Former Trump aides guilty of finance fraud
Donald Trump stood accused of conspiring to commit campaign finance fraud and two of his closest aides faced jail time after court proceedings delivered a legal and political onetwo punch to his embattled presidency.
In a drama that played out simultaneously across two US cities, a court on Tuesday found one former aide guilty of eight charges – and the other pleaded guilty to another eight – stemming from the federal investigation into the 2016 presidential election.
In New York, Trump’s longtime fixer, attorney Michael Cohen, admitted to charges that included making illegal campaign contributions.
Cohen detailed how he had made pre-election hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Both claim to have had affairs with Trump.
But in a sensational twist, Cohen also pointed to the president – or “individual 1” as a coconspirator – alleging that he had acted “in co-ordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office” in making those payments.
“I participated in this conduct with the purpose of influencing the election,” a visibly crestfallen Cohen told the judge, his voice trembling at times as he addressed the packed courtroom.
That admission put Trump himself in legal jeopardy and raised the prospect that a oncetrusted lieutenant is ready to spill secrets in exchange for a reduced sentence.
In a statement to US media, Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said: “There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the government’s charges against Mr Cohen.”
Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, explained his client’s about-face after years spent vowing to “take a bullet” for Trump.
“This is Michael fulfilling his promise – to put his family and country first and tell the truth about Donald Trump,” Davis said.
“Today, he stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purpose of influencing an election,” the lawyer said.
While the Cohen drama was unfolding in New York, a jury in Virginia found Trump’s one-time campaign chair, Paul Manafort, guilty on eight counts, including bank fraud, tax fraud and failure to declare foreign bank accounts.
Trump expressed regret, calling Manafort “a good man”.
“I feel very sad about that,” Trump told reporters as he arrived in West Virginia for a ralelection ly, 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 Russian collusion.”
Trump also sought to distance himself from Manafort – who was instrumental in the 72-year-old securing the 2016 Republican nomination.
“He worked for many, many people,” Trump said, citing campaigns for former president Ronald Reagan and vicepresidential candidate Bob Dole.
At the rally, Trump made oblique but impassioned comments about Manafort and the Mueller probe.
“Where is the collusion?” he asked the crowd.
“They are still looking for collusion – where is the collusion?
“Find some collusion. We want to find the collusion.”
It is Cohen’s decision to enter a plea deal that may pose the most problems for Trump.
While it is US legal tradition that the president cannot be tried, the allegation, if proven, will only increase calls for his impeachment.
In addition to two counts of violating campaign finance laws, Cohen pleaded guilty to five counts of tax fraud and one of bank fraud.
Cohen faces a maximum of 65 years of imprisonment, with his sentence set to be handed down on December 12.
At a courthouse close to Washington, jurors spent four days deliberating on the 18 charges against Manafort.
While the jury was unable to reach a verdict on 10 counts, prompting the judge to declare a partial mistrial, Manafort was found guilty on the eight remaining charges.
These included five of filing false income tax returns, two of bank fraud and one of failure to report foreign bank and financial accounts. – AFP