Trump defends hush money payments as 'simple private transaction'

[RaleBulgarian]

The horror - someone wanted to keep a NDA agreement private. I do agree that once the cat was out of the bag, and the election was over, that it was stupid to lie about having made the DNA(s).

Do you recall the outcome of the last impeachment effort based on lying about a private matter? I doubt that many elected officials will agree that being removed from elected office for lying (about a private matter) is a wonderful idea. If paying for DNAs or having an affair with an intern were illegal acts then possibly they should rise to level of impeachment but simply telling lies about them is not likely to be seen as such.

I was all for Clinton’s impeachment.

Trump’s paying off of Daniels was not a private transaction. Cohen paid her off with his own money at Trump’s direction. That $130,000 payment is considered a campaign contribution by the FEC, and exceeds the maximum allowed for contributions. Additionally, and more importantly, Trump and Cohen’s actions were clearly criminal in that the payment was made to further Trump’s chances of winning by covering up his illicit relationship with Daniels. SDNY has already gathered all the necessary evidence on both Trump and Cohen. Of course Cohen will go to jail very soon, whereas we have to wait to see what happens to “co-conspirator 1”.

 

[Skeptic Bob]

I REALLY hope this isn’t what it all comes down to. I care as much about this as I did about Clinton lying under oath about a BJ.

 

[mike2810]

I think he was trying to draw a line between fellatio & full-on coitus. I believe there is a distinction in many cultures.

It is your opinion that Bill C. did not cheat on Hilary. That fellatio is not cheating. If your married or have a significant other, please explain that to them.

 

[ttwtt78640]

Imagine that, Trump directing Michael Cohen to make two hush payments mere weeks before the election to influence the election ... and neglecting to report such payments to the FEC.

But then again, reporting such payments would have illuminated Trumps adultery and severely crippled his electability.

Each of these unreported hush payments is illegal and a felony crime.

That (bolded above) s what I don't understand about this mess. Surely, the FEC reporting requirements allow weeks (if not months) to make (file?) detailed campaign expense reports. Once the cat was out of the bag, Melania was aware of them and the election won, rendering the NDA(s) moot, then the smart thing to do was to simply report (to the FEC) having paid for them.

 

[Saladin4]

trump first said,.,,He did not know Stormy Daniels...Then he said he had NO affair, then He did not pay her, then paying her off is not a crime...trump is a sleazebag and a liar.....Lock him up

 

[ttwtt78640]

I think he was trying to draw a line between fellatio & full-on coitus. I believe there is a distinction in many cultures.

Nope, he was simply lying and later admitted to having done so.

 

[tres borrachos]

Imagine that, Trump directing Michael Cohen to make two hush payments mere weeks before the election to influence the election ... and neglecting to report such payments to the FEC.

But then again, reporting such payments would have illuminated Trumps adultery and severely crippled his electability.

Each of these unreported hush payments is illegal and a felony crime.

I can't shake the feeling that Trump did this unnecessarily. His Fan Base doesn't give a rat's ass about his infidelities, which were well known going back to his first marriage.

 

[Rogue Valley]

It is your opinion that Bill C. did not cheat on Hilary. That fellatio is not cheating. If your married or have a significant other, please explain that to them.

This thread isn't about Clinton. You're engaging in whataboutism.

But there aren't too many remaining straws to grasp in this regard.

 

[tres borrachos]

I think he was trying to draw a line between fellatio & full-on coitus. I believe there is a distinction in many cultures.

There is a distinction to many people, I'm sure. For instance, you can engage in fellatio and still be a virgin.

But who cares anyway?

And why are we discussing Bill Clinton in this thread? I don't remember him lying about hush money to porn stars and then when it was proven that he lied, doing an about face and saying "Okay well it was just a private transaction", which would be comparable and on topic.

 

[mike2810]

This thread isn't about Clinton. You're engaging in whataboutism.

But there aren't too many remaining straws to grasp in this regard.

True. Yet the OP posted , "Sounds like a pretty lame excuse for a married Presidential candidate. "
That opened the door to other past Presidents. I just pointed out that many gave Clinton a pass.

 

[Rogue Valley]

I can't shake the feeling that Trump did this unnecessarily. His Fan Base doesn't give a rat's ass about his infidelities, which were well known going back to his first marriage.

How I see it ..... I believe it is/was Trumps SOP. It was how he customarily got rid of sexual conquests on the hush so his indiscretions wouldn't too badly inflate his alimony payments to his former wives.

It was probably always his solution to relationship problems ..... throw money at them and move on.

 

[bubbabgone]

How I see it ..... I believe it is/was Trumps SOP. It was how he customarily got rid of sexual conquests on the hush so his indiscretions wouldn't too badly inflate his alimony payments to his former wives.

It was probably always his solution to relationship problems ..... throw money at them and move on.

That's very likely true.
And doing it during a Presidential campaign doesn't change it.
It'll be his defense if he ever needs one.
We don't know yet because the Cohen plea short-circuited the process.

 

[Rogue Valley]

That's very likely true.
And doing it during a Presidential campaign doesn't change it.
It'll be his defense if he ever needs one.
We don't know yet because the Cohen plea short-circuited the process.

Whatever consisted of Trumps modus-operandi in the past did not relieve candidate Trump from complying with federal campaign finance law in 2016.

 

[Napoleon]

I was all for Clinton’s impeachment.

Trump’s paying off of Daniels was not a private transaction. Cohen paid her off with his own money at Trump’s direction. That $130,000 payment is considered a campaign contribution by the FEC, and exceeds the maximum allowed for contributions. Additionally, and more importantly, Trump and Cohen’s actions were clearly criminal in that the payment was made to further Trump’s chances of winning by covering up his illicit relationship with Daniels. SDNY has already gathered all the necessary evidence on both Trump and Cohen. Of course Cohen will go to jail very soon, whereas we have to wait to see what happens to “co-conspirator 1”.

I think there’s a very simple defense baked into this. The conversation about how all of this would go down was among Cohen’s tapes and I think the transcript bears out that the way this transaction was conducted was on the advice of his attorney, Michael Cohen.

 

[Saladin4]

I can't shake the feeling that Trump did this unnecessarily. His Fan Base doesn't give a rat's ass about his infidelities, which were well known going back to his first marriage.

Still trump and his goons tried hard to keep these sleazy affairs secret....Had this come out during the election it could have been a deal breaker for the evangelical crowd...One week before the election rumors surfaced...trump's campaign said it was "fake" news...His brain dead followers bought that lie

 

[Acadia]

No, actually he is not.
IF he is indicted for campaign finance violations after leaving office, the onus will be on the state of NY to prove intent.
Very difficult task to do; John Edwards?

Hillary Clinton?

 

[RaleBulgarian]

I think there’s a very simple defense baked into this. The conversation about how all of this would go down was among Cohen’s tapes and I think the transcript bears out that the way this transaction was conducted was on the advice of his attorney, Michael Cohen.

Another possible alleged scenario/defense.

 

[Acadia]

It is your opinion that Bill C. did not cheat on Hilary. That fellatio is not cheating. If your married or have a significant other, please explain that to them.

LOL, that STD doesn't care what bodily fluid transmitted it through what orifice.

 

[bubbabgone]

Whatever consisted of Trumps modus-operandi in the past did not relieve candidate Trump from complying with federal campaign finance law in 2016.

The point was that such a thing likely may not have violated campaign finance laws. Things you normally would do with your own money don't violate campaign finance laws. Not everything does.
And what's more there's no indication he used campaign funds.

 

[Acadia]

The point was that such a thing likely may not have violated campaign finance laws. Things you normally would do with your own money don't violate campaign finance laws. Not everything does.
And what's more there's no indication he used campaign funds.

People have talked about a pattern here, and that's going to be part of Trump's defense. He's a serial philanderer who has a history of NDAs and paying for silence. Why would this be any different, is what I think Trump and his team will say. Also, it seems odd to me that a billionaire would have to dig into his campaign coffers to pay off a couple hundred thousand.

 

[bubbabgone]

People have talked about a pattern here, and that's going to be part of Trump's defense. He's a serial philanderer who has a history of NDAs and paying for silence. Why would this be any different, is what I think Trump and his team will say. Also, it seems odd to me that a billionaire would have to dig into his campaign coffers to pay off a couple hundred thousand.

Exactly right. He appears to have the Law on his side and until it makes it's way through the Courts we won't know. Cohen didn't take a chance because apparently he was made an offer he couldn't refuse.

 

[Saladin4]

People have talked about a pattern here, and that's going to be part of Trump's defense. He's a serial philanderer who has a history of NDAs and paying for silence. Why would this be any different, is what I think Trump and his team will say. Also, it seems odd to me that a billionaire would have to dig into his campaign coffers to pay off a couple hundred thousand.

No surprise trump used campaign funds to pay off his sleazy affairs...He thinks the idiots that gave to his campaign are fools and he probably doesn't have as near as much money as he says he does...No surprise at all

 

[Grokmaster]

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...s-as-simple-private-transaction-idUSKBN1O91JW

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Donald Trump on Monday defended hush money payments reported by his former lawyer a day after Democrats said the U.S. president could face impeachment and jail time if the transactions are proven to be campaign finance violations.

Trump, in early morning tweets, said Democrats were wrongly targeting “a simple private transaction” after court filings last week drew renewed attention to six-figure payments by his personal lawyer to two women during the 2016 campaign so they would not discuss affairs with Trump.
============================================
Sounds like a pretty lame excuse for a married Presidential candidate.

He paid the lying tramps WHEN THE THREATS TO BLACKMAIL were made.

 

[trixare4kids]

Hillary Clinton?

haha good one!

 

[SCrider]

No, actually he is not.
IF he is indicted for campaign finance violations after leaving office, the onus will be on the state of NY to prove intent.
Very difficult task to do; John Edwards?

There seem to be some major differences in these case, that if true would make it easier to convict Trump.