Today we crossed the high Crimes and Misdemeanors threshold. While the news focuses on Manafort and Cohen, Trump is now clearly a target of justice. Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to paying hush money at Trump’s direction, who repaid him, thereby directly implicating Trump in a criminal conspiracy intended to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election.
This is a day in history to remember and a turning point in American politics with immense implications going forward. Trump should resign immediately, but don’t hold your breath.
Manafort was convicted today and Cohen pleaded guilty during the same hour. Trump’s former personal lawyer, his former campaign chair, and his former NSA and campaign advisor Flynn have all been convicted or pleaded guilty to federal crimes. The “lock her up” committee is getting locked up!
And Michael Cohen says he violated campaign finance laws more than once for the purpose of influencing the election “in coordination with and at the direction of the candidate,” that he acted “at the request of the candidate.”
Trump’s administration has been a conspiracy of deception since the election.
That’s Trump covering up his criminal conspiracy with the colluding White House staff lying at his direction.
Manafort’s verdict is small potatoes compared to Trump’s legal problems. It is also just a hint of what is to come as the Special Counsel continues the task of investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election, an election we now know was illegally altered by Trump and Cohen acting in a criminal conspiracy.
Trump has already placed poison fruit on the Supreme Court and the Senate is about to consider another Trump nominee in the context of a now revealed criminal conspiracy by Trump to alter the election result. This is not the time to allow another Trump appointee on the court, this is a time to consider impeaching his first pick as the poison fruit of crimes.
If Trump does not resign Will you vote to impeach president Donald J. Trump? is a question every candidate in the House and Senate now must face head on. Today Trump was fingered by his own attorney as the director of a criminal conspiracy to alter the election.
And to think, this is only the beginning of #TrumpRussia. If you like the appetizers, you are going to love the main course. Now, where’s the popcorn?
Videos UPDATE:
Trump directed multiple criminal conspiracies.
Aug 21, 2018 — Lawrence puts Michael Cohen’s guilty plea into context: Michael Cohen says Donald Trump ordered him to commit crimes so Donald Trump could win the presidency. This is the day that changed everything in the Trump presidency.
It will take a while for the implications to sink in, but they include the end of Trump’s presidency.
Aug 21, 2018 — On the same day that former Trump campaign boss Paul Manafort is found guilty on multiple charges, Trump's former lawyer & fixer, Michael Cohen, takes a deal. Full analysis from Nicolle Wallace, Michael Schmidt, Emily Jane Fox, Daniel Goldman, & Chuck Rosenberg.
Things are going to get far worse for Trump.
Aug 21, 2018 — Lanny Davis, attorney for former Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen, tells Rachel Maddow that Cohen has knowledge that should be of interest to Robert Mueller and he is happy to tell Mueller what he knows about the "possibility of a conspiracy to collude and corrupt the American
Manafort may flip. Imagine Manafort and Cohen both telling all.
Aug 21, 2018 — Paul Manafort is "evaluating all of his options" after a jury found him guilty on eight counts of tax and bank fraud—a verdict which former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi says is a tremendous victory for the Special Counsel’s team. Lawrence discusses with Rossi and Ken Dilanian.
The Worst Day In Donald Trump’s Presidency
Aug 22, 2018 — President Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort and his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen hit with convictions and guilty pleas. Stephanie Ruhle breaks down the cases involving two of Trump’s closest allies and what it means for the president.
Justice can be a very long row to hoe, and the work has begun. But, there is no turning back the clock to undo the injustice to Hillary and the Democrats.
AFTERWORD:
Aug 31, 2018 — Donald
Trump reached his highest disapproval number yet and nearly half of Americans want him impeached, but there is a number that is "stunning” says Michael Tomasky, Neera Tanden and Jonathan Alter join Ali Velshi to talk Trump's rising unpopularity.