A Thread for the Mueller Investigation Results and Outcomes (Part 1)

[Defensive_Indifference]

Meanwhile, Cohen is pleading guilty.

@Bloomberg

In acknowledging the charges against him, Cohen said he was directed to violate campaign law at the direction of a candidate for federal office. At the same candidate’s direction, he said he paid $130,000 to somebody to keep them quiet, which was later repaid by the candidate. He didn’t identify the candidate or the person who was paid, but those facts match Cohen’s payment to Clifford and Trump’s repayment.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2018-08-21/michael-cohen-appears-in-court-over-hush-payments-plea-update?utm_content=politics&cmpid%3D=socialflow-twitter-politics&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=socialflow-organic&utm_source=twitter

[Celidin]

Here’s the original breakdown of charges:

• Five counts of subscribing to a false income tax return. Each count carries a maximum of three years in federal prison. That’s a total of 15 years.

• Four counts of failing to report foreign bank accounts. Each count carries a maximum of five years in federal prison. That’s a total of 20 years.

• Five counts of conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Each count carries a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. That’s 150 years behind federal bars.

• Four counts of bank fraud. Each count also carries a maximum of 30 years in federal prison. That’s a total of 120 years.

(from Paul Manafort trial by the numbers: 18 charges, potential 305 years in prison)

So it looks like 2 counts of bank fraud (max 60 years) + 1 failure to report foreign account (5 years) + 5 false income tax returns (15 yrs) … 80 years is a long time.

Interesting mix of them too, you would think if there was a die-hard Trumpster holding out on things, they wouldn’t have that scattershot approach across the different types.

(ETA: Those were max possible sentences, as noted in the USA Today article if that wasn’t clear)

[Fiveyearlurker]

As of right now, an ally of the president, under oath, is testifying that the president committed election fraud. Can the GOP really ignore this too?

[BeepKillBeep]

@Fiveyearlurker

As of right now, an ally of the president, under oath, is testifying that the president committed election fraud. Can the GOP really ignore this too?

Of course they can and of course they will. The Republicans have forsaken not only all honor but any pretense of honor.

[running_coach]

@Fiveyearlurker

As of right now, an ally of the president, under oath, is testifying that the president committed election fraud. Can the GOP really ignore this too?

Yep.

[asterion]

I doubt it will be anywhere near 80. Likely that they’ll run concurrently with the bank fraud keeping Manafort in jail the longest, and he’ll still probably get paroled before that’s done.

[bobot]

@Defensive_Indifference

Meanwhile, Cohen is pleading guilty.

“Originally Posted by Bloomberg In acknowledging the charges against him, Cohen said he was directed to violate campaign law at the direction of a candidate for federal office. At the same candidate’s direction, he said he paid $130,000 to somebody to keep them quiet, which was later repaid by the candidate. He didn’t identify the candidate or the person who was paid,…”

Hmm. Man, that’s a toughie! That sounds like it could be LOTS of people!
Ha ha ha!
I don’t believe I’ve said it today: Fuck You, Trump!

[Aspenglow]

@Fiveyearlurker

As of right now, an ally of the president, under oath, is testifying that the president committed election fraud. Can the GOP really ignore this too?

Depends on what the impact is on public opinion of Trump. If it doesn’t move the needle, expect continued messages of, “nobody here but us chickens!”

[Defensive_Indifference]

I think I saw that Cohen is probably looking at at least 48 months in jail.

Or until he gets pardoned, whichever comes first.

[friedo]

Damn. Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed about Manafort being convicted, on the other hand, nobody won my bet with DragonAsh. Just two more counts and I woulda got a hunnert bucks for charity!

I’m gonna send $50 to the Brooklyn Public Library Literacy Program as a consolation prize.

[silenus]

@Celidin

Interesting mix of them too, you would think if there was a die-hard Trumpster holding out on things, they wouldn’t have that scattershot approach across the different types.

Agreed. I do note that they hung on the conspiracy charges. We’ll have to wait for the state charges to get him on that.

[Fiveyearlurker]

Trump has to get up on a stage for a rally in two hours. Dude is having the worst day ever, but I hope he has even worse days ahead.

[Jack_Batty]

They’ll pump him so full of Adderall he’ll rattle when he walks. Tonight’s Presidential Reality Show is also competing with Omarosa’s big “Please keep me in your hearts” move, going on Chris Matthews show with a purported Trump video to throw into the pot.

Fuck sakes, this is all so ridiculous.

[ThelmaLou]

Let’s not overlook this little gem:

…Mr. Cohen made the extraordinary admission that he paid a pornographic film actress “at the direction of the candidate,” referring to Mr. Trump, to secure her silence about an affair she said she had with Mr. Trump…

New York Times

I feel kind of happy this afternoon. Thanks for the comments on the Cohen deal.

[DragonAsh]

@friedo

Damn. Well, I can’t say I’m disappointed about Manafort being convicted, on the other hand, nobody won my bet with DragonAsh. Just two more counts and I woulda got a hunnert bucks for charity!

I’m gonna send $50 to the Brooklyn Public Library Literacy Program as a consolation prize.

I’m also happy to have been wrong about acquittal, and happy to not have won because of a mistrial being declared in the 10 charges vs him being acquitted. Perhaps we can put the wager on ice to see if the mistrial charges are re-tried.

I’m donating $100 to the Jimmy V Foundation for Cancer Research as my consolation prize.

[Buck_Godot]

@Celidin

Interesting mix of them too, you would think if there was a die-hard Trumpster holding out on things, they wouldn’t have that scattershot approach across the different types.

If anything it suggest the presence of die-hard anti-Trumpers, who wouldn’t budge from “Guilty on all counts” even if other jurors felt some of the charges weren’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (Of course it also could have been 12 entirely non-partisan jurors who just disagreed.)

[Colibri]

@ThelmaLou

Let’s not overlook this little gem: I feel kind of happy this afternoon. Thanks for the comments on the Cohen deal.

Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty After Giuliani Offers to Be His Lawyer
-The Borowitz Report

:D:D:D

[septimus]

Uh oh. IIUC Manafort was convicted on five of the most serious charges and I owe andros a new sginature. :eek:
.

[DragonAsh]

@Buck_Godot

If anything it suggest the presence of die-hard anti-Trumpers, who wouldn’t budge from “Guilty on all counts” even if other jurors felt some of the charges weren’t proven beyond a reasonable doubt. (Of course it also could have been 12 entirely non-partisan jurors who just disagreed.)

They reached an agreement on eight charges. The agreement was guilty on all of those eight charges.
And yet you think the ‘hold out’ was someone insisting he was ‘guilty’ one other charges as well? That seems…odd.

If anything, I would think a die-hard Trumper was the hold out, unwilling to agree to a guilty charge except in the most obvious, irrefutable cases.

[Sunny_Daze]

@Defensive_Indifference

Manafort is still facing money laundering and illegal lobbying charges next month.

Don’t forget witness tampering.

@Jack_Batty

They’ll pump him so full of Adderall he’ll rattle when he walks. Tonight’s Presidential Reality Show is also competing with Omarosa’s big “Please keep me in your hearts” move, going on Chris Matthews show with a purported Trump video to throw into the pot.

I am looking forward to this. I wonder if Trump has nightmares about the walls closing in on him?