[AMV] Amerikaanse politiek #601: Trump tripping

quote:

Boeing says its board of directors has nominated Nikki Haley to be elected to the board at the company's annual meeting of shareholders April 29.

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 13:27 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Donald Trump Jr hints he could run for president in 2024

Mag dat als je in de gevangenis zit?

twitter:

PostRoz twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 16:21:52 In long awaited ruling, D.C. Circuit upholds the validity of Mueller appointment, orders Roger Stone aide to testify, reports @amarimow https://t.co/s4FurkPVaX reageer retweet

twitter:

kylegriffin1 twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 17:30:00 Michael Cohen is prepared to share who signed the $35,000 monthly checks he received in reimbursement for his hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels, a person with knowledge of his upcoming congressional testimony tells The Daily Beast. https://t.co/VEdHGlU4qp reageer retweet

twitter:

ThePlumLineGS twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 17:40:32 This is an excellent, detailed examination of whether Mueller's findings should legitimately be disclosed and whether Congress can access them, complete with useful precedent, from @rgoodlaw:https://t.co/ObwvuIeK9m reageer retweet

quote:

As the Watergate scandal deepened in November 1973, President Richard Nixon declared: “People have got to know whether or not their President is a crook.” Nixon was right. As John Dingell wrote in his deathbed farewell letter to the American people, in our system of government U.S. officials do not “have” power, but instead “hold” power in trust for the electorate they serve. Whatever Special Counsel Robert Mueller finds, the American people, and their congressional representatives, have a right to know whether they can continue to entrust President Donald Trump with the power of the presidency.

In the Russia investigation, the need for public transparency is at its apex — especially the underlying evidence and factual findings.

That said, additional dynamics will shape the coming tussle between Congress and the administration. First, the executive branch may have legitimate confidentiality interests in the material, some of which might be appropriately kept from public disclosure — but that does not mean that information should be kept from Congress. Second, the White House will also likely claim confidentiality interests that go far beyond a good faith, proper interpretation of the legal doctrines and investigative context.

As we look toward the Mueller investigation’s endgame, we believe some issues concerning transparency of Mueller’s findings have not been appreciated in commentary to date.

Grand jury secrecy will not cover a great amount of the evidence Mueller collected.
Many commentators assume that a central concern with the disclosure of Mueller’s findings involves the secrecy generally afforded grand jury information. Those discussions boil down to considerations of whether the normal protections afforded such grand jury information might be overcome, for example, by a congressional subpoena. That issue is complicated, and Congress may ultimately prevail. But short of that, grand jury secrecy won’t cover a lot of the most important evidence.

SPOILER

Om spoilers te kunnen lezen moet je zijn ingelogd. Je moet je daarvoor eerst gratis Registreren. Ook kun je spoilers niet lezen als je een ban hebt.

quote:

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is in Vietnam at the same time that Trump and Kim Jong Un are in Vietnam for their summit. Coincidentally, Lavrov says the U.S. asked for Moscow's advice in dealing with North Korea before the summit.
https://t.co/wsTAked3jb

quote:

Ivanka debuts as admin spokesperson for rugged individualism: "I don't think most Americans want to be given something. People want to work for what they get." https://t.co/RerMUQ7aIj

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 13:27 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Donald Trump Jr hints he could run for president in 2024

Mag dat als je in de gevangenis zit?

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 02:50:36 Senate Democrats just voted against legislation to prevent the killing of newborn infant children. The Democrat position on abortion is now so extreme that they don’t mind executing babies AFTER birth.... reageer retweet

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 02:50:37 ....This will be remembered as one of the most shocking votes in the history of Congress. If there is one thing we should all agree on, it’s protecting the lives of innocent babies. reageer retweet

quote:

Remember Jacob Wohl's disastrous press conference smearing Robert Mueller? His Mueller accuser now says Jacob tricked her and made it all up. https://t.co/p8iuif9ra4 https://t.co/HpuLLvLD4C

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 19:49 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Jacob Wohl blijkt leugenaar. News at 11.

[..]

https://twitter.com/willsommer/status/1100434679621210125?s=19

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 20:14 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
Waarom wordt er zoveel rommel in dit topic geplaatst. Zouden we niet voor een iets hoger niveau kunnen streven? Een brainfart van Ivanka of wat in the hell een een of andere grifter heeft gezegd of gedaan kan me echt aan mijn reet roesten.

quote:

(1 of 2) This Trump campaign-connected disinformation agent was in Tel Aviv while Papadopoulos was *also* in Tel Aviv meeting with an Israeli intel-linked man about a pro-Trump media disinformation campaign. When Wohl went after Mueller, he said he was connected to Israeli intel. https://t.co/1DExvTmDj1

quote:

(2 of 2) Wohl was likely lying to Cass (Mueller's "accuser") when he told her he was connected to Israeli intel, but dammit if it isn't odd that Israeli intel-linked firms have been helping Trump with domestic disinfo since 2016 and now there's this link. https://t.co/kIr81qP7Yl

quote:

(PS) So you have the son of a guy who worked with Trump "daily" on media messaging—a kid who claims connection to Israeli intel—coincidentally in Tel Aviv at the same time an ex-Trump aide is in Tel Aviv to talk to an Israeli intel-linked guy about pro-Trump media messaging. Odd.

quote:

BREAKING: North Carolina Republican Mark Harris says he will no longer run in newly called US House election in the state's 9th District; follows investigation and hearing into allegations of illegal activity in the handling of mail-in ballots.

quote:

NEWS: Michael Cohen in public testimony Wed will for the first time accuse Trump of criminal conduct while in office related to the Stormy Daniels hush-money payment. More on what Cohen will say in what is expected to be an explosive hearing, with @wstrobel:
https://t.co/iIaZ2P2V9r

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 20:23 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Nou...Wohl, zelfbenoemd Mossad agent, was tegelijk met ene George P in Israel. George P die daar bezig was om hulp te krijgen met het opzetten van een disinfo campagne om Trump verkozen te krijgen.
Toeval? Misschien. Maar ik geloof niet meer zo in toeval.

En Ivanka is gewoon onderdeel van het WH.

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 21:28 schreef Tijger_m het volgende:

[..]

Helaas zou je dan eerst quality control op het Witte Huis moeten uitoefenen.

quote:

For years, Michael Cohen praised @realDonaldTrump’s honesty and integrity.

It was only after Cohen was caught for tax evasion and other personal financial misdeeds, he began lying about President Trump in an effort to save face. https://t.co/AQnxxk7yBF

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 21:23 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:

[..]

Waar gaat dit in vredesnaam nog over. En dan 6 of 7 posts zoals deze achter elkaar. Misschien moet je iets meer quality control toepassen bij wat je in het topic plaatst. Maar dat is slechts mijn bescheiden mening.

quote:

Hey @MichaelCohen212 - Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot...

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 22:29 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Matt Gaetz, GOP afgevaardigde

[..]

Foei Matt, je weet toch dat je getuigen niet mag proberen te beinvloeden? Intimidatie is een beetje verboden.

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 22:29 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Matt Gaetz, GOP afgevaardigde

[..]

Foei Matt, je weet toch dat je getuigen niet mag proberen te beinvloeden? Intimidatie is een beetje verboden.

twitter:

waltshaub twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 22:28:49 @mattgaetz @MichaelCohen212 See 18 U.S.C. §§ 1512(b), 1515(a)(1)(B). reageer retweet

twitter:

waltshaub twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 22:34:46 @mattgaetz @MichaelCohen212 "Conversely, actions that have not been viewed as “integral” to the legislative process and, therefore, have not been interpreted to be protected legislative acts include:- speaking outside of Congress;- writing newsletters and issuing press releases...https://t.co/an5i4KkpOm reageer retweet

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 23:03 schreef Mike het volgende:

[..]

Je zou denken dat dat soort figuren toch wel wat adviseurs om zich heen heeft die zo'n post ten zeerste zouden afraden...

quote:

Op dinsdag 26 februari 2019 21:23 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
Misschien moet je iets meer quality control toepassen bij wat je in het topic plaatst.

quote:

Michael Cohen has been disbarred, according to an official filing Tuesday. https://t.co/7zb6FsBA3K - @Tom_Winter

quote:

New from me + @BrandyZadrozny: Jacob Wohl was banned from Twitter for operating fake accounts posing as Democrats.

They included @women_4_schultz and @jwohltreason.

The first is what you think. The second argued with his main account about jailtime.

https://t.co/YaebbLy5eR

quote:

Michael Cohen will provide documentation of his reimbursement for the $130,000 Stormy Daniels payment, which he received in monthly installments throughout 2017, WSJ reports.

Trump signed some of the checks reimbursing Cohen. https://t.co/XoVLlIFHwQ

twitter:

GarrettHaake twitterde op dinsdag 26-02-2019 om 23:43:51 Intel committee vice chair Sen. @MarkWarner just dropped a cryptic bomb on the press corps. Stops at the mics and said he said for two years the Russia investigation is most important thing he will do in congress, after today still believes it, then walks off. What?? reageer retweet

quote:

Breaking: House votes 245-182 to terminate President Trump’s National Emergency Declaration. 13 Republicans voted with all Democrats to pass the measure.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 00:48 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Kim leest dit ook.

quote:

New from Wall Street Journal:

Cohen to show Congress check signed by the President, reimbursing him for illegal hush money payments made to benefit campaign. Expense was allegedly falsely booked at Trump Organization as legal fees.

https://t.co/oZAWmkis9f https://t.co/D94KIcFcrp

twitter:

rgoodlaw twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 01:40:24 Think: Tax CrimesWSJ: “Cohen intends to show the panel a signed check...Trump signed some of the checks reimbursing Mr Cohen, which Mr Cohen began receiving after Trump took office”Let’s put that in context.Read this by @BDGesq fmr DOJ Tax Division:https://t.co/f35IgLe6gD reageer retweet

DOJ Policy On Indicting A President Has Weak Basis In 1973 Memo | Rachel Maddow | MSNBC

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 03:31 schreef nostra het volgende:
Woon je in de VS, Kijkertje?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 03:36 schreef Kijkertje het volgende:
Ik moet er niet aan denken

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 03:46 schreef nostra het volgende:

[..]

Ah. Gezien de tijdstippen waarop je altijd post dacht ik dat. Wel handig voor mijn nachtelijke wakkerword-momentjes, altijd wat leesvoer.

Rep. Matt Gaetz On Tweet To Michael Cohen: 'This Is Witness Testing' | NBC News

twitter:

kylegriffin1 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 02:55:08 Jerry Nadler on the Matt Gaetz tweet: "I'm not going to waste time to every stupid thing that Matt Gaetz says, but it does remind me of the president's tweeting or talking to Fox News and, in effect, threatening Michael Cohen's father-in-law." @allinwithchris reageer retweet

quote:

A source close to Michael Cohen says he's going to drop a bombshell at an open congressional hearing on Wednesday, sharing documents prepared by Pres. Trump's accountant that may contain evidence of tax fraud https://t.co/CdivHdufLe https://t.co/xvBFJxT8Li

quote:

Michael Cohen's opening statement has been obtained by Politico.

"He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat."

Cohen says he'll provide docs that prove Trump's "illicit" acts. He'll say Trump knew Roger Stone was communicating with WikiLeaks.
https://t.co/NrkVykyLNw

quote:

Cohen will say that Trump had advanced knowledge through Roger Stone that WikiLeaks would publish hacked Clinton camp emails, according to the statement obtained by Politico.

"Mr. Trump knew from Roger Stone in advance about the WikiLeaks drop of emails." https://t.co/NrkVykyLNw

quote:

"Stone told Mr. Trump that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr. Assange told Mr. Stone ... there would be a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton's campaign. Mr. Trump responded by stating to the effect of 'wouldn’t that be great.'" https://t.co/LHUg1wnFY3

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 06:03 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

PDF in de link.

De grote netwerken bereiden zich voor op onderbrekingen in de programmering om dit uit te zenden. Dit kan leuk worden.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 03:46 schreef nostra het volgende:

[..]

Ah. Gezien de tijdstippen waarop je altijd post dacht ik dat. Wel handig voor mijn nachtelijke wakkerword-momentjes, altijd wat leesvoer.

quote:

"The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws." https://t.co/ocZa6coLnf

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 07:31 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
Cohen kan net zo goed thuisblijven want bijna zijn gehele verklaring is al uitgelekt

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 07:56 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Wie denk je dat het heeft gelekt?
Hij heeft uiteraard ook vragen te beantwoorden.

quote:

Also, Trump is signing Trump Org checks...after he separated himself from the business?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:02 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:

[..]

[ afbeelding ] Indertijd hadden ze al door de "bonespur" leugen konden prikken, ze HADDEN fotografisch bewijs dat Trump (eerste rij 4e van links) dat hij met sportactiviteiten HELEMAAL geen last van een bonespur had.

quote:

I have now spent more time in Vietnam than Da Nang Dick Blumenthal, the third rate Senator from Connecticut (how is Connecticut doing?). His war stories of his heroism in Vietnam were a total fraud - he was never even there. We talked about it today with Vietnamese leaders!

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 06:21 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Via Kyle Griffin

[..]

[..]

Aangezien Cphen niet echt in de positie zit om te gaan liegen zonder dat het opvalt denk ik dat dit wel eens waar zou kunnen zijn.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:17 schreef Genesisfan het volgende:
Hoe laat begint het feest met Cohen in onze tijd?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:24 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:

[..]

Mischien hoopte hij indertijd nog op een pardon van Trump, maar dit is er een die zijn moeder voor de bus zou gooien als het hem goed uit zou komen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:30 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:

[..]

Blijkbaar hebben ze bij de inval bij Cohen ZOVEEL materiaal gevonden dat bewijslast een eitje was voor de FBI.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:28 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:
Matt Gaetz mag wel oppassen, wat hij daar flikte met dat twitterbericht kan opgevat worden als ongepaste beïnvloeding van een getuige. En dan brengt hem zelf in de problemen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:17 schreef Genesisfan het volgende:
Hoe laat begint het feest met Cohen in onze tijd?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:39 schreef ExtraWaskracht het volgende:

[..]

16 uur / 10 uur ET

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:35 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:
Ik vraag me af wat de reden is waarom Gaetz zo uit de bocht is gevlogen..

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:21 schreef Elzies het volgende:

[..]

Gaan voor strafvermindering is een uitstekend motief om te gaan liegen. Of op zijn minst de waarheid een beetje op te gaan rekken.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 09:51 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Waarom denk je dat Cohen het risico zou nemen? Hij hoeft maar drie jaar. Misschien gaat er nog iets af wegens goed gedrag.
Om dan te gaan liegen tegen het Huis en het risico te nemen tien jaar extra te krijgen is onwaarschijnlijk.

Bovendien heeft hij documenten. Betalingen met Trump's handtekening. En Trump's financiele man heeft ook een deal gesloten.

Liegen hoeft dus niet.

quote:

I encourage all Members to be mindful that comments made on social media or in the press can adversely affect the ability of House Committees to obtain the truthful and complete information necessary to fulfill their duties. https://t.co/NDnxkaiFCA https://t.co/DIIgSHgeb5

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 10:08:03 Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer! reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:09 schreef Bobbje het volgende:

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 10:08:03 Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer! reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:09 schreef Bobbje het volgende:

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 10:08:03 Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer! reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:24 schreef Ensiferum het volgende:
Stelletje wanhopige Democraten. Die staatsgreep van ze zal niet lukken en Trump wordt gewoon herkozen in 2020.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:24 schreef Ensiferum het volgende:
Stelletje wanhopige Democraten. Die staatsgreep van ze zal niet lukken en Trump wordt gewoon herkozen in 2020.

quote:

The New York Times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don’t speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will “flip.” They use....

quote:

....non-existent “sources” and a drunk/drugged up loser who hates Michael, a fine person with a wonderful family. Michael is a businessman for his own account/lawyer who I have always liked & respected. Most people will flip if the Government lets them out of trouble, even if....

quote:

....it means lying or making up stories. Sorry, I don’t see Michael doing that despite the horrible Witch Hunt and the dishonest media!

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:30 schreef KoosVogels het volgende:
Overigens denk ik dat de gevolgen van de getuigenis van Cohen beperkt zijn. Democraten maken een hoop kabaal, Republikeinen wuiven het weg en vervolgens zetten we koers richting het volgende Trump-schandaal.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:30 schreef KoosVogels het volgende:
Overigens denk ik dat de gevolgen van de getuigenis van Cohen beperkt zijn. Democraten maken een hoop kabaal, Republikeinen wuiven het weg en vervolgens zetten we koers richting het volgende Trump-schandaal.

quote:

I remember being in the room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his father’s desk – which in itself was unusual. People didn’t just walk behind Mr. Trump’s desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: “The meeting is all set.” I remember Mr. Trump saying, “Ok good...let me know."

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:49 schreef Nibb-it het volgende:

[..]

Uh oh.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:51 schreef KoosVogels het volgende:

[..]

Probleem is dat zo'n verklaring nauwelijks geldt als bewijs.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Getuigenissen zijn gewoon bewijs.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:55 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:

[..]

Niet voor de republikeinen die nu het congres zitten.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:59 schreef KoosVogels het volgende:

[..]

Maar vooralsnog heb je alleen Cohen die dit beweert. En dan waren de woorden nog niet eens aan hem gericht, hij luisterde toevallig mee.

Waar mogelijk zullen de Republikeinen twijfel zaaien en dat wordt ze erg makkelijk gemaakt met dit soort verklaringen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 11:43 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Och ja, de antwoorden van Trump aan Mueller. Ik was ze glad vergeten.
Daar kan Trump inderdaad wel eens een probleem mee krijgen.

quote:

Trump says he'll have a news conference after his meeting with Kim Jong Un on Thursday. They're having dinner tonight in Hanoi, Vietnam. Trump was asked by reporters about Michael Cohen's upcoming testimony. But he didn't respond.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 13:00 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
Wanneer begint Cohen's testimony?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 10:33 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Met Trump's krabbel hier en daar op nogql belastende papieren en zijn poging het Congres buitenspel te zetten denk ik dat impeachment hearings wel eens snel gestart zouden kunnen worden.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 14:14 schreef Knipoogje het volgende:

[..]

De democraten gaan niet impeachen. Dat wordt hen aan alle kanten afgeraden. Ze gaan dat pas doen als ze 100% zeker zijn dat de GOP er in mee gaat.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 14:46 schreef klappernootopreis het volgende:

[..]

Ik denk dan ook dat hij zich dan niet uit de tent moet laten lokken door de ondervragers.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 14:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

De Dems hebben instructies gekregen vandaag uit het vaarwater van Mueller te blijven met hun vragen. Niet iedereen is daar trouwens blij mee.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 14:56 schreef Mike het volgende:

[..]

Het nadeel ervan vind ik dat Republikeinen wel weer zullen roepen dat het allemaal erg meevalt. Maar ja, je wil lopend onderzoek ook zeker niet in de weg zitten.

quote:

“Mr. Cohen statement is untrue,” Roger Stone tells ABC News this morning.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 15:39 schreef ExtraWaskracht het volgende:
Laat hem dat maar onder ede verklaren dan.

quote:

Here are the checks Michael Cohen says he obtained from President Trump reimbursing him for the illegal hush-money payment to Stormy Daniels. One is drawn on Trump's personal account, the other on his revocable trust (which owns Trump's private businesses). https://t.co/8eLDVtLUNi

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:03 schreef Kijkertje het volgende:
Meadows begint nu al te protesteren. Hij wil uitstel

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:12:35 Cummings also notes that Cohen has provided documents to corroborate some of his statements. https://t.co/2bULRmbV3v reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:14 schreef Kijkertje het volgende:

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:12:35 Cummings also notes that Cohen has provided documents to corroborate some of his statements. https://t.co/2bULRmbV3v reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:16:42 Cummings: I've made it "abundantly clear" to Cohen that if he doesn't tell the truth today, I'm going to be the first one to refer his lies to the Department of Justice. So it's not true he has nothing to lose, because he has "a lot to lose if he lies." reageer retweet

quote:

House Oversight Chair Elijah Cummings: "Ladies and gentlemen: The days of this committee protecting the president at all costs are over. They're over." https://t.co/S6fnhqkl9L https://t.co/Q0oDeb2jrB

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:22:15 Jordan claims that this hearing was orchestrated by Lanny Davis, the longtime Clinton associate. He says Cohen can't be trusted, has a longtime history of crime and deception, but "the Democrats don't care." reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:24:08 Jordan then brings in Democratic billionaire Tom Steyer, suggesting that he's behind this hearing, and the Christopher Steele dossier. He's basically arguing that the hearing is a nefarious Clintonworld-Steyer operation. reageer retweet

twitter:

kylegriffin1 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:28:47 Michael Cohen: "I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump’s illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a conman. And he is a cheat." reageer retweet

twitter:

kylegriffin1 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:31:01 Michael Cohen: "I lied to Congress about when Mr. Trump stopped negotiating the Moscow Tower project in Russia. I stated that we stopped negotiating in January 2016. That was false – our negotiations continued for months later during the campaign." reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:32:23 One thing I should add: Cohen says Trump's lawyers not only reviewed but "edited" his false statement to Congress about the Moscow Trump Tower discussions. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:31 schreef gniffie het volgende:
we willen Trumps schoolcijfers zien

quote:

JUST IN: House Judiciary chairman says Trump's acting AG will return to clarify testimony https://t.co/YP73uo26CJ https://t.co/gENRkG7Udk

twitter:

eelcobvr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:51:20 Ongeloofwaardig in Cohens verhaal over Stone: Assange zelf had emaildump al aangekondigd, daar was geen geheim telefoontje voor nodig (waarvan Stone ontkent dat het plaatsvond) https://t.co/vPM8cdkzQR reageer retweet

twitter:

mtracey twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:30:25 If Trump "knew in advance" about the pending publication of hacked DNC emails, so did everyone who followed the WikiLeaks Twitter account. It was public information! That's what's so maddening about this ridiculous narrative https://t.co/mCYQxNUOZK reageer retweet

twitter:

TimMurtaugh twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:01:11 Michael Cohen’s lies were “deliberate & premeditated,” said Special Counsel’s Office.Federal prosecutors say his actions were for his own profit, power & enhanced influence.He is known to have lied to Congress, so naturally Dems invite him back for the media spectacle. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:46 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:
Cohen loopt weer lekker te liegen zoals hij de vorige keren ook al deed.
Verhaal zit ook vol onwaarheden:

twitter:

eelcobvr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:51:20 Ongeloofwaardig in Cohens verhaal over Stone: Assange zelf had emaildump al aangekondigd, daar was geen geheim telefoontje voor nodig (waarvan Stone ontkent dat het plaatsvond) https://t.co/vPM8cdkzQR reageer retweet

twitter:

mtracey twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:30:25 If Trump "knew in advance" about the pending publication of hacked DNC emails, so did everyone who followed the WikiLeaks Twitter account. It was public information! That's what's so maddening about this ridiculous narrative https://t.co/mCYQxNUOZK reageer retweet

twitter:

TimMurtaugh twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:01:11 Michael Cohen’s lies were “deliberate & premeditated,” said Special Counsel’s Office.Federal prosecutors say his actions were for his own profit, power & enhanced influence.He is known to have lied to Congress, so naturally Dems invite him back for the media spectacle. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:46 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:
Cohen loopt weer lekker te liegen zoals hij de vorige keren ook al deed.
Verhaal zit ook vol onwaarheden:

twitter:

eelcobvr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:51:20 Ongeloofwaardig in Cohens verhaal over Stone: Assange zelf had emaildump al aangekondigd, daar was geen geheim telefoontje voor nodig (waarvan Stone ontkent dat het plaatsvond) https://t.co/vPM8cdkzQR reageer retweet

twitter:

mtracey twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 15:30:25 If Trump "knew in advance" about the pending publication of hacked DNC emails, so did everyone who followed the WikiLeaks Twitter account. It was public information! That's what's so maddening about this ridiculous narrative https://t.co/mCYQxNUOZK reageer retweet

twitter:

TimMurtaugh twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 16:01:11 Michael Cohen’s lies were “deliberate & premeditated,” said Special Counsel’s Office.Federal prosecutors say his actions were for his own profit, power & enhanced influence.He is known to have lied to Congress, so naturally Dems invite him back for the media spectacle. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:46 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:
Cohen loopt weer lekker te liegen zoals hij de vorige keren ook al deed.
-snip-

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:46 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:
zwets

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:57 schreef Szura het volgende:
Ondertussen heeft Drumpf heerlijk gegeten met een meedogenloze dictator . En de bevolking maar creperen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:57 schreef DuizendGezichten het volgende:
Betaling van Trump aan Cohen, vanwege Stormy, na het begin van zijn termijn is op dit ogenblik het meest belastend, zo denk ik.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:53 schreef ExtraWaskracht het volgende:

[..]

Waar liegt hij dan specifiek? Tijdslijntje ofzo zou wel handig zijn als je die hebt...

quote:

The New York Times and a third rate reporter named Maggie Haberman, known as a Crooked H flunkie who I don’t speak to and have nothing to do with, are going out of their way to destroy Michael Cohen and his relationship with me in the hope that he will “flip.” They use....

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:59 schreef nostra het volgende:

[..]

Maar hoe bewijs je dat die betaling (van een ander bedrag en aan zijn advocaat - aan wie betalingen niet vreemd zijn natuurlijk) dáárvoor diende?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 16:59 schreef nostra het volgende:

[..]

Maar hoe bewijs je dat die betaling (van een ander bedrag en aan zijn advocaat - aan wie betalingen niet vreemd zijn natuurlijk) dáárvoor diende?

twitter:

arjenUSA twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 06:17:22 Dit is geen onbelangrijk zinnetje. “Mr. Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress.” https://t.co/yxmzG292Xc reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:01 schreef Nibb-it het volgende:

[..]

Cohen heeft een getuige, Weisselberg.

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:01:39 Cohen says Weisselberg would "for sure" have more information about the discussions about the Stormy Daniels payment. He says Don Jr. would have "cursory" information about it. reageer retweet

twitter:

kylegriffin1 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:03:35 Cummings: "Donald Trump wrote you a check out of his personal account with he was serving as President of the United States of America to reimburse you for hush money payments to Ms. Clifford. Is that what you are telling the American people today?"Cohen: "Yes, Mr. Chairman." reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:02 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:

twitter:

arjenUSA twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 06:17:22 Dit is geen onbelangrijk zinnetje. “Mr. Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress.” https://t.co/yxmzG292Xc reageer retweet

Het gaat allemaal weer meevallen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:03 schreef Kijkertje het volgende:

[..]

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:01:39 Cohen says Weisselberg would "for sure" have more information about the discussions about the Stormy Daniels payment. He says Don Jr. would have "cursory" information about it. reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:03:55 Republican Jim Jordan begins by reading Cohen's detailed threat to ruin Daily Beast reporter @timkmak, which is outlined here: https://t.co/wnSeKHYrg6 reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:05:27 Jordan is making a case that Cohen has committed a bunch of crimes for himself, not just out of blind loyalty to Trump. Cohen is repeatedly acknowledging the crimes Jordan is listing were "not" only to protect Trump. reageer retweet

twitter:

EricTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:11:29 Michael was lobbying EVERYONE to be “Chief of Staff.” It was the biggest joke in the campaign and around the office. Did he just perjure himself again? reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:14 schreef gniffie het volgende:
Wat zijn dit voor poep vragen

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:01 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Bankgegevens opvragen van Stormy.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:18 schreef DuizendGezichten het volgende:

[..]

Nog steeds circumstantial, maar het versterkt het verhaal van Cohen aanzienlijk.

twitter:

tomvanteinde twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:08:56 Direct bewijs dat er samengespannen is met de Russen heeft ook Michael Cohen niet👇🏻 https://t.co/jArrP3jrRN reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:21 schreef martijnde3de het volgende:

twitter:

tomvanteinde twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:08:56 Direct bewijs dat er samengespannen is met de Russen heeft ook Michael Cohen niet👇🏻 https://t.co/jArrP3jrRN reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:21 schreef Ludachrist het volgende:

[..]

Volgens mij is die betaling ook gewoon in één keer aan haar gedaan, dus dat is ook nog niet direct bewijs dat 70k aan een fixer specifiek daarvoor gediend heeft.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:22 schreef Nibb-it het volgende:
Impliceerde Jordan nou dat Mueller Cohen heeft zitten beïnvloeden voor deze zitting?

quote:

Michael Cohen worked for Donald Trump for ten years, but what we don't know yet is how long Jim Jordan has worked for him

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:26 schreef DuizendGezichten het volgende:

[..]

Akkoord.

Tegenvraag is; waarom zou Cohen mrs. Clifford $131.000,- betalen uit zijn tweede hypotheek?

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:29 schreef Ludachrist het volgende:

[..]

Zwijggeld, maar dat zou hij theoretisch gezien ook op eigen houtje hebben kunnen doen zonder dat Trump er van wist, om het later te declareren.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:29 schreef Ludachrist het volgende:

[..]

Zwijggeld, maar dat zou hij theoretisch gezien ook op eigen houtje hebben kunnen doen zonder dat Trump er van wist, om het later te declareren.

twitter:

realDonaldTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 10:08:03 Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer! reageer retweet

twitter:

EricTrump twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:11:29 Michael was lobbying EVERYONE to be “Chief of Staff.” It was the biggest joke in the campaign and around the office. Did he just perjure himself again? reageer retweet

twitter:

DonaldJTrumpJr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:14:23 Nailed it. It really was the biggest joke of the entire transition. The beginning of his bitterness was when he realized that was never going to happen. #Delusional. https://t.co/ddizWugguU reageer retweet

twitter:

DonaldJTrumpJr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:09:19 Hahahaha Michael Cohen begged to work at the White House and everyone knows it. reageer retweet

twitter:

DonaldJTrumpJr twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:21:56 And that’s what all this is about. Cohen just wants to be famous. He always wanted his own TV show and the limelight and when he couldn’t get it one way he had to try another. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:33 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
"Shame on you, Mr. Jordan."

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:33 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:
"Shame on you, Mr. Jordan."

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:38 schreef ExtraWaskracht het volgende:
Blijft pijnlijk om te zien dat volwassen mensen aldaar zo ver in de kont van Trump gekropen zijn.

quote:

I can’t help but think back to Trump on AF1 last Spring directing everyone to “ask Michael Cohen” for the answers about what happened re the NDA and payments. Now, we are all being told not to ask Michael Cohen...

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:39 schreef Nibb-it het volgende:
Dit gesprek is echt heel hallucinant.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:47 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:

[..]

Vooral met Meadows.

"Geef antwoord op mijn vraag!"
"Mijn antwoord is dat.."
"Volgende vraag:..."
"Mag ik nog antwoord geven?
"Nee. Volgende vraag:.."

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:47 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:

[..]

Vooral met Meadows.

"Geef antwoord op mijn vraag!"
"Mijn antwoord is dat.."
"Volgende vraag:..."
"Mag ik nog antwoord geven?
"Nee. Volgende vraag:.."

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:47 schreef westwoodblvd het volgende:

[..]

Vooral met Meadows.

"Geef antwoord op mijn vraag!"
"Mijn antwoord is dat.."
"Volgende vraag:..."
"Mag ik nog antwoord geven?
"Nee. Volgende vraag:.."

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:48:30 Cohen says Trump used inaccurate financial information to secure lower premiums from insurance companies. reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 17:50:09 Cohen also alleges that Trump submitted false financial information to Deutsche Bank to try to get money for his attempt to buy the Buffalo Bills. reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 17:53 schreef Ulx het volgende:
Wisten jullie trouwens dat er nog ergens een top is over atoomwapens?


Testimony by Trump's former personal lawyer could eclipse US-North Korea summit

twitter:

rgoodlaw twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 18:11:19 Legal hot water for Don Jr. (#perjury)Michael Cohen (to @RepStephenLynch): I gave “approximately 10” briefings, including Don. Jr. and Ivanka, on Moscow Tower deal#CohenTestimonyHere’s what Donald Trump Jr told Congress about that 2015-16 Moscow Tower deal👇 https://t.co/3ABZQow3Q9 reageer retweet

twitter:

rgoodlaw twitterde op donderdag 29-11-2018 om 17:02:03 What Donald Trump Jr told Congress about Moscow Tower dealNote Michael Cohen plea: "briefed family members...within the Company about the project"Don Jr to Senate:Sater worked on deal "in 2015""I wasn't involved"Were you aware Cohen reached out to Kremlin? "No, I was not" https://t.co/ITyt6cc7dd reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:13 schreef Toby56 het volgende:
Cohen heeft gelijk, maar de tragiek is dat z'n eigen voorbeeld er juist voor zal zorgen dat-ie weinig navolgers gaat krijgen. Wie wil deze schijtzooi nou meemaken? Liever doorgaan met liegen en eventueel semi-anoniem de nor in wanneer Trump het Witte Huis uit is, of als The Donald aanklopt bij Petrus.
Weer moet ik denken aan ene keizer Tiberius... laat ze mij maar vrezen, zolang ze mij maar gehoorzamen.

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 18:17:08 Reporting from numerous news outlets has said that Cohen very much wanted a White House job. https://t.co/3g5q7MFYdF reageer retweet

twitter:

jameshohmann twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 18:15:10 . @DanaBashCNN says the biggest problem with Michael Cohen’s testimony in Round One is his insistence that he didn’t want to work in the White House. “He very much wanted a job in the White House,” she says. @jaketapper adds: "All of our reporting suggests that's not true." reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 18:15:45 New: Trump made 21 false claims last week, including another wild lie about mass voter fraud in California: https://t.co/NkZfwqOoON reageer retweet

twitter:

ddale8 twitterde op woensdag 27-02-2019 om 18:18:28 Trump is up to 4,445 false claims as president, 5.8 per day. Here's my complete database, sortable by category: https://t.co/tUlVsaIQoY reageer retweet

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:18 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

Er bestaat ook zoiets als een subpoena.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:24 schreef Toby56 het volgende:

[..]

Ja, en dan lieg je gewoon weer. Gewoon Trump blijven dekken. Onder ode desnoods. Waarom niet? Voor de meesten is het gewoon hun tweede of zelfs eerste natuur. Tot nu toe liegt z'n hele vrindenclub gewoon keihard en chronisch. En als ze het allemaal blijven doen, wie doet je wat? Een paar jaartjes brommen (met je stropdas nog om), dat regelt een 'goeie' advocaat nog wel voor je, en daarna een baantje bij Donalds club. Als waardering voor je trouw en besef van waarlijk patriottisme. Voor Cohen wacht de nor en daarna hooguit misschien een sneu boek "How I became a loser".

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:31 schreef Ulx het volgende:

[..]

We zullen zien hoeveel jaar Manafort achter de tralies gaat. En dan of mensen het 15 jaar cel waard vinden om Trump te dekken.

Maar tot nu heeft iedereen, behalve Manafort, een deal gekozen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:32 schreef DuizendGezichten het volgende:
Gerry Connolly slaat de spijker op zijn kop.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:36 schreef Toby56 het volgende:

[..]

Clay en Connolly zijn goed bezig. Maar het beroerde is, het blijft allemaal onderdeel van een toneelstuk voor twee volkomen van elkaar vervreemde partijen.

quote:

Op woensdag 27 februari 2019 18:40 schreef DuizendGezichten het volgende:

[..]

Verschil tussen beide partijen; de een is op zoek naar waarheid. De ander is bezig met karaktermoord.

quote:

TESTIMONY OF MICHAEL D. COHEN
COMMITTEE ON OVERSIGHT AND REFORM
U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
FEBRUARY 27, 2019
Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, and Members of the
Committee, thank you for inviting me here today.
I have asked this Committee to ensure that my family be protected from
Presidential threats, and that the Committee be sensitive to the questions
pertaining to ongoing investigations. Thank you for your help and for your
understanding.
I am here under oath to correct the record, to answer the Committee’s
questions truthfully, and to offer the American people what I know about
President Trump.
I recognize that some of you may doubt and attack me on my credibility. It
is for this reason that I have incorporated into this opening statement
documents that are irrefutable, and demonstrate that the information you
will hear is accurate and truthful.
Never in a million years did I imagine, when I accepted a job in 2007 to
work for Donald Trump, that he would one day run for President, launch a
2
campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance, and actually win. I regret
the day I said “yes” to Mr. Trump. I regret all the help and support I gave
him along the way.
I am ashamed of my own failings, and I publicly accepted responsibility for
them by pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York.
I am ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty – of the things I did
for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him.
I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump’s illicit acts
rather than listening to my own conscience.
I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is.
He is a racist.
He is a conman.
He is a cheat.
He was a presidential candidate who knew that Roger Stone was talking
with Julian Assange about a WikiLeaks drop of Democratic National
Committee emails.
3
I will explain each in a few moments.
I am providing the Committee today with several documents. These
include:
• A copy of a check Mr. Trump wrote from his personal bank
account – after he became president - to reimburse me for the
hush money payments I made to cover up his affair with an adult
film star and prevent damage to his campaign;
• Copies of financial statements for 2011 – 2013 that he gave to
such institutions as Deutsche Bank;
• A copy of an article with Mr. Trump’s handwriting on it that
reported on the auction of a portrait of himself – he arranged for
the bidder ahead of time and then reimbursed the bidder from the
account of his non-profit charitable foundation, with the picture
now hanging in one of his country clubs; and
• Copies of letters I wrote at Mr. Trump’s direction that threatened
his high school, colleges, and the College Board not to release his
grades or SAT scores.
4
I hope my appearance here today, my guilty plea, and my work with law
enforcement agencies are steps along a path of redemption that will restore
faith in me and help this country understand our president better.
***
Before going further, I want to apologize to each of you and to Congress as
a whole.
The last time I appeared before Congress, I came to protect Mr. Trump.
Today, I’m here to tell the truth about Mr. Trump.
I lied to Congress about when Mr. Trump stopped negotiating the Moscow
Tower project in Russia. I stated that we stopped negotiating in January
2016. That was false – our negotiations continued for months later during
the campaign.
Mr. Trump did not directly tell me to lie to Congress. That’s not how he
operates.
In conversations we had during the campaign, at the same time I was
actively negotiating in Russia for him, he would look me in the eye and tell
5
me there’s no business in Russia and then go out and lie to the American
people by saying the same thing. In his way, he was telling me to lie.
There were at least a half-dozen times between the Iowa Caucus in
January 2016 and the end of June when he would ask me “How’s it going
in Russia?” – referring to the Moscow Tower project.
You need to know that Mr. Trump’s personal lawyers reviewed and edited
my statement to Congress about the timing of the Moscow Tower
negotiations before I gave it.
To be clear: Mr. Trump knew of and directed the Trump Moscow
negotiations throughout the campaign and lied about it. He lied about it
because he never expected to win the election. He also lied about it
because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the Moscow
real estate project.
And so I lied about it, too – because Mr. Trump had made clear to me,
through his personal statements to me that we both knew were false and
through his lies to the country, that he wanted me to lie. And he made it
6
clear to me because his personal attorneys reviewed my statement before I
gave it to Congress.
****
Over the past two years, I have been smeared as “a rat” by the President of
the United States. The truth is much different, and let me take a brief
moment to introduce myself.
My name is Michael Dean Cohen.
I am a blessed husband of 24 years and a father to an incredible daughter
and son. When I married my wife, I promised her that I would love her,
cherish her, and protect her. As my father said countless times throughout
my childhood, “you my wife, and you my children, are the air that I breathe.”
To my Laura, my Sami, and my Jake, there is nothing I wouldn’t do to
protect you.
I have always tried to live a life of loyalty, friendship, generosity, and
compassion – qualities my parents ingrained in my siblings and me since
childhood. My father survived the Holocaust thanks to the compassion and
selfless acts of others. He was helped by many who put themselves in
harm’s way to do what they knew was right.
7
That is why my first instinct has always been to help those in need. Mom
and Dad…I am sorry that I let you down.
As many people that know me best would say, I am the person they would
call at 3AM if they needed help. I proudly remember being the emergency
contact for many of my children’s friends when they were growing up
because their parents knew that I would drop everything and care for them
as if they were my own.
Yet, last fall I pled guilty in federal court to felonies for the benefit of, at the
direction of, and in coordination with Individual #1.
For the record: Individual #1 is President Donald J. Trump.
It is painful to admit that I was motivated by ambition at times. It is even
more painful to admit that many times I ignored my conscience and acted
loyal to a man when I should not have. Sitting here today, it seems
unbelievable that I was so mesmerized by Donald Trump that I was willing
to do things for him that I knew were absolutely wrong.
For that reason, I have come here to apologize to my family, to the
government, and to the American people.
***
8
Accordingly, let me now tell you about Mr. Trump.
I got to know him very well, working very closely with him for more than 10
years, as his Executive Vice President and Special Counsel and then
personal attorney when he became President. When I first met Mr. Trump,
he was a successful entrepreneur, a real estate giant, and an icon. Being
around Mr. Trump was intoxicating. When you were in his presence, you
felt like you were involved in something greater than yourself -- that you
were somehow changing the world.
I wound up touting the Trump narrative for over a decade. That was my job.
Always stay on message. Always defend. It monopolized my life. At first, I
worked mostly on real estate developments and other business
transactions. Shortly thereafter, Mr. Trump brought me into his personal life
and private dealings. Over time, I saw his true character revealed.
Mr. Trump is an enigma. He is complicated, as am I. He has both good and
bad, as do we all. But the bad far outweighs the good, and since taking
office, he has become the worst version of himself. He is capable of
behaving kindly, but he is not kind. He is capable of committing acts of
generosity, but he is not generous. He is capable of being loyal, but he is
fundamentally disloyal.
9
Donald Trump is a man who ran for office to make his brand great, not to
make our country great. He had no desire or intention to lead this nation –
only to market himself and to build his wealth and power. Mr. Trump would
often say, this campaign was going to be the “greatest infomercial in
political history.”
He never expected to win the primary. He never expected to win the
general election. The campaign – for him – was always a marketing
opportunity.
I knew early on in my work for Mr. Trump that he would direct me to lie to
further his business interests. I am ashamed to say, that when it was for a
real estate mogul in the private sector, I considered it trivial. As the
President, I consider it significant and dangerous.
But in the mix, lying for Mr. Trump was normalized, and no one around him
questioned it. In fairness, no one around him today questions it, either.
A lot of people have asked me about whether Mr. Trump knew about the
release of the hacked Democratic National Committee emails ahead of
time. The answer is yes.
10
As I earlier stated, Mr. Trump knew from Roger Stone in advance about the
WikiLeaks drop of emails.
In July 2016, days before the Democratic convention, I was in Mr. Trump’s
office when his secretary announced that Roger Stone was on the phone.
Mr. Trump put Mr. Stone on the speakerphone. Mr. Stone told Mr. Trump
that he had just gotten off the phone with Julian Assange and that Mr.
Assange told Mr. Stone that, within a couple of days, there would be a
massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign.
Mr. Trump responded by stating to the effect of “wouldn’t that be great.”
Mr. Trump is a racist. The country has seen Mr. Trump court white
supremacists and bigots. You have heard him call poorer countries
“shitholes.”
In private, he is even worse.
He once asked me if I could name a country run by a black person that
wasn’t a “shithole.” This was when Barack Obama was President of the
United States.
11
While we were once driving through a struggling neighborhood in Chicago,
he commented that only black people could live that way.
And, he told me that black people would never vote for him because they
were too stupid.
And yet I continued to work for him.
Mr. Trump is a cheat.
As previously stated, I’m giving the Committee today three years of
President Trump’s financial statements, from 2011-2013, which he gave to
Deutsche Bank to inquire about a loan to buy the Buffalo Bills and to
Forbes. These are Exhibits 1a, 1b, and 1c to my testimony.
It was my experience that Mr. Trump inflated his total assets when it served
his purposes, such as trying to be listed among the wealthiest people in
Forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes.
I am sharing with you two newspaper articles, side by side, that are
examples of Mr. Trump inflating and deflating his assets, as I said, to suit
his financial interests. These are Exhibit 2 to my testimony.
12
As I noted, I’m giving the Committee today an article he wrote on, and sent
me, that reported on an auction of a portrait of Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit
3A to my testimony.
Mr. Trump directed me to find a straw bidder to purchase a portrait of him
that was being auctioned at an Art Hamptons Event. The objective was to
ensure that his portrait, which was going to be auctioned last, would go for
the highest price of any portrait that afternoon. The portrait was purchased
by the fake bidder for $60,000. Mr. Trump directed the Trump Foundation,
which is supposed to be a charitable organization, to repay the fake bidder,
despite keeping the art for himself. Please see Exhibit 3B to my testimony.
And it should come as no surprise that one of my more common
responsibilities was that Mr. Trump directed me to call business owners,
many of whom were small businesses, that were owed money for their
services and told them no payment or a reduced payment would be
coming. When I advised Mr. Trump of my success, he actually reveled in it.
And yet, I continued to work for him.
13
Mr. Trump is a conman.
He asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair, and
to lie to his wife about it, which I did. Lying to the First Lady is one of my
biggest regrets. She is a kind, good person. I respect her greatly – and she
did not deserve that.
I am giving the Committee today a copy of the $130,000 wire transfer from
me to Ms. Clifford’s attorney during the closing days of the presidential
campaign that was demanded by Ms. Clifford to maintain her silence about
her affair with Mr. Trump. This is Exhibit 4 to my testimony.
Mr. Trump directed me to use my own personal funds from a Home Equity
Line of Credit to avoid any money being traced back to him that could
negatively impact his campaign. I did that, too – without bothering to
consider whether that was improper, much less whether it was the right
thing to do or how it would impact me, my family, or the public.
I am going to jail in part because of my decision to help Mr. Trump hide that
payment from the American people before they voted a few days later.
As Exhibit 5 to my testimony shows, I am providing a copy of a $35,000
check that President Trump personally signed from his personal bank
14
account on August 1, 2017 – when he was President of the United States –
pursuant to the cover-up, which was the basis of my guilty plea, to
reimburse me – the word used by Mr. Trump’s TV lawyer -- for the illegal
hush money I paid on his behalf. This $35,000 check was one of 11 check
installments that was paid throughout the year – while he was President.
The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the
payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign
finance laws. You can find the details of that scheme, directed by Mr.
Trump, in the pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of
New York.
So picture this scene – in February 2017, one month into his presidency,
I’m visiting President Trump in the Oval Office for the first time. It’s truly
awe-inspiring, he’s showing me around and pointing to different paintings,
and he says to me something to the effect of…Don’t worry, Michael, your
January and February reimbursement checks are coming. They were Fed-
Exed from New York and it takes a while for that to get through the White
House system. As he promised, I received the first check for the
reimbursement of $70,000 not long thereafter.
15
When I say conman, I’m talking about a man who declares himself brilliant
but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College
Board to never release his grades or SAT scores.
As I mentioned, I’m giving the Committee today copies of a letter I sent at
Mr. Trump’s direction threatening these schools with civil and criminal
actions if Mr. Trump’s grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without
his permission. These are Exhibit 6.
The irony wasn’t lost on me at the time that Mr. Trump in 2011 had strongly
criticized President Obama for not releasing his grades. As you can see in
Exhibit 7, Mr. Trump declared “Let him show his records” after calling
President Obama “a terrible student.”
The sad fact is that I never heard Mr. Trump say anything in private that led
me to believe he loved our nation or wanted to make it better. In fact, he did
the opposite.
When telling me in 2008 that he was cutting employees’ salaries in half –
including mine – he showed me what he claimed was a $10 million IRS tax
refund, and he said that he could not believe how stupid the government
was for giving “someone like him” that much money back.
16
During the campaign, Mr. Trump said he did not consider Vietnam Veteran,
and Prisoner of War, Senator John McCain to be “a hero” because he likes
people who weren’t captured. At the same time, Mr. Trump tasked me to
handle the negative press surrounding his medical deferment from the
Vietnam draft.
Mr. Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for
medical records, he gave me none and said there was no surgery. He told
me not to answer the specific questions by reporters but rather offer simply
the fact that he received a medical deferment.
He finished the conversation with the following comment. “You think I’m
stupid, I wasn’t going to Vietnam.”
I find it ironic, President Trump, that you are in Vietnam right now.
And yet, I continued to work for him.
***
Questions have been raised about whether I know of direct evidence that
Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia. I do not. I want to be
clear. But, I have my suspicions.
17
Sometime in the summer of 2017, I read all over the media that there had
been a meeting in Trump Tower in June 2016 involving Don Jr. and others
from the campaign with Russians, including a representative of the Russian
government, and an email setting up the meeting with the subject line, “Dirt
on Hillary Clinton.” Something clicked in my mind. I remember being in the
room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something
peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his
father’s desk – which in itself was unusual. People didn’t just walk behind
Mr. Trump’s desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father
and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: “The
meeting is all set.” I remember Mr. Trump saying, “Ok good…let me
know.”
What struck me as I looked back and thought about that exchange between
Don Jr. and his father was, first, that Mr. Trump had frequently told me and
others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the
world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any
significance alone – and certainly not without checking with his father.
I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign,
without Mr. Trump’s knowledge and approval. So, I concluded that Don
Jr. was referring to that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on
18
Hillary with the Russian representative when he walked behind his dad’s
desk that day -- and that Mr. Trump knew that was the meeting Don Jr. was
talking about when he said, “That’s good…let me know.”
***
Over the past year or so, I have done some real soul searching. I see now
that my ambition and the intoxication of Trump power had much to do with
the bad decisions I made.
To you, Chairman Cummings, Ranking Member Jordan, the other
members of this Committee, and the other members of the House and
Senate, I am sorry for my lies and for lying to Congress.
To our nation, I am sorry for actively working to hide from you the truth
about Mr. Trump when you needed it most.
For those who question my motives for being here today, I understand. I
have lied, but I am not a liar. I have done bad things, but I am not a bad
man. I have fixed things, but I am no longer your “fixer,” Mr. Trump.
I am going to prison and have shattered the safety and security that I tried
so hard to provide for my family. My testimony certainly does not diminish
19
the pain I caused my family and friends – nothing can do that. And I have
never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump.
And, by coming today, I have caused my family to be the target of personal,
scurrilous attacks by the President and his lawyer – trying to intimidate me
from appearing before this panel. Mr. Trump called me a “rat” for choosing
to tell the truth – much like a mobster would do when one of his men
decides to cooperate with the government.
As Exhibit 8 shows, I have provided the Committee with copies of Tweets
that Mr. Trump posted, attacking me and my family – only someone burying
his head in the sand would not recognize them for what they are:
encouragement to someone to do harm to me and my family.
I never imagined that he would engage in vicious, false attacks on my
family – and unleash his TV-lawyer to do the same. I hope this committee
and all members of Congress on both sides of the aisle will make it clear:
As a nation, we should not tolerate attempts to intimidate witnesses before
congress and attacks on family are out of bounds and not acceptable.
I wish to especially thank Speaker Pelosi for her statements in Exhibit 9 to
protect this institution and me, and the Chairman of the House Permanent
20
Select Committee on Intelligence Adam Schiff and Chairman Cummings for
likewise defending this institution and my family against the attacks by Mr.
Trump, and also the many Republicans who have admonished the
President as well.
I am not a perfect man. I have done things I am not proud of, and I will live
with the consequences of my actions for the rest of my life.
But today, I get to decide the example I set for my children and how I
attempt to change how history will remember me. I may not be able to
change the past, but I can do right by the American people here today.
Thank you for your attention. I am happy to answer the Committee’s
questions.