Donald Trump Announces 2016 White House Bid

[spaminator]

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to testify before grand jury
Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Karen Freifeld
Published Mar 13, 2023 • 2 minute read

Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, is expected to testify on Monday afternoon before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments he has said he orchestrated to porn star Stormy Daniels on behalf of the former president.


“This is all about accountability. He needs to be held accountable for his dirty deeds,” Cohen said of Trump outside a Manhattan courthouse on his way to the grand jury.


Lanny Davis, Cohen’s attorney, confirmed earlier that Cohen was scheduled to testify in the closed door proceeding at 2 p.m. (1800 GMT).

The Manhattan District Attorney’s office declined to comment. Grand jury proceedings are not public.

The renewed interest in Stormy Daniels and the $130,000 payment she received before the 2016 presidential election comes at a critical time for Trump, who is running for the Republican presidential nomination in 2024. Daniels has said she got the payment in exchange for not discussing a sexual liaison with Trump, who denies it happened.


Trump has been given a chance to testify before the grand jury as a person subject to an investigation, Susan Necheles, an attorney for the former president, told Reuters last Thursday, a sign the grand jury may be close to deciding whether to bring criminal charges against him.

The Manhattan District Attorney “now threatens to indict former President Trump for payments made to Stormy Daniels seven years ago,” Necheles’ said in a statement on Friday. “For the DA’s office to charge former President Trump, a victim of extortion, with a crime because his then lawyer, Michael Cohen, a convicted liar, paid the extortionist, would be unprecedented and outrageous selective prosecution.”

Cohen was sentenced to prison in 2018 in Manhattan federal court for campaign finance violations tied to his arranging hush payments to Daniels and another woman during Trump’s 2016 run, among other crimes.

“This is not revenge,” Cohen told reporters on Monday. “My goal is to tell the truth.”

It is doubtful Trump, who has called the investigation a witch hunt, will agree to testify.

“I did absolutely nothing wrong. I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels,” he said on Truth Social last week.

Joseph Tacopina, another Trump lawyer, said on ABC’s “Good Morning America” on Monday there were no plans to participate in the grand jury, though a decision had not been made.

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld; additional reporting by Douglas Higginbotham; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Bill Berkrot)

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to testify before grand jury

Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen is expected to testify on Monday before a Manhattan grand jury investigating hush money payments.

torontosun.com

 

[Dixie Cup]

'History will hold Donald Trump accountable' for Jan. 6, Mike Pence says
'I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day'

Author of the article:Reuters
Reuters
Andrea Shalal and Trevor Hunnicutt and Gram Slattery
Published Mar 12, 2023 • Last updated 1 day ago • 2 minute read

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday, saying that history will hold him accountable for his role in the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol.


Pence was in the Capitol when thousands of Trump supporters breached the building in an attempt to stop Congress from certifying the results of the 2020 presidential election, which Trump lost to Joe Biden.


As the vice president has the constitutional role of Senate president, Pence was presiding over what had always been the ceremonial task of approving the votes of the Electoral College to select the president and vice president.

Throughout the siege, Trump sent several tweets, one calling on Republicans to “fight” and others making false claims of voter fraud. He also criticized Pence for certifying the results.

“President Trump was wrong,” Pence told assembled journalists and their guests at the Gridiron dinner, an annual white-tie event in Washington, D.C.


“I had no right to overturn the election, and his reckless words endangered my family and everyone at the Capitol that day, and I know that history will hold Donald Trump accountable.”

Pence, who is considering a run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 presidential election, was whisked to safety by law enforcement during the attack.

He rarely addressed Jan. 6 in the months following the incident, but has since upped his criticism of the rioters and the behaviour of his former boss that day.

He has sharply criticized Trump’s conduct in recent media interviews, and in a memoir released in November, he accused Trump of endangering his family.

Still, Pence’s comments on Saturday were his most pointed to date.


“What happened that day was a disgrace,” he said. “And it mocks decency to portray it any other way. For as long as I live, I will never, ever diminish the injuries sustained, the lives lost, or the heroism of law enforcement on that tragic day.”

A spokesperson for Trump did not immediately respond to a request for comment outside business hours.

Pence’s relationship with Trump has been complex since the two left office. He had criticized the former president’s behavior but refrained from the most stinging rebukes of Trump. He also declined to cooperate with the House of Representatives committee investigating the Capitol attack, describing the work done by the mainly Democratic body as partisan.

The former vice president’s comments on Saturday indicate he is willing to more forcefully distance himself from Trump as the 2024 campaign heats up – even if that means alienating the millions of Republican voters still loyal to the former president.

His remarks came just days after conservative television host Tucker Carlson aired security footage of the Capitol attack, claiming that many of the rioters were “orderly.”

Carlson’s depiction of Jan. 6 was sharply criticized by Democrats and several high-profile Republicans in the Senate, though many other Republicans – particularly in the House – shrugged off the episode.

'History will hold Donald Trump accountable' for Jan. 6, Mike Pence says

Former U.S. Vice President Mike Pence offered his most forceful rebuke to date of his one-time boss Donald Trump on Saturday.

torontosun.com

 

[pgs]

And Mike is using that as his diving board to dive into the qRepublican primaries as the moderate contender . Good luck .

 

[spaminator]

Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jennifer Peltz And Deepti Hajela
Published Mar 15, 2023 • 2 minute read

NEW YORK — Porn actor Stormy Daniels met Wednesday with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump’s behalf, her lawyer said Wednesday.


The news emerged as Michael Cohen, a former Trump attorney who orchestrated the payment, was giving a second day of testimony before a New York grand jury looking into the matter.


The $130,000 payment was made in 2016, as Trump’s first presidential campaign was in its final weeks and Daniels was negotiating to go on television to air her claims of a sexual encounter with him a decade earlier. Cohen made the payment and arranged another payout to a different woman — at Trump’s direction, he says.

Daniels met with and answered questions from Manhattan prosecutors and is willing to be a witness, her attorney, Clark Brewster, tweeted. The adult film actor tweeted her thanks to him for “helping me in our continuing fight for truth and justice.”


The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment.

Later Wednesday, Cohen emerged from what he expected to be his final day of testimony. He said he would continue to provide prosecutors “any information and any cooperation that they that they need.”

Now estranged from Trump, Cohen said he isn’t out for vindication or revenge.

“This is not about him. This is about holding accountability, truth to power, and everything else in between,” Cohen said.

Daniels has said she had a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump that she didn’t want, but didn’t say no to. Trump says it never happened. The former president’s current lawyer said Trump was invited to testify before the grand jury but has no plans to do so.


Federal prosecutors in 2018 charged Cohen with campaign finance crimes related to payments to Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, arguing that the payouts amounted to impermissible gifts to Trump’s election effort.

McDougal, who was paid $150,000, alleged she had an affair with the married Trump in 2006-07. He denied it.

Cohen pleaded guilty, served prison time and was disbarred. Federal prosecutors never charged Trump with any crime.

Manhattan prosecutors have been examining whether any state laws were broken in connection with the payments or the way Trump’s company compensated Cohen for his work to keep the women’s allegations quiet.

Cohen and federal prosecutors said the company paid him $420,000 to reimburse him for the payment to Daniels and to cover bonuses and other supposed expenses. The company classified those payments internally as legal expenses.

Falsifying business records can be a misdemeanor under state law, or a felony if the fudging of paperwork is done in connection with a more serious crime.

Trump and his lawyers have said he was extorted into paying the money to Daniels and should be considered the victim in the investigation. Daniels and the lawyers who helped arrange the payment have denied extorting anyone.

Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump

Porn actor Stormy Daniels met with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump's behalf

torontosun.com

 

[Dixie Cup]

Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump
Author of the article:Associated Press
Associated Press
Jennifer Peltz And Deepti Hajela
Published Mar 15, 2023 • 2 minute read

NEW YORK — Porn actor Stormy Daniels met Wednesday with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump’s behalf, her lawyer said Wednesday.


The news emerged as Michael Cohen, a former Trump attorney who orchestrated the payment, was giving a second day of testimony before a New York grand jury looking into the matter.


The $130,000 payment was made in 2016, as Trump’s first presidential campaign was in its final weeks and Daniels was negotiating to go on television to air her claims of a sexual encounter with him a decade earlier. Cohen made the payment and arranged another payout to a different woman — at Trump’s direction, he says.

Daniels met with and answered questions from Manhattan prosecutors and is willing to be a witness, her attorney, Clark Brewster, tweeted. The adult film actor tweeted her thanks to him for “helping me in our continuing fight for truth and justice.”


The Manhattan district attorney’s office declined to comment.

Later Wednesday, Cohen emerged from what he expected to be his final day of testimony. He said he would continue to provide prosecutors “any information and any cooperation that they that they need.”

Now estranged from Trump, Cohen said he isn’t out for vindication or revenge.

“This is not about him. This is about holding accountability, truth to power, and everything else in between,” Cohen said.

Daniels has said she had a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump that she didn’t want, but didn’t say no to. Trump says it never happened. The former president’s current lawyer said Trump was invited to testify before the grand jury but has no plans to do so.


Federal prosecutors in 2018 charged Cohen with campaign finance crimes related to payments to Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, arguing that the payouts amounted to impermissible gifts to Trump’s election effort.

McDougal, who was paid $150,000, alleged she had an affair with the married Trump in 2006-07. He denied it.

Cohen pleaded guilty, served prison time and was disbarred. Federal prosecutors never charged Trump with any crime.

Manhattan prosecutors have been examining whether any state laws were broken in connection with the payments or the way Trump’s company compensated Cohen for his work to keep the women’s allegations quiet.

Cohen and federal prosecutors said the company paid him $420,000 to reimburse him for the payment to Daniels and to cover bonuses and other supposed expenses. The company classified those payments internally as legal expenses.

Falsifying business records can be a misdemeanor under state law, or a felony if the fudging of paperwork is done in connection with a more serious crime.

Trump and his lawyers have said he was extorted into paying the money to Daniels and should be considered the victim in the investigation. Daniels and the lawyers who helped arrange the payment have denied extorting anyone.

Stormy Daniels meets with prosecutors investigating Trump

Porn actor Stormy Daniels met with prosecutors who are investigating hush money paid to her on former President Donald Trump's behalf

torontosun.com

Is there anything illegal about this? If there is, exactly what would be the charge. Just wondering....

 

[Tecumsehsbones]

Is there anything illegal about this? If there is, exactly what would be the charge. Just wondering....

It's illegal to pay hush money out of campaign funds.

 

[pgs]

It's illegal to pay hush money out of campaign funds.

Wow who ever heard of politicals skirting the rules . I’m not a crook . Depends what the definition of is IS .

 

[Ron in Regina]

NEW YORK (Reuters) -Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday as prosecutors consider charges over a hush money payment to a porn star, and called on his supporters to protest???

Trump says he expects to be arrested on Tuesday, calls for protests — Reuters Canada

Former U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday said he expects to be arrested on Tuesday as New York prosecutors consider charges over a hush money payment to a porn star, and called on his supporters to protest.

apple.news

 

[Dixie Cup]

It's illegal to pay hush money out of campaign funds.

Well, if he did that, then he should pay the price.

 

[Twin_Moose]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1637073403948544000

 

[Twin_Moose]

It's illegal to pay hush money out of campaign funds.

They tried to make that link once federally and it failed what makes you think they will make it stick in the SDNY

 

[pgs]

They tried to make that link once federally and it failed what makes you think they will make it stick in the SDNY

Crooked prosecutors and judges .

 

[Dixie Cup]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1637073403948544000

Yes they'll use any gathering as another "J6" - the corruption continues....

 

[spaminator]

 

[spaminator]

View attachment 17684

 

[Dixie Cup]

It's illegal to pay hush money out of campaign funds.

Turns out he used his own funds so I'm still wondering what he'd be charged with. So far, nothing he's done has been illegal from my understanding.

 

[petros]

If Stormy Daniels were trans....

 

[spaminator]

the calm before the stormy.

 

[Twin_Moose]

Turns out he used his own funds so I'm still wondering what he'd be charged with. So far, nothing he's done has been illegal from my understanding.

Especially when she admitted in the court case she lost that it was about the money

 

[Twin_Moose]

EXCLUSIVE: Is this the smoking gun? Letter from Michael Cohen claiming Donald Trump did NOT reimburse him for hush money paid to Stormy Daniels appears to fly in the face of the star witness's grand jury testimony​

• Bombshell document, exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com, could cripple prosecutors' pursuit of criminal charges against Trump
• Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer, is the star witness in the case over which Trump reportedly faces imminent arrest for campaign finance violations
• But in a February 2018 letter Cohen’s attorney wrote that ‘Mr. Cohen used his own personal funds’ and that ‘neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign reimbursed Mr. Cohen'