NEW YORK – Donald Trump stood accused of conspiring to commit campaignfraud and two of his closest aides faced jail time Tuesday, after courtproceedings delivered a legal and political one-two punch to his embattledpresidency.
In a drama that played out simultaneously across two US cities, courtsfound the former aides guilty of eight charges a piece, stemming from afederal investigation into the 2016 presidential election.
In New York, Trump´s longtime attack-dog fixer, the attorney Michael Cohen,admitted eight counts, including making illegal campaign contributions.
Cohen detailed how he made pre-election hush payments to porn star StormyDaniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both claim to have had an affairwith Trump.
But in a sensational twist, Cohen also pointed to the president — or”individual 1″ as a co-conspirator — alleging that he acted “incoordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office.”
“I participated in this conduct with the purpose of influencing theelection,” a visibly crestfallen Cohen told the judge, his voice tremblingat times as he addressed the packed courtroom.
That admission put Trump himself in legal jeopardy. And it raised theprospect that a trusted lieutenant is ready to spill secrets, gathered overdecades, in exchange for a reduced sentence.
In a statement to US media, Trump´s lawyer Rudy Giuliani, reacting toCohen´s plea, said: “there is no allegation of any wrongdoing against thePresident in the government´s charges against Mr. Cohen.”
Cohen´s lawyer Lanny Davis explained his client´s about face after yearsspent vowing to “take a bullet” for Trump.
“This is Michael fulfilling his promise… to put his family and countryfirst and tell the truth about Donald Trump,” said Davis.
“Today, he stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed himto commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purposeof influencing an election,” the lawyer continued.
“If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn´t theybe a crime for Donald Trump?”
*Nearer home *
While the Cohen drama was unfolding in New York, a jury in Virginia foundTrump´s one-time campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, guilty on eight counts,including bank fraud, tax fraud and failure to declare foreign bankaccounts.
Trump expressed regret, calling Manafort “a good man.”
“I feel very sad about that,” Trump told reporters as he arrived in WestVirginia for a rally, claiming the conviction was part of a “witch hunt”after the 2016 election.
“It´s a very sad thing that happened, this has nothing to do with Russiancollusion.”
Trump also sought to distance himself from Manafort — who was instrumentalin the 72-year-old securing the 2016 Republican nomination.
“He worked for many, many people,” said Trump, citing campaigns for formerpresident Ronald Reagan and vice presidential candidate Bob Dole.
At the rally Trump made oblique but impassioned comments about Manafort andthe Mueller probe.
“Where is the collusion?” he asked the crowd. “They are still looking forcollusion, where is the collusion? Find some collusion. We want to find ofthe collusion.” – APP/AFP