On Wednesday, Donald Trump finally responded to the tidal wave of controversies and allegations that came on Tuesday when his longtime personal attorney and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to eight felony counts and implicated the president in two of them. Trump tried to insist once more than he knew nothing about the illegal payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign to his former mistresses – which include adult film star and director Stormy Daniels as well as former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal – although evidence is mounting that Trump is once again lying to the American people.
Trump says he didn’t learn of the hush money payments until after they had been made, despite Michael Cohen releasing audio from 2016 in which Trump can be heard discussing a potential payment. Trump even verified the tape, tweeting, “what kind of a lawyer would tape a client?” pic.twitter.com/7tlBxw76mO
— The Lead CNN (@TheLeadCNN) August 22, 2018
As if audio tape of Trump very clearly discussing those payments with his attorney prior to the election weren’t enough, The Wall Street Journal reports that there is yet another witness cooperating with prosecutors who can testify that Trump not only knew of the payments, but directly ordered them to be made.
‘Adding to the pressure, David Pecker, the chairman of American Media Inc., which publishes the National Enquirer, provided prosecutors with details about payments Mr. Cohen arranged with women who alleged sexual encounters with President Trump, including Mr. Trump’s knowledge of the deals.’
A turning point for Cohen in his break from Trump was a conversation he had with his father, who said he didn't survive the Holocaust to have his name sullied by the president https://t.co/z1LDH2K0vx
— The Wall Street Journal (@WSJ) August 23, 2018
Cohen had little choice but to plead guilty considering the stacks of evidence against him and it’s likely that The National Enquirer was in the same position. After the FBI raided the office, home, and hotel room of Cohen, the evidence was likely irrefutable. However, Cohen faced much tougher consequences if he didn’t testify.
‘The Manhattan U.S. Attorney’s office had testimony from Mr. Cohen’s accountant and business partners, along with bank records, tax filings and loan applications that implicated not only Mr. Cohen in potential criminal activity, but also his wife, who filed taxes jointly with her husband. Prosecutors signaled Mr. Cohen would face nearly 20 criminal counts, potentially carrying a lengthy prison sentence and staggering financial penalties.’
David Pecker may have more dirt on President Trump than Vladimir Putin https://t.co/Nlvci5I0sI pic.twitter.com/FOV1IetMDx
— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 19, 2018
Despite what is commonly believed, though, Cohen did not actually make a plea agreement in exchange for “flipping” on Trump.
‘Although the plea deal doesn’t require Mr. Cohen’s cooperation, it leaves the door open for him to talk with both the Southern District of New York and special counsel Robert Mueller. The court restricted Mr. Cohen’s travel to New York City; Chicago, where he owns taxi medallions; South Florida, where his parents live; and Washington, D.C., where the special counsel is based.’
This is new: AMI/Enquirer's David Pecker offered to catch-and-kill Trump (sex scandal) stories all the way back in August 2015. Offer was made to Cohen and "one or more members of the campaign" https://t.co/gkLZed3nwk pic.twitter.com/IrIvAehsqT
— Andrew Prokop (@awprokop) August 21, 2018
No matter how Trump tries to spin the story and discredit his former attorney and friend, Cohen is not the only witness to Trump’s crime, nor is he the only person with evidence against him.
Featured image via Flickr by Matt Johnson under a Creative Commons license
