All The President’s Men – Manafort Guilty on Eight Counts; Cohen Pleads
- Details
- Category: World News
- Published on Tuesday, 21 August 2018 20:22
- Written by Janet Walker
Robert S. Mueller, Special Counsel investigating collusion and influencing the 2016 Presidential Election, scored major victories today with the guilty verdicts of Paul Manafort, former Campaign Manager to the President and Trump personal attorney, Michael Cohen.
Paul Manafort was found guilty on eight counts of an 18 count tax fraud and bank fraud indictment. US District Judge T.S. Ellis declared a mistrial on the remaining ten counts. Manafort faces up to 80 years on the conviction.
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A unanimous vote by all twelve jurors was necessary for Manafort to be convicted on a each count. The outstanding ten indictments, which shows the government was unable to prove, with a preponderance of evidence, to all twelve jurors his guilt. A mistrial allows the government to retry Mr. Manafort on the remaining ten charges.
President Trump called Manafort "a good man" after hearing of the jury verdict.
Paul Manafort is the first of the President's Men to face a trial.
Michael Cohen, President Trumps attorney and fixer pled guilty to eight counts and implicated the President.
Cohen pleaded guilty in a "Manhattan federal court Tuesday to eight criminal counts, admitting that "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office" he acted to keep information that would have been harmful to the candidate and the campaign from becoming public during the 2016 election cycle," said CNN.
Cohen, most will remember as the fixer who arranged payoffs for then candidate Trump's, after he became the presidential front runner, engagements with known prostitutes. His alleged affairs, liaisons, and trysts have become well known and openly discussed.
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Cohen was also indicted on tax fraud, false statements to a bank and campaign finance violations, which have been determined to be primarily associated with the payoffs he arranged to silence those who many prove to be damaging to his political aspiration.
The money went to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. American Media, the parent company of The National Enquirer was also instrumental in keeping any sensational stories capped which may prove detrimental to the then candidate.
While the payouts to the women are minimal, he used his own finances as a shell game in order to secure banks loans which allowed him to purchase Manhattan real estate, which if in need could become liquid relatively quick. Unfortunately those assets will be confiscated.
Cohen is facing 65 years in prison. His sentencing has been set for December 12, 2018.
