Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen was raided today and Twitter melted down over it.
Now we know why he was raided, according to the Washington Post:
Michael Cohen, the longtime attorney of President Trump, is under federal investigation for possible bank fraud, wire fraud and campaign finance violations, according to a person with knowledge of the case.
So it sounds like it has something to do with the payment to Stormy Daniels, but it might be more than that and include other charges.
Remember we know this happened because Mueller sent a criminal referral federal prosecutors in Nuevo York. That means whatever Cohen did had nothing to do with Mueller’s official investigation, but could be criminal in other respects.
BUT, the WaPo says it’s an uphill battle to prove the charges against Cohen on the Stormy front:
To pursue criminal charges against Cohen for breaking federal election law, prosecutors would have to prove that he made the payment to influence the election, rather than for personal reasons — to protect Trump’s reputation, for example, or his marriage to Melania.
While the timing of the payment — 12 days before the presidential election — might suggest an attempt to influence the outcome, timing is not enough to prove intent, said Rick Hasen, a professor specializing in election law at the University of California at Irvine.
“It would be very difficult to bring one of these cases without some good documentary evidence,” he said. “I think a lot of people are underestimating the hurdles that it takes to bring a criminal prosecution.”
SO… do they have this evidence or are they seeking it? Hmmm. And if they’re seeking it, will they find it? AND if they find it, will it implicate TRUMP?!? And what color will the window curtains be when First Lady Pence takes over???!
Finally, as Andrew McCarthy said to Mark Levin today, campaign violations aren’t federal crime material, but bank fraud definitely is. And Cohen faces hard time if he’s convicted….