's appearance as being used in a racist manner led to Mark Meadows becoming visibly ( and genuinely) upset.
Cummings didn't muzzle Tlaib, but validated Meadows' reactions ( and good character): in other words, he modeled how to have better relations despite our differences. How to allow people to speak, with a nudge toward civility.
He ended the session on a grave, but inspiring note. Thanks to him, the day wasn't allowed to become a circus.
123
I disagree. Cummins threw Tlaib under the bus and sided with a deceitful coward that used methods to discredit Cohen like bringing an African American to rationalize that Trump wasn't racist.
The life of a con man, grifter, and criminal exposed again and again yet Republicans in Congress remain complicit in their support of Trump.
241
@Jacquie And in Cohen's words, as a result of their continued support, they will suffer the same fate as he.
21
@Jacquie
Not for long; they’ll have to peel off after today’s explosive testimony.
6
@Jacquie somehow, to me, the outrage over these things "possible collusion" not in national defense but in the election... is a yawn.
The Hillary email scandal which exposed our nation's secrets to our enemies? That was horrendous, and yet the liberal media pretends it didn't matter.
The lack of intellectual honesty is staggering
Sub-issue: How galling to listen to Cohen characterize his years of lies, fraud and legal thuggery as "mistakes."
6
@C M Cherce
Ugly. This wasn't a confession of his sins, or a request for forgiveness, but a last ditch attempt at saving face - maybe with his family.
He comes from a world - just as does Trump - where "getting away with it" is what you shoot for, one where those who play by the rules are marks. But he's the one with the dirt.
13
@C M Cherce - He fully accepted responsibility for his actions, which were indeed mistakes.
He wasn't equating mistakes with accidents.
14
Today Cummings had compassion for this man; a flawed human being who has been caught, humiliated and humbled.
The Republicans tried hard to smear Cohen. Regardless, here are the indisputable facts Cohen presented:
1) By producing the checks signed by Donald Trump as president, Cohen provided concrete evidence that Trump lied when he publicly denied knowing about hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. "Ask my lawyer," Trump said aboard Air Force One. Did the payments Trump lied about violate campaign finance laws? A criminal investigation by law enforcement is in order.
2) Cohen alleged that Trump directed the Trump Foundation to use its funds to reimburse a ghost bidder for a $60,000 portrait of Trump. Trump boasted about the value of this portrait on Twitter. A criminal investigation for tax evasion and fraud should be launched immediately.
Cohen's denunciations of Trump's character were scathing. But they are not criminal, impeachable acts. The two crimes listed above, however, are possible felonies. If these charges result in convictions, impeachment will become a congressional duty.
81
Even if substantiated, these facts cannot become convictions as long as the DoJ refuses to indict a sitting president. If Trump is to be impeached, it will most likely need to happen independently of any criminal convictions or charges.
7
If Bill Clinton’s dalliance with ‘that woman’ was enough of to get him entangled why not Trump jaywalking?
12
@Civic Samurai
"But they are not criminal, impeachable acts."
Impeachable acts do not need to be criminal in the usual sense. It is the Congress that decides what are "high crimes and misdemeanors" and there is no appeal to the courts for however it chooses to define that.
2
Please fact check the questioners. The 1st person ever to testify to Congress after conviction for lying to same? Really?? Certainly not those who testified before conviction, because that would include Ollie North, Cap Weinberger, Mark Feld, etc. Also a long list of others including Joe McCarthy who were not prosecuted because they were senators or in Congress.
45
@Old Ben - I was happy that Rep. Cummings did a quick fact-check at the end, about the earlier hearings of the committee.
Thanks for catching that other.
7
@Old Ben
You noticed that too,eh? It was dumbfounding to hear that statement. I suppose all that righteous indignation clouded their thinking.
4
Mr. Cohen *defended* Trump when certain questions, such as those about "the elevator tapes" and Trump hitting Melania, were posed to him. Yet, Mr. Cohen is being labeled as a liar by Republicans. This is the problem with Republican's line of attack on Cohen. If he's a liar, then Trump may be a spousal abuser.
So what is it Republicans? We're expected to believe that the only truthful statements Cohen makes are those which are beneficial to the President? Preposterous.
104
Of course, the Presidents lawyers have followed their client's example and told frequent, futile and pathetic lies to try to assert that he is innocent.
17
If President Trump actually says, “ I don’t know anything “ it will be the first statement out of his mouth I would believe!
13
I can't wait for our President to provide his own sworn testimony, and set the record straight!
23
Good one! Thanks for the laugh!!!
14
After all is done that can be about Trump and Russia and all the minions, America still has a major problem: all the people who still support him.
Will any amount of reality or clarity ever shine through for the Trumpistas?
68
Trump's mis-use of his Foundation's funds to pay for a portrait of himself would be enough to put him in jail if he were some low-level working guy.
Trump isn't even denying that he used his Foundation to pay for a portrait of himself that he hung in one of his properties so he could personally admire it all the time. Why isn't this man in prison? Along with his children who approved of using charitable donations for UNcharitable purchases.
Are they all pleading ignorance the way the Republicans claim that Trump was just too stupid to realize that secretly using a charity's money to pay for something he wanted was illegal? THAT's the man Republicans think should be President? The man they say is too stupid to know that using his charity's funds that way isn't right?
The GOP has lost its way.
78
@RJ But don't forget they did get their all important tax cuts, at least for the rich!!
13
@RJ
"The GOP has lost its way".
No, unfortunately, the American People have lost their way by, collectively, letting this man get within 100 feet of the White House. We are ALL to blame. There should have been a collective conscience that would automatically reject a man such as this and their wasn't. All moral systems failed and hate and lying won. History will not treat us well.
1
@Rob Why are people who voted for Hillary to blame? Fine rhetoric, maybe, but poor logic.
Is it me or does it seem like the average Republican on the Committee has an IQ of about 30? They are inarticulate, ignorant, and obviously more interested in Michael Cohen's finances (which have already been scrutinized and for which he is going to prison) than the felonious antics of Trump. When all is said and done, this — combined with SDNY investigations — will spell the end of the Trump crime family. Good riddance!
69
Not to mention every last one of them looks and sounds like an extra from that crowd scene at the jail in To Kill a Mockingbird.
2
AOC up now--should say--"first of all--if you look up "handout" in the Dictionary--Trump's whole family is pictured"--Ivanka!
12
Everything associated with Trump makes my skin crawl.
66
Trump's campaign said of Cohen: "Michael Cohen is a felon, a disbarred lawyer, and a convicted perjurer, who lied to both Congress and the Special Counsel in a ‘deliberate and premeditated’ fashion "
Am I wrong in understanding that Mr. Cohen lied to protect the President who lied?
So, "He lied to protect us from our lies. He is a terrible person."?
I guess it would the same as if the bank robber said that "That man who said we didn't rob the bank was lying when he said that and is lying now saying that we did."
10
Shame!
Republicans and Trump deserve each other.
There you have it American people.
The dirties politics in the entire world.
Are you still feeling special because you live in this country?
29
@Think bout it It ain't over till Mueller and state of New York sing. We have survived worse. The fat lady is just taking an awfully long and precisely detailed time to break into song.
8
I'm not a a lawyer but if this were Hillary . . . .
31
Every American who is not already aware that Trump is a racist, conman and cheat should be put in jail tomorrow and held there incommunicado until it can be scientifically determined that they are not from Mars, Jupiter or Uranus.
27
@A. Stanton Nope, just from the good old Republican Party..
2
I was riveted by what I have witnessed today.
The Rs did not appear to be on a fact finding mission.
Instead they were, without exception, singularly hell-bent on smearing the witness.
Look - we all KNOW Cohen lied before to Congress, just lie we all KNOW that Trump has lied over 8 thousand (8,000) times since taking the sacred oath.
All the Rs did was act like Trump defense lawyers. (except, it wasn't a trial. It was a fact finding inquiry.)
They are supposed to work for us, not for Trump. (reminder - it was Cohen who worked for Trump, and who knows him best.)
92
Trump should asking Kim Jong-Un for political asylum.
He is tostted!
26
@Think bout it
At the risk of being censored, it would be just desserts for him to be exiled to an s---hole" like today's N Korea, with the man he loves.
8
@Think bout it-- I'd vote for that!!
7
Crooked Trump! That's his trademark!
14
Given that Trump can pardon himself and Senate Republicans will stand with Trump no matter what he does, I don't think Trump has ANY legal problems.
4
@Jay David
You don't think so? Trump has plenty of legal problems and he knows it.
Even if nothing is done about him on the federal level, NY and possibly other states, will still pursuing cases against him.
DOJ has no jurisdiction over these cases.
16
I agree; today’s testimony in Congress is theatre; when all is said and done, more is said than done.
@Jay David Boy is life simple for you. Trump can’t pardon for state crimes. And it certainly isn’t clear he can pardon himself for anything.
9
There is nothing in the Constitution that prevents the indictment of a sitting President for criminal behavior. The Justice Department "policy" was a guideline drafted in the legal proceedings against Vice President Spiro T. Agnew, and was never intended to stand as some extra-legal rule that placed the President above the law. Based on the evidence that has been made public, Congress must vote to impeach. But that doesn't prevent prosecutors from filing criminal charges based on the evidence that has already been made public.
34
@jim emerson
but they won't do it.... It has become a tradition for the Republicans to dismissed any Trump's mishaps... This is the land of the freedom right?
4
@jim emerson
Exactly. A "policy" does not equal "law."
10
@jim emerson I kept wondering about that. Why can't a crooked president be impeached? Don't recall that said about Nixon.
3
"Prosecutors would have to prove that Mr. Trump and the campaign actively engaged in coordinating with Russians to distribute the documents or took other actions to affect the outcome of the election."
How about "Russia, are you listening?"
Pretty much shows that he encouraged Russia to break into the Democratic email servers and use them to damage Hillary's campaign.
What else is required?
25
Exactly! And more recently, Russia’s diplomat bragging that the “U.S. had asked Russia for advice on dealing with North Korea”! Donald is way too chummy with Putin’s regime!
4
Cohen obviously has additional recordings of conversations between Trump and himself, along with documents. And contrary to what many seem to believe, attorney/client privilege does NOT apply when the discussions/documents are evidence of a crime.
The fact that Cohen was convicted of lying to Congress doesn't necessarily make him useless as a witness for trial. Plea deals are made every single day with convicted felons for their testimony.
While Cohen's testimony today doesn't prove that Trump knew that he was violating campaign finance laws, that doesn't mean that the prosecutors don't have evidence proving it.
I was intrigued when Mr. Cohen was asked about the last time he spoke with Trump and, while he was able to approximate when that happened, he was unable to reveal the contents of the call due to it being part of an active investigation. Very interesting.
I also found it interesting when asked to confirm that every decision went through Trump first, Cohen enthusiastically responded "100%!" Again, I have a sneaking suspicion that proof of coordination between Trump, the Trump Campaign and Russia not only exists, but is surely in the hands of Mueller's team.
I really hope that the public gets a good long look at Mueller's final report. I'm finding this all fascinating. Disturbing, but fascinating nonetheless.
28
Donald Trump never uses email so there will be no written smoking gun to be found. He never gives explicit orders to his people that might be picked up via audio recorders, he always uses euphemisms and directing statements of policy. He operates like an experienced mafia don and will never have left a trail that can be found with anyone outside of his blood family. He makes collusion deals with a handshake and everyone around him knows to guard what they do because Trump has no loyalty to losers who get caught. Cohen was one of his closest working partners but in the end he has nothing damaging to say. Mafia dons are seldom caught and only then with the use of RICO statutes that they will never use against Trump. So there will never be any there there in this case, Trump is too clever and has covered his tracks too well. Which means he will happy and healthy and ready to run in 2020. The Democrats better figure out a way to defeat him using our unreliable ballots boxes because there is no other way to remove him.
32
@Bobotheclown
Yes, Trump has the wiles of a successful mafia don, learned, probably at his father's knees, or maybe real estate office, never ever to leave a paper trail - or any other record of your orders. Underlings and contracted parties carry the risks.
It will be remarkable if indeed he is indicted and there is evidence "beyond a reasonable doubt" to convict him of criminal acts.
It would be a nice turn if - like Al Capone - he could be brought down by the IRS for failure to report taxable income -- but that's unlikely as well. Because it's the accountants who prepare his tax records and reports, you see, who made the "mistakes."
6
@Bobotheclown, ahh, except the checks with his signature, on August 1, 2017. That's a smoking gun. They always make a mistake. Always.
8
@Bobotheclown BUT remember the Mafia was convicted of that incidental thing called tax evasion. We still have not seen his taxes. I think that dodge is coming to an end.
8
Is the GOP questioning Cohen's credibility because he worked for Trump for 10 years or is it because he stopped lying for Trump or is it both?
22
The republicans on the committee obviously don't want the truth. Cohen was right; they asked no questions about Trump. They don't want to truth. They are complicit in the cover-up. Reminds me of Watergate, only worse. They all knew and they all lied for the president and continue to do so til this day. Disgraceful does not begin to describe what we are witnessing.
54
Americans need to "vote": who is more important Trump or US?
While accepting D Trump's sincerity and patriotism, do the following:
Make an objective list of his mistakes or glaring oversights. Examine them from two separate angles--LEGAL and ETHICAL.
Decide if he is fit to be the president of this great country ( Absolutely, no partisan manipulations, bickering, personal meanness or prejudices )
Who are the "examiners and deciders"? Groups of experts and laity all across the nation!
Doesn't Grass Roots Democracy mean common sense ideas and simple actions?
( As a true people's leader, Mr. Trump himself should welcome this well-meaning suggestion)
4
Repoicans are trumps new Fixers. They behave exactly as Cohen had in protecting trump with no regard for the truth.
17
Testimony From Cohen Could Create New Legal Issues for Trump.
The key word here, like in so many 'Trump is in trouble' articles is "could". As in times past, I expect nothing to come of it.
1
Right on; all we hear is “could,” “might,” “maybe,” ad nauseum and nothing is done.
A number of articles have come out saying this is nothing new, like past criminal activity isn’t a crime. Say what?!
8
Some of this coverage and the comments thereto are missing the point: The president won’t be indicted while he’s president. So nothing has to be “proven” as if this is a legal “case.” However, the bar for impeachment is as low as Congress sees fit to set it. And with this president, Congress doesn’t have to lower it much. Any honest person can see he’s cleared it. And then some.
6
The GOP members of congress are sinking lower by the hour as this hearing progresses. They decided to stick with 45 and will end up drowning with him.
18
Is it logical for Republicans (or anyone) to complain that Mr. Cohen is a liar so he should not be believed? In brief, Mr. Cohen was convicted for lying that Mr. Trump was not involved. If Mr. Cohen had initially testified that Trump WAS involved then Mr. Cohen would not have lied or been convicted of lying. (Of course he would still have had other legal problems.)
When Republicans complain that Mr. Cohen lied, aren't they saying he should not have lied and told the truth that Mr. Trump was involved all along? Republicans are saying Mr. Cohen should not be believed because Mr. Cohen intially testified that Mr. Trump was not involved.
12
The Democrats must be very nervous that Trump might actually pull off a deal with North Korea. Why else did they schedule this "hearing" - which the NYT has run above all else for three days now - to coincide with the Vietnam talks. Not a single piece of new information from a guy on his way to jail with an axe to grind taking pot shots.
4
To all the republicans baiting him to say he will NOT seek a book or TV or movie deal after prison, he should make an offer: sure, I will not seek any of those things as soon as you vow not to seek any lobbyist job, corporate board or "consulting" gig as soon as you are out of congress. These people who claim that their "great people" of Tennessee or wherever did not send them to Washington for this probably weren't sent there to be on their kness in front of Exxon Mobil, the NRA, American Tobacco and so on.... No one asking the real question. So if this guy was such a liar, someone that cannot be trusted, why would you keep this man as your personal attorney for over a decade including during the campaign and through the inauguration?
19
While he was running for President he was secretly negotiating with our enemies for his own personal gain. What more proof does anyone need? How can you defend this?
23
If you listening to Michael Cohen's testimony hearing, you can clearly see what a deranged lunatics some GOP people are, a.k.a. Reps. Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows are perfect example of cult derangement syndrome, or could be something much darker connected to NRA/Russian financial transactions.
Also, how some lawyers, specifically Individual 1
lawyer's Rudy Giuliani and Jay Sekulow implicated in covering these sordid scandals.
I wonder how long it will take to regain some respect in the eyes of the world who witness this whole disreputable mess in this country.
16
Trump commits a series of criminal acts and Cohen will pay....
So, does this mean that the big fish never will pay???
Is this the USA that we are living in???
Might as well live in a third world country.
11
@Think bout it This opera ain't over yet.
"Might as well live in a third world country..." Having lived in two of these, I can assure you that we now do.
Two thoughts:
(1) I'm no lawyer. But as a bona fide legal case--with lawyers arguing on both sides--adducing facts, dates, conversations--
--the case against Mr. Trump seems awfully shaky.
Imagine someone hauling him into court--then turning to the judge and proclaiming (in stentorian tones), "Your Honor, we propose to show beyond the shadow of a doubt that the Trump campaign and Mr. Trump himself are both GUILTY of explicit collusion with the Russians and furthermore that. . . . .."
Beyond a reasonable doubt? My goodness! I would think an expert defense attorney might pull that case to shreds.
I could be wrong. And full disclosure, New York Times: I am by no means itching to be right. Not in this matter. Not when it comes to Mr. Donald J. Trump.
(2) How utterly sleazy--squalid--disreputable this man is! Digging through all these records, all these documents--
--must be like digging into a compost heap. The deeper you go, the worse the smell. But wait a moment!
Documents! There's the key! Mr. Trump might well feel an icy hand at his heart when he contemplates--
--written evidence.
And as for the sleaze factor. That distinctive odor we associate with Mr. Trump and all his doings--
--sakes! we knew about that thirty years ago. Old news! Maybe we've all gotten used to it.
Until (suddenly, irrevocably) we decide--
--we're TIRED of it. Really! We're sick and TIRED of Mr. Donald J. Trump.
I can but hope.
18
@Susan Fitzwater
you can tell you're not a lawyer
12
The big takeaway was that Trump never expected to win so the campaign was little more than a marketing exercise. As in business, the Trump gang cheated at politics, throwing caution to the wind because "who investigates the losers?". Nobody.
130
This has been known for a long time. It’s the central thesis in Bob Woodward’s book, “Fear: Trump in the White House”. The whole election was for everyone to position their brands for after. And that the only people who thought he could win were Steve Bannon & Melania.
11
@Tim
who investigates the losers? ironically Trump and his supporters.
11
@Tim It is STILL, to this day, a marketing exercise. This is all about the brand, lining the pockets, and cashing in on the presidency for himself and offspring.
15
I wish I could express succinctly the irony that while Cohen is in trouble for lying to protect the president, the republicans on the committee are trying to protect the president by calling him a liar.
386
Mr. Cohens’s testimony confirms what my eyes see. Trump is the person we all swear we don’t know because we don’t want his smell on us. And yet, he’s our President.
21
Why are the Republicans attacking the man that THEY insisted was so honest and upright that they put him on the RNC Finance Committee??
https://gop.com/rnc-announces-additions-to-rnc-finance-leadership-team/
THIS is what the GOP said about Michael Cohen when they were proud to put him in a position of leadership:
"Mr. Cohen is currently the personal attorney to President Donald J. Trump. He served for more than a decade as Executive Vice President Special Counsel to President Trump at the Trump Organization and has sat on the boards of multiple Trump organizations, including Trump Productions, the Eric Trump Foundation, and the Miss Universe Organization. In addition to raising millions of dollars for his campaign, Mr. Cohen has been an active spokesperson and advisor for the President during his interest in seeking office since 2011."
I did not hear ONE Republican referring to how they felt misled by Trump's terrible judgement that the guy he swore to them would be a great leader ended up so corrupt.
Why haven 't the Democrats repeated this again and again? It was the GOP who vouched for Cohen's credibility. Now that Cohen has turned against his boss, Trump, who told him what to do, the hypocrites in the Republican Party bash him?
123
I will say it again: Neither President Trump nor his motley crew of campaign operatives seem to be smart enough to collude and conspire on purpose. All this seems more like a group of bumbling amateurs that just didn't know how to run a campaign or understand the consequences of their actions. This is sort of, kind of, confirmed by Chris Christie's recent book and also by Michael Lewis's recent book... the total disregard and ignorance how government works, or it should work, and what's good about it. Trump and his gang were so full of themselves that they didn't even know they were breaking the law. Now, is that enough to throw him out of office? That's a political question...
7
@Brian Will, if your theory is correct, why have Trump and his minions worked so hard to cover up their actions? And if they didn't know what they did was wrong, why so many lies? The most likely answer is that they knew what they were doing was wrong but they were neither smart enough to do it well nor to cover it up efffectively.
6
We have a saying in Australia “blind Freddy could see that”. It means something is so obvious, it barely needs mentioning. Whilst Cohens revelations are sort of interesting, it seems to me it’s nothing we already don’t know. So the President is a lying conman. That’s been obvious for many years. The main thing is how can the US system deal with such corrosive element as Trump in it’s governmental functioning. It doesn’t look good.
58
I’ve thought the same thing a few times—they’re just so stupid and greedy that they didn’t even think about the fact they were breaking the law.
But then again.... and I have my own speeding ticket history to illustrate... ignorance of the law isn’t a viable defense...
6
@Hugh Garner
From now on I'm calling Trump supporters "blind Freddies". It is a perfect moniker for their upside down views.
16
Republicans: Mob MURDERERS have been asked to tell the story of "the mob family" AND those testimonies have been welcomed and accepted. So to sit there today and try to pound Cohen into the mud because he is a felon? HILARIOUS.
36
When your longtime bag man starts spilling the secrets, you're about to go down no matter how much you bluster and obfuscate.
28
What is the purpose of those demeaning signs, propped on easels? Certainly shows the bias in the room.
12
@David the signs contain facts which as you know have a liberal bias.
1
Hush money paid to a USA call girl probably are not illegal. Abuse of privacy is illegal so wouldn't worry about Russia as anything Russia has on Trump has no basis in fact because we all know of propaganda and bots used by Russia and China to destabilise Democracies. Tools are only useful if people buy into it; so what if the Russians might have something on Trump; in my opinion it's totally meaningless in the real world of Democracy, where setting people up by abusing their privacy to get something on them is considered far worse and is an abuse of privacy laws and a criminal activity.
2
Hush money paid to a call girl - as you put it - is, in fact, illegal in this context. So is participation in the conspiracy. The “president” can and should be indicted on these and other charges. That signed cheque would be enough to convict anyone else. Nothing but the Republicans’ refusal to allow another of their Presidents to go down - or more rightly this time be sent down - should save him. And that is a crime in itself. They are all going to be co-conspirators making a criminal issue a political one. One must hope this goes to SCOTUS and somehow, even with Mr Beer and Mr Coke Can there, a majority actually chooses to defend the constitution.
4
@CK, quite a "word salad" there if I do say so myself, but let me respond regardless. Any payment that benefits a candidate is a political contribution that must meet proscribed limits (dollars and sources) and must be reported. The "hush money" was paid to help Trump prevent the fallout and get elected. The fact that Russia uses bots and other social media to destabilize democracies in no way protects Trump from being blackmailed regarding improper support he received from Russia both willingly and per his instructions. That is textbook conspiracy, or collusion for idiots.
3
@CK, using campaign finance funds is illegal.
6
Another important takeaway from this hearing is that republicans are involved in some serious collusion to repeat ad nauseum talking points about Cohen's credibility as a witness. Anything to distract from criminal behavior and cover-up in the White House, before and after the election.
They had no problem investigating when they controlled the House. And to accuse Cohen of exploiting his position to make money?? These hyperpartisan posers like Jordan, Roy and Meadows are clearly seeking to profit from this public spectacle, but if they were asked in a hearing how, they could avoid admitting anything because the communication and the quid pro quos were as subtle and indirect as Cohen's with Trump.
There was a time back in the Watergate era when party, re-election prospects, and post public 'service' opportunities were less important than ferreting out criminal behavior in the White House.
11
There are a few issues with Cohen’s testimony here that will make it highly unlikely that anything he says will lead to any criminal charges.
1. Cohen is a convicted felon for lying to Congress. This alone would make any prosecution unlikely based on his testimony. Also, Cohen won’t rule out either his own political future or monetizing this experience when he gets out of prison, further weakening his credibility.
2. Any direct knowledge he has would very likely be protected by attorney-client confidentiality. So not only would his direct testimony be barred, but any evidence collected as a result of the breach would similarly be barred as fruit of the poisonous tree under the exclusionary rule.
3. Even IF the payments made to Stormy were made with Trump’s knowledge, prosecutors would have to show that Trump intended to influence the election and not to protect his family from the disclosure of infidelity.
4. Cohen “knowing what Trump wanted him to say” is much different than Trump telling him what to say, which would again be protected by privilege.
5. Simply knowing of the forthcoming Wikileaks email disclosure is a far cry from colluding with the Russian government to influence the election results.
In other words, so far Cohen’s testimony to Congress adds nothing new to what we already know. In fact, it is very likely that all of this is already known to the Mueller office.
Of course, this may all be used as evidence for impeachment.
7
At some point, the preponderance of evidence against trump could open the door to a civil or even criminal RICO prosecution. The extended trump organization is certainly a criminal enterprise. It is connected to various types of fraud, tax evasion, money laundering etc. Most satisfying of all would be the prospect of completely demolishing the trump dynasty whose members will most assuredly continue down the same path as the Don.
28
There are several legal issues detailed here. However, most interesting to this former prosecutor was how through four hours of Cohen's testimony the Republicans primary mode of attack was to constantly and repeatedly assert that no one should listen to, or believe, a person who lies.
Reason dictated that Republicans should have stayed away from such pronouncements like a high-voltage cable, instead emphasizing Cohen's previous perjury, and showing any inconsistencies in current testimony. Instead the Republicans grabbed that cable and refused to let go, making it a central argument.
Donald Trump has a history of constantly lying and telling falsehoods. The only conclusion is that Republicans had no compunction about repeatedly making an argument where they were explicitly saying Trump cannot be believed, because Trump has so thoroughly damaged the concept of truth. Republicans further calculated that Trump supporters don't care about any of Trump's lies, no matter what the proof, only potential lies of anyone who may oppose him. It was actually a good calculation for Republicans to make. Sadly, it tells you all you need to know about how much America has moved towards autocracy.
Finally, it was remarkable to hear Cohen repeatedly warn Republicans:
"I did the same thing that you're doing now for ten years. I protected Mr. Trump for ten years." The message to Republicans, and to Americans, couldn't be clearer: Don’t follow Trump blindly. "Look what's happened to me."
102
@Robert B It is interesting that Congressional Republicans are not "astounded" that Cohen lied to them.
Why is that?
Did they know they were being lied to?
If they did, why did they accept them?
As we know, it took federal prosecutors to find the lies to Congress.
Why?
6
I think this is was unfortunately just a “show!” Nothing he provided would be really new, especially to investigators. It seemed that he cleverly and efficiently tailored everything to be exactly what was already known to the public or Congress really. It seemed like he was just rehashing the New York Times coverage of the investigation so far!
It is just a waste of time and tax payers money I think.
I thought the only new insight was where he was asked about any possible Russian links, and he carefully said those were matters already before the select house and senate committees dealing with them!
It makes one wonder what’s going on there that he can’t say.
When he was asked about knowledge of collusion or meetings with Russians in trump tower, he carefully said he wasn’t certain, but concluded from previous experiences that trump must have known.
My impression was that he knows more than he’s really telling. He has told more to investigators and provided more evidence to them. Or he’s again lied to them about the true extent of his knowledge about these things.
My impression is that he knows much more and has evidence of crimes. He has either told investigators or congress behind closed doors, or has been allowed to lie and protect Trump!
I am not convinced this is all. My conclusion: Trump gets away with a lot of serious crimes! And a coverup is being hatched by all here!!! This I think is just a washup for the public!
4
@Frea My impression is that Cohen knows that there was no collusion with the Russians but did not want to say so outright because exonerating Trump on the only question that really matters would undermine the purpose of the spectacle.
2
@farmdad, ha that's funny, no collusion. Yet his campaign manager, national security advisor, confidants, son and daughter, etc., have repeatedly lied, even under oath, about dozens of contacts with key Russians. And those contacts were all related to how the Russians would use their intelligence capabilities to assist Trump in subverting our national elections and also the quid pro quo expected by the Russians for the assistance.
3
He did not say what else he knows about Russian campaign involvement because Mueller's investigation is not finished. Also, he will be testifying tomorrow in a closed door session.
It appears Trump has managed to assume the presidency of the United States using fraud and lies. Trump is compromised by Putin and promotes his foreign policy objectives to encourage Putin to keep quiet about his illicit financial dealing with Russians. Trump embraces murderous dictators like Kim, MSB AND Putin as he wished to rule as one ,TRump supports Putin's positions when they contradict his own intel agencies conclusions based on the most extensive intel sources in the world. A simple word from PUtin has TRump following his position ,Trump knows that Putin has all the info on illicit deals with Russians and could crush him at any time he wants.
70
@REBCO You hit it on the nose!
6
Am I the only one sick & tired of watching trump break the law & get away it. Billy Bush was fired for his part in infamous interview; trump got elected. trump swindled so many people w his trump university--he got fined. Many more incidents that I would choke to write here.
It gave me deep satisfaction to see photo of Bill Crosby being led off in handcuffs--to name another outrageous serial criminal. Can someone pls. convict trump & lead him off in handcuffs ?
nyt--put that on your front page instead of just another story of one more thing that could/might get trump into trouble.
And Jared Kushner & his sister for including legal American residence w NYC condo purchase by rich Chinese. Why are these people in jail ?
58
I was bothered by the attacks on Cohen by the Republicans while ignoring that their President has been proven to lie to the American people.
Maybe they think that is O.K. as long as it is not illegal.
41
@Bob in Pennsyltucky kind of like you were bothered by the attacks from Democrats against now Justice Kavanaugh!
@@el_jefe204 - Nope not even close.
3
@@el_jefe204, not likely he was bothered as the "attacks" on Kavanaugh were statements of fact proving that his overly aggressive temperament and troubled ethical history made him unfit to be a lawyer much less a supreme court justice.
11
I’m sick and tired of this endless, obsessive, and obstructionist hysteria sponsored by the faction formerly known as the Democratic Party since Hillary’s election loss, circa 2016.
After Bill Clinton( whom I voted for twice) and his salacious shenanigans in the Oval Office, the Democrats don’t have a leg to stand on vis a vis Trump’s pre-election ‘hush money’. And as for the so-called ‘Russian Collusion’...the Clinton’s had that going on too, in spades.
Enough already! You lost the election. Move on!
7
@Michal, coming from a member of the "Benghazi!!!!!!!" movement your words ring hollow.
4
@Michal
Yes, the dems lost the election, and Hillary did not run a good campaign. But that was 2 years ago. In case you missed it, the issue is what the miserable excuse for a human being in the oval office has done SINCE the election. Get it ?
It actually seems pretty straightforward for the Republicans...no matter what their regrets might be...if you get in bed with the devil, you will most likely end up in Hell.
20
Question
Does anyone, congressional republicans included expect only angels from heaven to testify against Donald Trump?
If so they missed their chance when they rsn the House.
Like their fearless leader their credibiltyis so close to zero that it =s 0
12
Republicans even put up posters to hammer away at their trigger words?
They really DO believe the American people are stupid!
18
Which congressperson will ask, "Michael Cohen, have you renounced Satan?"
3
Republicans are badgering Cohen. They are so mad he has the goods on their crooked president. They sound like angry old codgers who lost their pensions. LOL
44
It is amazing how NYT can show its bias in reporting when it comes to anything to do with Trump. Who cares what is convicted liar says? I feel sorry for the country. A morally challenged President is breeding an army of one-dimensional journalists and columnists.
3
@VJ I think you need 'Grammarly'.
7
The Democrats are trying to “take over the government”. The alternative to Trump is the very conservative Mike Pence.
The issue here is one of patriotism: Can America have a President compromised by a foreign government, seemingly relentlessly corrupt and unable to be truthful.
10
Republicans just don’t care if Trump is a criminal, if he conspired with a hostile foreign power to subvert our elections, if he tosses the Constitution to build his wall. The Republicans in office just dont care.
So what if he committed misdemeanors? The Constitution says high crimes AND misdemeanors.. Since shooting someone on Fifth Avenue would not cause Trump to lose his supporters, then shooting someone on Fifth Avenue is a petty crime, not a high crime.
Ipsofacto, Trump cannot and did not commit both high crimes and misdemeanors, besides, if the president does it, that means it is not illegal.
Republicans simply do not care about any of it.
15
@Juniper
"The Constitution says high crimes AND misdemeanors" Yes, and it is the total discretion of Congress what acts make those up. An impeachable offense meed not be criminal ... it is whatever Congress says it is.
I can't believe that there was no collusion between Trump and Russia according to Cohen. What's going on here? Isn't what this was all about?
5
So, according to the Republicans, the person who spent 10 years working as Trump's trusted fixer should not be believed because he spent the last 10 years lying and cheating on behalf of his client. Got it.
460
With this testimony and the Mueller report Trump may have to win the next election to ride out the statute of limitations, if he is charged.
Seems that Don Jr. will be featured in Mueller's report; the next volcanic episode.
5
Through his honesty and frankly bravery, Mr. Cohen has really redeemed himself today. I expect he'll find opportunities when he completes his prison time.
19
The great irony, is when Trump was asked about the Stormy case,
he said, "Ask Michael, he's my lawyer".
Today they're asking Michael...
431
@Stephen
True, they are asking Michael. The only problem is that the Republicans don't want him to answer.
26
... and we think that the Clintons are unethical !
However, all these things were known about Trump - the racism, the chaotic management style, the financial impropriety, tax evasions, misogynist behavior, sexual impropriety, etc. And he got elected. And he survives. And the Republican party stands steadfastly behind him.
So does the fact that a former Trump crony is now laying all this out on the table really matter that much? I mean does it matter that the hit man for a mafia don is admitting now that his former boss operated and behaved exactly like a mafia don and therefore he is one ?
What a let down from Obama. We have not just fallen, but fallen off a large mountain and into a bottomless abyss with half the country saying that the abyss is really the top of the mountain.
181
It's only one-third of the country, @Plato, not half, and only half of them (15-18%) are truly recalcitrant, inflexible followers of this terribly flawed man.
8
@DMCMD2
If what you are saying is true, i.e. 15-18% of the country are a hardened Trump fan base, then we are well and truly done as a nation for that number would be many times larger than the entire KKK at the height of its power in the early 1900s.
Criminals in power, lawbreakers making the rules
18
At this point everyone knows Trumps is a cheat, although there are people blinded by hate, continuing unwilling or unable to see it.
11
Odd that so many of the accusations against Trump will be defended by his “not knowing” the acts were illegal. Since when is ignorance of the law an acceptable excuse?
63
It's fair to question Mr. Cohen's credibility after he has admitted to lying to Congress and after he has been convicted and sentenced. But he brought with him a number of relevant documents to back up his testimony. So Mr. Trump's followers are faced with an important decision: either offer some proof that the documents in front of the committee are falsified or otherwise unreliable, or accept and acknowledge the fact that the man they are supporting and defending is in fact a liar, a cheat, and a conman.
As for the rest of us, we made up our minds long ago - we're simply waiting for the rest of the country to accept the inevitable.
30
Cohen actually exonerates Trump of a few things ... clears up rumor that abortion payment was actually on his behalf etc. The criticisms are much more credible for this.
What this tells us is what we already knew about trump before he was elected, he lies, he cheats and positions himself so that others take the fall for his illegal or inappropriate actions. The fact that 50 million people voted for him is what is appalling as they bear responsibility for this mess.
24
Not legal terminology from a lawyer and sounds very emotive; if you're going to accuse someone of being a racist, con-artist and cheat at least back it up with evidence. Sounds like what's considered 'normal' in todays business world. Lobbying is a form of cheating.
It won't be the first time a USA has lied about their sex life, for example Bill Clinton and that made him more popular. This is just my opinion and I wouldn't be surprised if the Russian mafia has sex tapes on Trump because of Trumps passive attitude towards Russia.
4
House Judiciary Committee? I thought it was Oversight.
1
Michael Cohen sat on the Republican National Committee in a TOP POSITION until 2018.
Let me repeat - this guy that Republican Congressmen are bashing is the very same one they praised over and over again and said should be one of their leaders.
https://gop.com/rnc-announces-additions-to-rnc-finance-leadership-team/
The reporting on this story is so awful that this true hypocrisy is just ignored. All of Trump's men keep getting attacked as criminals by the very same GOP who its demanding that Trump should have all power because he has great judgement of character!
Every one of their attacks on Cohen SHOULD be called out for what it is -- an attack on the man who was his boss and vouched for him. Donald Trump.
10
My guess is Trump slips through some tiny cracks, cracks he knew he could slip through. That's how mob bosses operate.
It's not the result many of us wish to see, nor what Trump deserves. I can only hope that the exhaustion from the daily barrage of chaos and sliminess this president puts us through results in a landslide Democratic victory in 2020. And we can leave this mobster to the NY State Attorney's office
12
How is it possible that Americans has fallen so low that they elected a president who acts as a mob boss and surround himself with shady characters such as Mr Cohen? Mob bosses have been brought down by their hit men who killed and tortured for reduced sentences, without so much question to their credibility. Is there no decency left in the people and officials who support such a despicable president? It's time to do the right thing before it's too late and America has gone the way of Russia, a failed democracy.
7
Ah, none of this is anything new to any of us. Simply confirmation. I am shocked at the effrontery of the repulsives questioning Cohen. These folks are really making fools of themselves protecting a lying, amoral, unethical "president". What is wrong with them....
18
Where is the neutral ground? What has happened to professionalism? Both parties are further polarizing our nation. I can't believe I heard a member of congress say, and I quote, "Liar liar pants on fire." This behavior wouldn't fly in a corporate setting, nor should it in our government.
5
Are these Republican Congressmen just making sure they'll be re-elected, or can they just not make the leap that a liar and cheat like Mr. Cohen was a satisfyingly loyal tool for a liar and cheat like Trump? I'm embarrassed for these Congressmen that they've sacrificed their conscience and common sense to shill for a man that is clearly only in the ballgame for himself, at the expense of every single man, woman, and child in his direct and indirect surroundings.
There are sociopaths in the world. Anyone watch the Fyre festival documentary about Billy McFarland? Cons work for cons, and the conn-est of them all is at the top. Shame on you, Republicans who cannot or will not "see" who this president truly is. SHAME on you. Our planet is mentally, and physically, falling apart.
28
The spectacle of seemingly endless GOP haranguing of ex-FBI director McCabe for having been deemed a "liar" is now being repeated with even greater ferocity with ex-trump lawyer Cohen. The irony of these verbal attacks is ever the more astounding given that they are prompted in defense of a tragically unprepared and dangerously unprincipled ‘fake’ president who is himself so clearly an unabashed leech and an unrepentant liar.
24
I am greatly disappointed with the NYT and its biased coverage. Moving my NYT bookmark from "news" to "entertainment/opinion".
Meanwhile, what should be the headline is our president negotiating an end to conflict and nuclear proliferation in Korea - an important story pushed to the bottom of the page. Shame on NYT and shame on us for supporting this failure to cover the news fairly.
1
@David Hartley Trump couldn't negotiate a pastrami sandwich from a deli. What happened last time he announced NK was disarming?..Oh, yeah, we later found a hidden missile base after Trump called off scheduled military maneuvers with SK. With negotiations like that, he might as well just give Japan to NK. That trip is all show to take headlines off of this and the Mueller report. Same with "negotiations" with China. Trumpists are like the dog in Up..."Squirrel!"
14
All of the reporting on Michael D. Cohen leaves out the MOST IMPORTANT THING!
President Trump HIMSELF was the one who believed Michael Cohen was the ideal person to represent his interests.
In April 2017, President Trump put Michael Cohen on the RNC leadership team which the GOP proudly announced!
https://gop.com/rnc-announces-additions-to-rnc-finance-leadership-team/
How DARE these GOP Congressmen be allowed to attack Michael Cohen's credibility without any reporter making it clear that Michael Cohen was the very guy that THEIR OWN PARTY claimed was so upright and honest.
Instead the reporting makes Cohen seem like some low-level minor person. He was on the RNC Finance Committee!!! And that should be said over and over again as the very some hypocrites who fawned over him in 2017 as a great man now attack his credibility.
Trump can't have it both ways. Either his right hand men were all crooks because he is a terrible leader and he needs to step down, or they are crooks because he demands they be crooks.
38
A RICO case looks increasingly likely, with Trump's entire inner circle being indicted, sans Trump himself.
Mueller took the usual Fibbie gumshoe course of action, and has followed the money. Mueller's legal team from the start focused on the reasons for Trump's criminal activity, and unfortunately for everyone, it came down to poorly concealed financial support from Russian oligarchs, laundered through Deutsch bank, going back to 1996 or so.
Trump for his part always wanted to be an oligarch, and his Russian funding let him play one on TV.
Then, Russia found a useful idiot in Trump, and Putin was just the right guy to put Trump in play, creating a stunningly effective asymetric campaign with bit players like the NRA, and Cambridge Analytica.
The end game is all up Mueller and the voters.
5
Opposing Trump is a failure of Patriotism.
1
@Jane Dingman
Actually it's the other way around. Supporting Donald trump is a failure of patriotism. He has sold our nation out so that he can run with the loose money Russian oligarch crowd.
10
@Jane Dingman, sorry Donald trump is no patriot. He and his family proudly and brazenly evaded taxes just so little people in this country could not be helped but big guys like them kept getting richer. What kind of patriotism is it when you keep the country from getting its due.
3
Benghazi, Benghazi, Benghazi!
I believe the Trump/Cohen hearings will produce a lot more convictions than the Benghazi hearings but the repubs just can't seem to get past the idea that Cohen lied while working for Trump and that he's not an outlier. Trump liked Cohen when he hadn't been turned by Mueller.
The biggest impression I get from the Republicans is that they completely understand Cohen but they just can't admit it.
So they keep crying "Benghazi"! Luckily, it turns out Cohen isn't easily intimidated.
32
James Baldwin: "There is no creation so dangerous to society as a man who has nothing to lose." And that's Cohen today vs. the Republicans.
16
So explain Trump working to be re-elected in 2020 as he faces prison if he loses. There’s a man in action who has nothing to lose. Our fragile Democracy has faced no greater threat in its history.
8
Throughout the entirety of is presidency, I think we've all come a cross a great many of these pieces that have maintained that Trump is going to have legal difficulties now that this has been alleged or that person has testified about thus and so. To my knowledge, this is the way Trump has lived his entire private life as a businessman and he has profited despite it. Perhaps one might have thought that things would be different for a sitting President. However it seems to be just this opposite. Rather, he is shielded behind a cloak of protection and power.
When there are any consequences for Trump's actions, please let us know.
7
Interesting to hear all the talk regarding the high moral and ethical character of President Trump. These are his defenders best points.
Cohen spent more than 70 hours answering Mueller's questions, none of which Cohen is allowed to discuss in these hearings. One reason Cohen may be as comfortable as he is in these Congressional hearings testifying about Trump's immoral character and history of malfeasance is that he has good reason to think, based on his conversations with Mueller's team, that Trump is about to be in big trouble.
16
Well it would for me but I'm just a middle class nobody. Let's see how justice rolls for the rich and powerful.
6
The House oversight committee can’t bring criminal charges, though it can refer matters for criminal investigation. Cohen has already lied to Congress once. It wouldn’t be a shock if he were to lie to the Committee.
The criminal investigation of Cohen has been conducted by the US Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, who was not impressed by his truthfulness.
The most important information Cohen may have concerns Trump’s dealings with Russia. Mueller has sole criminal jurisdiction over these matters. But Mueller refused to investigate Cohen and continues to back off. His grand jury is in the best position to bring criminal charges against Trump. Why Mueller is taking a hands off position regarding Cohen is curious at best.
2
@michjas What is your hypothesis?
Trump will, in all likelihood, go down for his crimes. But what will stick in the public's mind may be two things: 1) the purchasing of his own portrait through a straw purchaser to inflate the price, and 2) his threatening of the schools he attended to keep his records closed, after spending years trying to sow doubt about Obama's academic performance.
Yes, that portrait will stick to the wall.
161
One thing puzzles me about today's testimony and maybe someone more knowledgeable than me can tell me otherwise.
the movie, "The American President" I recall Michael Douglas wanting to buy flowers for Annette Benning and is reminded that when he was sworn into office that he had to put his credit cards and checks into safe keeping.
If this is true, how would President Trump have been able to write Michael Cohen a check?
(Not that he couldn't figure out a way around it wouldn't it have been some 'stamped' or otherwise signature from the Trump Org?)
Just curious.
34
@Peter B
Cohen claims that Trump told him in the Oval office in February that the checks for Cohen were being sent by FEDEX to Washington.
And Trump did not divest from his businesses or formally give up control. So the movie comparison seems dicey.
17
@Peter B There is certainly no requirement for the president to relinquish his or her credit cards. But, since the president cannot easily walk into a store and buy stuff, storing the credit cards for the duration made sense at the time of the movie.
I remember one special case: President JFK was once filmed walking a brood of children to Hyannisport to get ice cream. I'm sure somebody paid, but the film didn't show the President doing so.
3
@Peter B: The way Michael Douglas' character behaved is how it is SUPPOSED to happen -- Trump has clearly been violating the emoluments clause ever since he took office, among other forms of malfeasance.
5
Maybe Trump should just stay in North Korea with his new buddy
560
@Karen
What? Why would Donald risk stoking the jealous wrath of Vladimir?
11
@Karen Yes and they could both go on the North Korean grass diet and lose a lot of weight.
24
@Karen
Even imaginary bone spurs didn't keep Donald out of Vietnam this time. He must be so nervous that he is using this trip as a personal distraction.
14
The problem is that once you have admitted to lying to Congress, anything you say afterwards is highly questionable. Cohen has already impeached his credibility.
34
@George
But the RNC said that Cohen was so upright and honest that they put him on the RNC finance committee in 2017!
Cohen is FROM the RNC. When they attack his credibility, they attack their own and President Trump, who is the one who has vouched that Cohen was just as honest as he is.
148
@George So has tRump.
16
@George
Cohen lied in 2017. Trump lies/misleads several times a day. Cohen admitted he lied. Trump never admits he lies. Mueller said Cohen told the truth during the last seven interviews, while Mueller knows Manafort lied, because he has other evidence. From this article and others I've read, I think Trump will skate - but he's still a lying buffoon.
56
After these past three years, nobody will want to have anything to do with the cesspool that is Washington D.C. And it's not Donald Trump's fault. That city is a mean, reptilian, nest of cold-blooded vipers. The politicians and lawyers against Trump are like a mindless zombie army, relentless and bloodthirsty -- little ants that mindlessly attack Trump until they can finally bring the giant down. They only destroy and tear-down, never build or support. We need to look to local government folks. It's our only hope against the Big-Time politicians and lawyers who have now ruined our nation. Washington D.C. is now officially toast. In the next twenty years, watch as our best and brightest decide to stay home and NOT seek a career in national service.
13
@david "mean, reptilian, nest of cold-blooded vipers"...sounds like a typical fat cat dinner party at mar-a lego
13
@david
are you sure you're not confusing Trump with Gulliver's Travels?
10
@david
Take your comment and replace Trump's name with Obama's.
Same dynamic, with different characters. Except there's precious little evidence backing up the anti--Obama people, and there's *tons* of evidence backing up the anti-Trump people.
8
What happened to the attorney client privilege?!? I doubt Trump waived this privilege.
Cohen already got disbarred so maybe he no longer cares? Pretty scummy of him to divulge anything related to his former client though.
6
@Ray Fox
LOL. "Pretty scummy?" As compared to his former boss?
187
@Ray Fox
'attorney client privilege' does not apply here. It does not cover the kind of conversation Cohen describes.
25
@Ray Fox -- when planning or covering up criminal activity, or fraud, 'attorney-client privilege' doesn't apply.
27
Yawn. Here’s the bottom line. HRC lost the 2016 election which was supposed to be in the bag. Dems were hoping to usher in their age of complete control and socialism. Now Dems out to get Trump and take back power by ANY means possible even if it means lie, cheat obstruct, who cares. That’s it! The epic struggle between communism and capitalism, evil vs good continues. God is on the side of Trump! May God bless America and our President!
12
@Sven Gall I am always appreciative when people who know God's will let us in on the inner workings of the Divinity.
18
@Sven Gall thanks for the lucid analysis, Boris.
18
@Sven Gall
Mr. Putin sends his love.
21
". . Mr. Cohen’s testimony does not prove that Mr. Trump knew that the payments he was making were illegal — something that prosecutors would have to prove if they wanted to charge the president. . . "
So if I rob a bank, or defraud someone I made a contract with, the prosecutors not only have to prove I did it, but that "I knew it was illegal."? Huh? I thought ignorance of the law is not a defense.
The prosecutors have to produce a tape or a witness of Trump saying, "I certify that I know this act is illegal, now go do it Mr. Cohen." ?
165
robbing a bank and violating the byzantine campaign finance laws are no remotely equitable.
2
It's unfortunately a bizarre standard that applies only to campaign finance laws. You have to act knowingly and willfully in violation of the laws, which means that the violator knew what the law required or prohibited but acted contrary to the law.
7
When you are president ignorance of the law is a very real defense. The only way they got Nixon was by hearing him give premeditated illegal orders on tape. Trump does not allow taping in his White House so Trump will be around for a long while.
2
And yet his base will maintain that between Trump and Hillary, Trump forever remains the more virtuous of the two.
Fake news is out to get him. Trumpists will not be swayed.
In which case, all of this is just talk. The disgusting details of which we would not have had to sift through had Hillary taken her rightful place.
120
@Brian
Trying to sway "Trump's base" is a waste of time. Approximately 60 million out of 125 million voted for Trump. His "base" was and still is much fewer than 60 million; probably more like 30 to 40 million. The additional 20 million consisted of Republicans., Democrats, and non-enrolled who thought, somehow, that Clinton was worse. (Yes, in addition to Trump's base who are nothing if not consistent, there were folks at least being temporarily stupid.) A decent candidate should be able to relegate Trump to the dustbin of history, in case Trump survives to the election. But it's not clear that Trump will make it to the G.O.P. nomination; we may have Pence for a while, and, again, a decent candidate should be able to trounce Pence, if he ends up being the G.O.P.'s great white hope.
12
They bought Trump's stories and he WILL run again. Most of these Republican Congress people incensed by the treatment of him today only embraced him AFTER the election. He won because apathy kept many from voting. VOTE!
7
Will cause many legal problems for Trump. GOP is trying to cover for Trump; but; crimes are crimes. Ray Sipe
141
The legal system has never gone up against a mafia don in the white. The legal system is outclassed and will never be able to get a conviction on anything. We all have to face reality, Trump is smarter than Mueller and all the DOJ combined. No one has ever run a scam like this.
2
Can you smell the blood and pollution from republcans, Good Readers?
Sharks eating sharks. Hiding behind the bible. Accusing Mr. Cohen of exactly the things they have been doing for years to try to get control of OUIR governments. Proving there is no honor amongh thieves. Proving The Con Don is head of a crime family, using OUR white house to conduct his crime and trying to destroy OUR government and lives.
He is an inherited/stolen wealth crook. Everyone around him is corrupt. Every republican "questioning" Mr. Cohen is a member of the crime family, as are the Koch Brothers, Sheldon Adelson, Pecker, Thiel etc.etc.etc.
RICO TIME! SET A NEW PRECEDENT TO SAVE OUR DEMOCRATIC FORM OF GOVERNANCE.
People in power in OUR political/legal/military/secret service complexes must get them all out of OUR governments and put them in prison for the rest of their lives for pullinng a hostile financial takevoer to try to destroy OUR United States of America. They must help WE THE PEOPLE restore/preserve true democracy without delay.
NOW IS THE TIME!
139
The Republican lawmakers assume they can sweep this away by attacking Michael Cohen for being a bad guy. How is that convincing?
First, he brought documents.
Second, the very best defense that Trump's enablers can come up with is this: With all of the lawyers in New York, Trump had a criminal working for him for a decade. That is their defense of Trump, to show how bad Trump's chosen personal lawyer is.
396
@Ann
Not to mentioned Trump's other choices for National Security Advisor, Campaign Chair, Secretary of Interior, etc.
11
it's the govt reform committee..not judiciary
7