subgenius wrote:Read the documents, there is no evidence or even indication that campaign money was used illegally or that Trump colluded...but again, feel free to QUOTE where those documents say such a thing.
canpakes wrote:subgenius wrote:Read the documents, there is no evidence or even indication that campaign money was used illegally or that Trump colluded...but again, feel free to QUOTE where those documents say such a thing.
“I tried to swerve several times but the tree still hit me...”
During the campaign, Cohen played a central role in two similar schemes to purchase the rights to stories – each from women who claimed to have had an affair with Individual-1 – so as to suppress the stories and thereby prevent them from influencing the election. With respect to both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election. Cohen coordinated his actions with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments. In particular, and as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1. As a result of Cohen’s actions, neither woman spoke to the press prior to the election.
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:
Cohen kept detailed email trails and routinely recorded all of his conversations. I wouldn't doubt he provided either or both types of recorded transactions with "Individual-1" to the FBI.
You know... I think Trump is going to jail. 2019 is going to get weirder than the last two years. Amazing.
- Doc
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:...
You know... I think Trump is going to jail. 2019 is going to get weirder than the last two years. Amazing.
- Doc
Chap wrote:Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:...
You know... I think Trump is going to jail. 2019 is going to get weirder than the last two years. Amazing.
- Doc
Yeah, but I mean, as Trump, says, there's still no smocking gun, is there?
Trump is facing a legitimate chance of being prosecuted and sent to jail the second he's out of office, whenever that is. Would you trade a Trump resignation for a Pence pardon? I'm not sure I would. I'd have to think about it more.Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:
Cohen kept detailed email trails and routinely recorded all of his conversations. I wouldn't doubt he provided either or both types of recorded transactions with "Individual-1" to the FBI.
You know... I think Trump is going to jail. 2019 is going to get weirder than the last two years. Amazing.
- Doc
Doctor CamNC4Me wrote:...With respect to both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election....he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1. As a result of Cohen’s actions, neither woman spoke to the press prior to the election.
Cohen kept detailed email trails and routinely recorded all of his conversations. I wouldn't doubt he provided either or both types of recorded transactions with "Individual-1" to the FBI.
You know... I think Trump is going to jail. 2019 is going to get weirder than the last two years. Amazing.
- Doc
If a campaign financing offense violates one of FECA’s prohibitions and was committed in a manner calculated to conceal it from the public, the Justice Department also may pursue the matter as a conspiracy to defraud the United States under 18 U.S.C. § 371, or as a false statement or record under 18 U.S.C. § 1001 or §1519.
Was the violation committed under circumstances suggesting that the conduct was “knowing and willful?” FECA violations become potential crimes when they are committed knowingly and willfully, that is, by offenders who acted with knowledge that their conduct was against the law. While this is at times a difficult element to satisfy, examples of evidence supporting the element include: (a) an attempt to disguise or conceal financial activity regulated by FECA; (b) status or prior experience as a campaign official, candidate, professional fundraiser, or lawyer; and (c) efforts by campaigns to notify contributors of applicable campaign finance law (e.g., donor card warnings).
“I used a company under my control to make the payment (to Daniels)” Cohen told the judge, adding that “the monies used were later repaid by the candidate.”
What’s wrong with paying the women? How did it violate the law?
Under federal campaign finance law, individual campaign contributions are limited to $2,700 per individual, or $5,400 for a couple, for each election cycle – that includes primary elections and the general election.
Federal law bars direct corporate contributions to federal candidates. The money paid to Daniels – $130,000 – was moved through a limited-liability company called Essential Consultants. Cohen created the company a few weeks before the election. The payment to Daniels was a campaign contribution, according to Cohen, who said in court on Tuesday that when he paid Daniels off, he was acting on behalf of the campaign with the aim of helping Trump win the presidency.
In other words, Cohen was making a campaign-related expenditure on behalf of the campaign.
There would have been no problem, legally, with making such a payment to Daniels if the Trump campaign had paid the $130,000 with donated contributions and reported it to the Federal Election Commission.
Prosecutors made it clear that the payment was a campaign contribution because Cohen was repaid by the Trump Organization after he submitted “sham” invoices for legal work.
Originally, after the deal came to light, Cohen said he acted on his own and had not been reimbursed by the Trump Organization, or by the campaign. He recanted that statement on Tuesday.
What does the law say about this case?The Federal Election Campaign Act states, in part, that while individuals are limited to making donations of $2,700 to presidential candidates, businesses may not make direct contributions to candidates for president.
When candidates use or loan their personal funds for campaign use, they are making contributions to their campaigns, but contributions by candidates are not subject to limits. In other words, they may spend whatever they want on their campaigns.
It is a felony offense to conspire to make a campaign contribution that exceeds $25,000.
How does this affect Trump?
If what Cohen says is true, Trump conspired to violate campaign finance laws by directing payments to keep the women quiet so as to boost his election prospects.
Proverb:＂To play the lute to a cow" is used by Chinese people to describe someone who is telling something complicated to <a person incapable of understanding it>, ...
