David Raymond Amos @DavidRayAmos
Replying to @DavidRayAmos @Kathryn98967631 and 49 others
Methinks even a corrupt Yankee lawyer heading for prison can serve the Free World now and then N'esy Pas?
https://davidraymondamos3.blogspot.com/2019/02/michael-cohens-testimony-just-piled.html
https://www.cbc.ca/news/world/michael-cohen-testimony-trump-prosecution-statute-of-limitations-1.5036442
Michael Cohen's testimony just piled more pressure on Trump to win in 2020 — or risk prison
Comments
Michael John
The GOP's subservience to Trump is perhaps more disturbing than his supporters submissive ignorance.
John Goode
@Michael John
Very cult like in both respects.
Very cult like in both respects.
James Carpenter
@Michael John
Kim - 1 trump - 0
Kim - 1 trump - 0
John Dirlik
@Michael John
The amorality of the GOP (and much of the old school Democrats is neither new nor surprising.
Both are war parties feeding the military industrial complex (whether by Obama giving $38 billion in taxpayers money to Israel for US arms, or Trump signing the largest weapon deal in US history with Wahhabis).
A refreshing change is the growing popularity of Bernie Sandsrs and the election of progressive new voices like Alexandria Cortez, Tliab and Ilhan Omar, who vowed to tackle the pernicious influence of lobby groups like oil, big pharmaceutical, NRA and AIPAC.
Expect them to be viciously attacked by the corporate media, an active accomplice that peddled WMD lies in 2093 to sell the Iraq war, continues to spread pro-Israel narratives to justify its occupation, and recently glamorized as “rebels” the jihadis engaged in US “regime change” plans in Syria.
The amorality of the GOP (and much of the old school Democrats is neither new nor surprising.
Both are war parties feeding the military industrial complex (whether by Obama giving $38 billion in taxpayers money to Israel for US arms, or Trump signing the largest weapon deal in US history with Wahhabis).
A refreshing change is the growing popularity of Bernie Sandsrs and the election of progressive new voices like Alexandria Cortez, Tliab and Ilhan Omar, who vowed to tackle the pernicious influence of lobby groups like oil, big pharmaceutical, NRA and AIPAC.
Expect them to be viciously attacked by the corporate media, an active accomplice that peddled WMD lies in 2093 to sell the Iraq war, continues to spread pro-Israel narratives to justify its occupation, and recently glamorized as “rebels” the jihadis engaged in US “regime change” plans in Syria.
Mary Measures
@Michael John
I would remove the "perhaps" from your response.
The scariest thing Cohen said was that Trump may not cede power if he loses the 2020 election.
I would remove the "perhaps" from your response.
The scariest thing Cohen said was that Trump may not cede power if he loses the 2020 election.
William Perry
@Michael John
Totally agree. The Republicans that confronted Michael Cohen all tried to discredit him. Easy to do because of what he has done for Trump over the past ten years and his lying for Trump. Cohen soon came to realize that Trump threw his sorry --- under the bus and the undying love was lost and taking a bullet for Trump was also indeed lost.To those Republicans who listened to Trump on a daily basis spouting his almost 9000 untruths as recorded by WaPo it simply did not matter. Trump is what he is and always was . Michael Cohen came to his senses, told the truth and ended up with a three year prison sentence. Yesterday he appeared voluntarily and in my opinion was credible in his replies. He now has to worry about his family's safety .
Totally agree. The Republicans that confronted Michael Cohen all tried to discredit him. Easy to do because of what he has done for Trump over the past ten years and his lying for Trump. Cohen soon came to realize that Trump threw his sorry --- under the bus and the undying love was lost and taking a bullet for Trump was also indeed lost.To those Republicans who listened to Trump on a daily basis spouting his almost 9000 untruths as recorded by WaPo it simply did not matter. Trump is what he is and always was . Michael Cohen came to his senses, told the truth and ended up with a three year prison sentence. Yesterday he appeared voluntarily and in my opinion was credible in his replies. He now has to worry about his family's safety .
Zahava Goldfinkel
@Michael John
I don't think his supporters display any submissive *ignorance* at all.
They know exactly what they're supporting.
They know he has had multiple affairs. They know he has hired you-know-whos for you-know-what. They know he has broken the law. They know he has tried to cover it up. They know he's a draft dodger. They know virtually every word he utters is a falsehood. They know the GOP is corrupt. They know it's all a scam.
They know. But they themselves--the very people who vote--are now corrupt and bereft of all public morality and dignity.
It's a real conundrum for democracy.
I don't think his supporters display any submissive *ignorance* at all.
They know exactly what they're supporting.
They know he has had multiple affairs. They know he has hired you-know-whos for you-know-what. They know he has broken the law. They know he has tried to cover it up. They know he's a draft dodger. They know virtually every word he utters is a falsehood. They know the GOP is corrupt. They know it's all a scam.
They know. But they themselves--the very people who vote--are now corrupt and bereft of all public morality and dignity.
It's a real conundrum for democracy.
William Perry
@William Perry
Discredit Cohen. No defense of Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-focus-on-discrediting-cohen-leaves-little-time-to-defend-trump/2019/02/27/33d8f67c-3ace-11e9-aaae-69364b2ed137_story.html?utm_term=.fabf9bc638b0
Discredit Cohen. No defense of Trump.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/republican-focus-on-discrediting-cohen-leaves-little-time-to-defend-trump/2019/02/27/33d8f67c-3ace-11e9-aaae-69364b2ed137_story.html?utm_term=.fabf9bc638b0
Guy Stone
@Michael John - look up Cohen.. he is hardly believable. Still no real facts.
Albert Ford Upton
@Guy Stone ....missed the cheques did you?
James Rielly
@John Dirlik Let's hope for
electoral reform because if it's not the same gerrymandering and
corporate lobbying will continue unabated.
James Rielly
@James Rielly...because if not,the same...
Content disabled.
David Amos
@Zahava Goldfinkel Methinks
if you or Matt Kwong were gonna offer us your opinions on Trump and his
lawyer you would have at least Googled the following by now N'esy Pas?
david amos trump cohen nafta fatca
david amos trump cohen nafta fatca
@Michael John
It's funny coming to CBC and seeing the daily Trump nonsense. You people eat this stuff up like there's no tomorrow. Honestly this style or reporting is very similar to TMZ. When will CBC invest in one of those scrolling bars that say "breaking news" for every Trump article they come out with.
Michael Cohen's testimony makes Trump guilty of nothing. How do the "experts" figure he needs to win in 2020 or risk prison?
It's funny coming to CBC and seeing the daily Trump nonsense. You people eat this stuff up like there's no tomorrow. Honestly this style or reporting is very similar to TMZ. When will CBC invest in one of those scrolling bars that say "breaking news" for every Trump article they come out with.
Michael Cohen's testimony makes Trump guilty of nothing. How do the "experts" figure he needs to win in 2020 or risk prison?
Dan Cooper
@Richard Jay
It's even funnier that you don't apply this same logic to the daily red meat stories, for conservative partisans, on the Liberals/SNC.
Once again a conservative is outraged and thinks they are a victim because they are treated as they treat others LOL
It's even funnier that you don't apply this same logic to the daily red meat stories, for conservative partisans, on the Liberals/SNC.
Once again a conservative is outraged and thinks they are a victim because they are treated as they treat others LOL
James Spencer III
Pretty sad when the leader is only protected from prison by being in power.
Richard Dunphy
@James Spencer III
The powers pf the US president have become too great.
This was not the intention of the Founders.
The powers pf the US president have become too great.
This was not the intention of the Founders.
Peter Bolivar
@Richard Dunphy
I would say the same thing about the Prime Minister (and the PMO itself) in Canada. We have treated the Prime Minister as the government for decades now, and it got worse in the last 10 years.
I would say the same thing about the Prime Minister (and the PMO itself) in Canada. We have treated the Prime Minister as the government for decades now, and it got worse in the last 10 years.
Richard Dunphy
@Peter Bolivar
Maybe, but as usual with those defending Trump, your post is completely off topic.
Maybe, but as usual with those defending Trump, your post is completely off topic.
Peter Bolivar
@Richard Dunphy
Defending Trump?
Where have I defended Trump?
I agree with your assessment, and think, to a lesser degree, the same phenomenon is happening in Canada.
Point to a post where I defend Trump.
He is not fit for office, he is the most dishonest President since... ever, and he is not incompetent. I hope they impeach him.
My post was about too much power invested into a single executive entity.
Defending Trump?
Where have I defended Trump?
I agree with your assessment, and think, to a lesser degree, the same phenomenon is happening in Canada.
Point to a post where I defend Trump.
He is not fit for office, he is the most dishonest President since... ever, and he is not incompetent. I hope they impeach him.
My post was about too much power invested into a single executive entity.
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
@James Spencer III
Just like in 3rd world countries run by dictators. Ironic eh ?
Just like in 3rd world countries run by dictators. Ironic eh ?
Mike Martin
@Peter Bolivar
You would say the same thing but you would be wrong.
You would say the same thing but you would be wrong.
Peter Bolivar
@Peter Bolivar
*meant to say "and he is not competent."
My bad.
*meant to say "and he is not competent."
My bad.
Guy Stone
@Peter Bolivar i dont like
Trump overall without question but we live in Canada so lets at least
worry about Canada more. Agree 100% that the leaders should have
reduced power in all nations. Trudeau should not be able to offer the
media our money or muzzle an AG while criticizing her
James Fitzgibbon
@James Spencer III
Yes, the American system is ridiculous.
Yes, the American system is ridiculous.
James Fitzgibbon
@Guy Stone
Is it your impression that Trudeau is getting away with this? And you seriously are putting what Trudeau did on the same level as what Trump has done? Seriously? Hilarious.
Is it your impression that Trudeau is getting away with this? And you seriously are putting what Trudeau did on the same level as what Trump has done? Seriously? Hilarious.
David Amos
@James Spencer III Methinks
it is as the Yankees such as "The Donald" often proclaim "It ain't over
til the fat lady sings" N'esy Pas?
David Allan
@James Spencer III
"Pretty sad when the leader is only protected from prison by being in power."
Yep.
It happens here too.
Harper did it. He stayed in office just long enough to enjoy parliamentary immunity on the Duffy scandal.
"Pretty sad when the leader is only protected from prison by being in power."
Yep.
It happens here too.
Harper did it. He stayed in office just long enough to enjoy parliamentary immunity on the Duffy scandal.
Richard Jay
@James Spencer III
"Pretty sad when the leader is only protected from prison by being in power."
Pretty sad when people believe CBC's nonsense articles. They've been putting these articles out for years now and people still can't see the nonsense in them.
Come on people. Surely your not that dense. The FBI investigation might put Trump away but Michael Cohen's testimony for sure won't. It's nothing but entertainment for you. To send someone to prison you need PROOF.
"Pretty sad when the leader is only protected from prison by being in power."
Pretty sad when people believe CBC's nonsense articles. They've been putting these articles out for years now and people still can't see the nonsense in them.
Come on people. Surely your not that dense. The FBI investigation might put Trump away but Michael Cohen's testimony for sure won't. It's nothing but entertainment for you. To send someone to prison you need PROOF.
David Allan
@Richard Jay
"The FBI investigation might put Trump away but Michael Cohen's testimony for sure won't. It's nothing but entertainment for you. To send someone to prison you need PROOF."
Cohen has receipts and recordings.
Everything he has released to Congress has supporting proof.
"The FBI investigation might put Trump away but Michael Cohen's testimony for sure won't. It's nothing but entertainment for you. To send someone to prison you need PROOF."
Cohen has receipts and recordings.
Everything he has released to Congress has supporting proof.
David Amos
@David Allan "Cohen has receipts and recordings. Everything he has released to Congress has supporting proof."
So do I and you have laughed at it for way past too long
So do I and you have laughed at it for way past too long
David Amos
@David Allan Methinks you should have at least Googled the following by now N'esy Pas?
david amos trump cohen nafta fatca
david amos trump cohen nafta fatca
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
Trump said he'd release his
tax returns after they were finished being audited. Turns out they
were not being audited at all. And he has never released them.
So, why his he afraid to release them, what is in there that will incriminate him ?
So, why his he afraid to release them, what is in there that will incriminate him ?
Clifton Tremblay
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
I still believe the big issue is that they may show he doesn't have as
much money as he claims. His ego would not take that being revealed to
the public.
Guy Stone
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman ) he doesnt make the money he claims to make
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
@Guy Stone
Of course he doesn't, hundreds of law suits against him and his company. Mueller will have his tax returns, lets hope he makes them public.
Of course he doesn't, hundreds of law suits against him and his company. Mueller will have his tax returns, lets hope he makes them public.
David Amos
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
Methinks Trump and everybody else particularly Mr Mueller and Mr Comey
know why I sued 3 US Treasury Agents twice in 2002. Hence unlike Al
Capone "The Donald" has a get out jail free card to serve upon the
"Untouchables" anytime he wishes N'esy Pas?
Ed Munn
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
He's afraid, news to me!
He's afraid, news to me!
Ed Munn
@Clifton Tremblay
He's being evasive.
He's being evasive.
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
@Ed Munn
I have no doubt that a lot of things are news to you.
I have no doubt that a lot of things are news to you.
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
@Guy Stone
If you watched Cohen's testimony yesterday, he stated that Trump grossly undervalued many of his properties and golf courses for tax purposes.
That's called tax fraud and it's a felony. It's on of the things Cohen is going to prison for.
If you watched Cohen's testimony yesterday, he stated that Trump grossly undervalued many of his properties and golf courses for tax purposes.
That's called tax fraud and it's a felony. It's on of the things Cohen is going to prison for.
James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
@David Amos
non
non
Dan Cooper
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman )
The same reason he posts pictures of himself on social media that have had hands enlarged.
He also pays off women he has sex with so that they cannot talk about his big hands lol
His whole persona is as real as whatever you call that thing on his head
The same reason he posts pictures of himself on social media that have had hands enlarged.
He also pays off women he has sex with so that they cannot talk about his big hands lol
His whole persona is as real as whatever you call that thing on his head
David Amos
@James Rockford - ( Spaceman ) Methinks I should not be surprised by that reply N'esy Pas?
Doug McKenzie
Will trump seek asylum in Russia?
Christopher Assaly
@Doug McKenzie
1-800-Vlad -- "Can we get that Trump Tower built with my new residence on the top floors"
1-800-Vlad -- "Can we get that Trump Tower built with my new residence on the top floors"
Clifton Tremblay
@Doug McKenzie Trump's usefulness to Putin ends the second he is out of power. Putin wouldn't take him.
David Amos
@Doug McKenzie Why not?
David Magner (YYC)
@Doug McKenzie
Would Air Force 1 fly him there instead of home from Vietnam if he ordered it? Are the military and the secret service loyal to The President or to the Presidency? If the latter they should intervene to prevent him from fleeing.
Would Air Force 1 fly him there instead of home from Vietnam if he ordered it? Are the military and the secret service loyal to The President or to the Presidency? If the latter they should intervene to prevent him from fleeing.
Ed Munn
@Doug McKenzie
He has a lot of places to go!
He has a lot of places to go!
bud webster
he bought a painting for 60 grand of himself...Crack me up
Andrew Hebda (NS)
@bud webster Actually he had his "arms-length" trust buy if-t for him
David Amos
@Andrew Hebda (NS) Of that I have no doubt
Ed Munn
@bud webster
He's not the only one.
He's not the only one.
James Spencer III
Trump university closed for
corruption. Trump charity closed for corruption. Trump inauguration
under investigation. Trump business under investigation. House of
cards falling.
Mary-Ellen Johnson
@James Spencer III My
favorite item was that the convicted Russian mafia boss (can't recall
his name right now), had his office right beside Trump's in the
tower.....you can't make this stuff up.
David Amos
@Mary-Ellen Johnson Methinks a lot of folks on both sides of the 49th should agree that fact is kinda special N'esy Pas?
Richard Jay
@Mary-Ellen Johnson
"you can't make this stuff up."
Believing you can't make that stuff up is your first problem. Yes you can.
"you can't make this stuff up."
Believing you can't make that stuff up is your first problem. Yes you can.
Ed Munn
@James Spencer III
My diploma is invalid...Geez!
My diploma is invalid...Geez!
Tom Abbott
Trump has ZERO credibility.
Michael Kachmar
@Tom Abbott That is because his is incredible...it is like incalculable, so you cannot put a number to it...well done.
Haven Greenshield
@Michael Kachmar No, but nice try.
Jane Miller
@Michael Kachmar
zero is a number.
zero is a number.
David Amos
@Tom Abbott "Trump has ZERO credibility."
Methinks I should ask what does that say of the purportedly profound Yankee Republic that "The Donald" was duly elected to oversee?
Methinks I should ask what does that say of the purportedly profound Yankee Republic that "The Donald" was duly elected to oversee?
Ed Munn
@Tom Abbott
I wouoldn't say that, bad credit maybe.
I wouoldn't say that, bad credit maybe.
if Frankenstein decided to make a monster assembled entirely from human flaws - he would make a Trump.
- Nate White
- Nate White
David Amos
@William Perry Methinks Dr
Frankenstien would have been wise enough to give "The Donald" a full
head of hair so that most folks would not make fun of his monster N'esy
Pas?
Ed Munn
@William Perry
Naw Trudeau!
Naw Trudeau!
Tim Biddiscombe
So ..once again, Kim plays Trump like a fat fiddle.
Michael Kachmar
@Tim Biddiscombe Hereditary dictator meets elected official...how was it supposed to go?
ted armstrong
@Michael Kachmar
which one is the hereditary dictator?
which one is the hereditary dictator?
David MacKinnon
@Tim Biddiscombe
When is Kim going to learn that the US is feared and heeded; guess it will have to wait for president Harris; she will make Kim quake, maybe she will appoint Hillary to negotiate for the Empire, would that be great -- do you think it would/could be like Libya where they let a Canadian General bomb the country into smitherines
When is Kim going to learn that the US is feared and heeded; guess it will have to wait for president Harris; she will make Kim quake, maybe she will appoint Hillary to negotiate for the Empire, would that be great -- do you think it would/could be like Libya where they let a Canadian General bomb the country into smitherines
Michael Kachmar
@ted armstrong awe, snap. I'm sure if that is stage worthy yet...keep trying.
David Amos
@Tim Biddiscombe "So ..once again, Kim plays Trump like a fat fiddle."
Surprise Surprise Surprise
Surprise Surprise Surprise
Ed Munn
@Tim Biddiscombe
Ya you think?
Ya you think?
Arlond Lynds
And Trump's ultimate distraction save the world tour falls flat, big surprise there. Way to go Michael.
David Amos
@Arlond Lynds Methinks even a corrupt Yankee lawyer heading for prison can serve the Free World now and then N'esy Pas?
Michael Cohen's testimony just piled more pressure on Trump to win in 2020 — or risk prison
Former Trump fixer's testimony raises president’s criminal exposure, experts say
Michael Cohen may well be a liar, but he's a liar who kept receipts.
That may prove incriminating for his former boss Donald Trump, opening the U.S. president to a level of criminal exposure that will be hard for impeachment-leery lawmakers to ignore, and raising the stakes on Trump's 2020 re-election bid as a must-win contest for him to duck potential jail time.
Cohen testified Wednesday before the House oversight committee in an open hearing on Capitol Hill.
The former fixer and personal attorney to President Trump shared documentary evidence with Congress that he said points to alleged criminal wrongdoing by the president.
As part of damning public testimony that characterized Trump as "a cheat," "a conman" and "a racist," Cohen presented copies of Trump's personal financial statements, as well as a copy of the $130,000 US wire transfer to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels' attorney and a signed cheque from Trump's personal bank account for illegal "hush money" payments in 2016 to Daniels to cover up her alleged extra-marital affair with Trump.
Cohen,
who said Trump instructed him to lie to the public about the payments
after becoming president, implored members of the panel not just to take
his word for it.
"I want you to look at the documents. I want you to make your own decision," he said.
Trump's signature on a cheque would appear to support the allegation he was involved in an illegal campaign contribution. The unreported payment to Daniels far exceeded the $2,700 US maximum for an individual in a general election.
With the new evidence pointing to possible campaign finance violations to buy her silence, Trump's re-election in 2020 might be the surest way to make his deepening criminal exposure go away.
"Of course it's a consideration. I'm sure it's crossed his mind," said Steven Billet, director of the Masters in Legislative Affairs at George Washington University. "The president is a very calculating man, and he understands the legal jeopardy he faces."
This
image provided by Michael Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, shows copies
of two cheques that Cohen presented to the committee on Wednesday. Cohen
said Trump wrote the cheques from his personal bank account after he
became president as a reimbursement for payments Cohen made to buy the
silence of adult film star Stormy Daniels who alleges she had an affair
with Trump. (Lanny Davis via Associated Press)
The
calculus is based on U.S. Department of Justice guidelines that a
sitting president cannot be indicted. The statute of limitations on most
federal offences, including the campaign finance violation, is five
years. Without an indictment within that timeframe, it washes away.
That means Trump can likely preserve his liberty as long as wins another term. But if Trump is voted out of the Oval Office next year, "there's nothing that would protect him," said Brian Klaas, a political scientist at the University College London and author of The Despot's Apprentice: Donald Trump's Attack on Democracy.
Republican members on the panel noted correctly— and repeatedly — during Cohen's public testimony on Wednesday that he's facing a three-year sentence for making knowingly false statements to Congress in 2017. What doesn't lie is a hard paper record such as a hush-money reimbursement cheque signed by Trump, Klaas said.
"The Republican strategy of discrediting [Cohen] as a liar does not make that cheque disappear. The cheque, to me, is the big story here because it corroborates."
Klaas
said Cohen's Wednesday testimony will intensify calls for Trump's
impeachment and pressure House Democrats still hesitant about that idea.
"What is impeachment for, if not to remove a president who committed crimes while in office?" he asked.
A corroborated federal crime would be difficult for lawmakers to disregard, even if it appears unlikely a Republican-dominated Senate would vote to convict and expel Trump.
If maintaining Trump's innocence is crucial, Republican lawmakers on Wednesday appeared preoccupied instead with picking apart Cohen's credibility. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally, was among those who found the Republican members' questions lacking.
"There hasn't been one Republican yet who's tried to defend the president on the substance," Christie remarked on ABC News. "That should be concerning to the White House."
Meanwhile, Cohen's testimony has potentially opened Trump to more criminal exposure on multiple new fronts. Cohen testified Trump "knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time," suggesting that Trump was aware of Russia's alleged involvement in the scheme.
U.S.
President Donald Trump is meeting with North Korean Leader Kim Jong-un
in Hanoi for a summit on defusing tensions between the countries, but
took time out in Vietnam to criticize his former lawyer, Michael Cohen,
on Twitter. (Leah Millis/Reuters)
"If Trump
encouraged or provided advice about the timing of the release, then he
could be added as a co-conspirator," said former federal prosecutor
Barbara McQuade.
If it's true that Trump's lawyers reviewed and edited his prior false testimony to Congress in 2017, as Cohen also alleged on Wednesday, that presents a risk of charges that Trump was involved in conspiracy to suborn perjury.
McQuade
is interested in seeing how Trump's written answers to U.S. Special
Counsel Robert Mueller for the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016
election "match up" with Cohen's testimony.
"If Mueller concludes that Trump lied, he could face impeachment articles for obstruction of justice," she said.
The impeachment question now looks thornier for Republicans than it did before Cohen's testimony, said Michael Gerhardt, an expert on impeachment at the University of North Carolina. It was the Republicans, after all, who went after former president Bill Clinton for lying under oath about an affair with Monica Lewinsky.
"One question will be whether any of the charges Cohen makes against Trump rise to a similar level of impeachable conduct," Gerhardy said.
Determining whether a signed check could be used as evidence of an impeachable offence rests on two things: Whether Trump acted in bad faith, and whether this violation of the law caused "serious injury" to the republic, he said.
Michael Cohen will testify again on Thursday in Washington. (Jonathan Ernst/Reuters)
What
Republicans will be scrambling to minimize, he said, is allegations
Trump may have acted in bad faith or deliberately flouted the law.
That's a question that Cohen seemed to answer during questioning by
Democratic lawmaker Eleanor Holmes Norton.
Asked by the congresswoman if the hush-money payments were made to influence the 2016 election's outcome, Cohen sounded resolute.
He is scheduled to report to prison in May.
That may prove incriminating for his former boss Donald Trump, opening the U.S. president to a level of criminal exposure that will be hard for impeachment-leery lawmakers to ignore, and raising the stakes on Trump's 2020 re-election bid as a must-win contest for him to duck potential jail time.
Cohen testified Wednesday before the House oversight committee in an open hearing on Capitol Hill.
The former fixer and personal attorney to President Trump shared documentary evidence with Congress that he said points to alleged criminal wrongdoing by the president.
As part of damning public testimony that characterized Trump as "a cheat," "a conman" and "a racist," Cohen presented copies of Trump's personal financial statements, as well as a copy of the $130,000 US wire transfer to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels' attorney and a signed cheque from Trump's personal bank account for illegal "hush money" payments in 2016 to Daniels to cover up her alleged extra-marital affair with Trump.
"I want you to look at the documents. I want you to make your own decision," he said.
Trump's signature on a cheque would appear to support the allegation he was involved in an illegal campaign contribution. The unreported payment to Daniels far exceeded the $2,700 US maximum for an individual in a general election.
'Legal jeopardy'
With the new evidence pointing to possible campaign finance violations to buy her silence, Trump's re-election in 2020 might be the surest way to make his deepening criminal exposure go away.
"Of course it's a consideration. I'm sure it's crossed his mind," said Steven Billet, director of the Masters in Legislative Affairs at George Washington University. "The president is a very calculating man, and he understands the legal jeopardy he faces."
That means Trump can likely preserve his liberty as long as wins another term. But if Trump is voted out of the Oval Office next year, "there's nothing that would protect him," said Brian Klaas, a political scientist at the University College London and author of The Despot's Apprentice: Donald Trump's Attack on Democracy.
Republican members on the panel noted correctly— and repeatedly — during Cohen's public testimony on Wednesday that he's facing a three-year sentence for making knowingly false statements to Congress in 2017. What doesn't lie is a hard paper record such as a hush-money reimbursement cheque signed by Trump, Klaas said.
"The Republican strategy of discrediting [Cohen] as a liar does not make that cheque disappear. The cheque, to me, is the big story here because it corroborates."
"What is impeachment for, if not to remove a president who committed crimes while in office?" he asked.
A corroborated federal crime would be difficult for lawmakers to disregard, even if it appears unlikely a Republican-dominated Senate would vote to convict and expel Trump.
'Co-conspirator'
If maintaining Trump's innocence is crucial, Republican lawmakers on Wednesday appeared preoccupied instead with picking apart Cohen's credibility. Former New Jersey governor Chris Christie, a Trump ally, was among those who found the Republican members' questions lacking.
"There hasn't been one Republican yet who's tried to defend the president on the substance," Christie remarked on ABC News. "That should be concerning to the White House."
Meanwhile, Cohen's testimony has potentially opened Trump to more criminal exposure on multiple new fronts. Cohen testified Trump "knew about the release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of time," suggesting that Trump was aware of Russia's alleged involvement in the scheme.
If it's true that Trump's lawyers reviewed and edited his prior false testimony to Congress in 2017, as Cohen also alleged on Wednesday, that presents a risk of charges that Trump was involved in conspiracy to suborn perjury.
"If Mueller concludes that Trump lied, he could face impeachment articles for obstruction of justice," she said.
More testimony
The impeachment question now looks thornier for Republicans than it did before Cohen's testimony, said Michael Gerhardt, an expert on impeachment at the University of North Carolina. It was the Republicans, after all, who went after former president Bill Clinton for lying under oath about an affair with Monica Lewinsky.
"One question will be whether any of the charges Cohen makes against Trump rise to a similar level of impeachable conduct," Gerhardy said.
Determining whether a signed check could be used as evidence of an impeachable offence rests on two things: Whether Trump acted in bad faith, and whether this violation of the law caused "serious injury" to the republic, he said.
Asked by the congresswoman if the hush-money payments were made to influence the 2016 election's outcome, Cohen sounded resolute.
"The answer is yes," he said.
Cohen
returns to Capitol Hill on Thursday for another round of testimony, the
last of three back-to-back hearings. It will be a closed-door meeting
with the House intelligence committee.He is scheduled to report to prison in May.
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