Meme Of The Day
Michael Cohen Willing To Speak To Special Counsel Regarding Trump’s “Conspiracy To Collude”
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| Lanny Davis |
Making the rounds on morning political TV, Michael Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis now says Cohen is more than happy to speak to Special Counsel Robert Mueller about “Russian collusion” during the 2016 presidential election.
From The New York Post:
Michael Cohen is willing to speak with Special Counsel Robert Mueller about a “conspiracy to collude” with Russia during the 2016 presidential campaign, his lawyer said on Tuesday night.
“Mr. Cohen has knowledge on certain subjects that should be of interest to the special counsel and is more than happy to tell the special counsel all that he knows,” Davis told the network.
“Not just about the obvious possibility of a conspiracy to collude and corrupt the American democracy system in the 2016 election, which the Trump Tower meeting was all about, but also knowledge about the computer crime of hacking and whether or not Mr. Trump knew ahead of time about that crime and even cheered it on.”
That said, its been repeated over and over that Justice Department guidelines say a sitting president can’t be indicted.
But, he can certainly be handcuffed at the close of the inauguration of the next president in January 20121.
Davis told MSNBC this morning that at this time he feels its indisputable that Trump committed a crime.
“Very clearly, there is no dispute that Donald Trump committed a crime.” — @LannyDavis pic.twitter.com/wgC0BtVdjc— Morning Joe (@Morning_Joe) August 22, 2018
Lawyer: Michael Cohen Will Not Under Any Circumstances Seek Or Accept A Pardon From Trump
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| Donald Trump |
Speaking on CNN this morning, Michael Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis said in no uncertain terms that Cohen would not accept a pardon from Donald Trump at any time.
“Definitively no, under no circumstances” would Cohen accept a pardon, said Davis.
Davis added that Cohen doesn’t want to be “dirtied” by a Trump pardon.
“Definitively no, under no circumstances” would President Trump’s former personal attorney Michael Cohen seek a potential pardon from Trump, Cohen’s attorney says https://t.co/GC5XWosGh0 pic.twitter.com/gE3wN6d7Jc— CNN (@CNN) August 22, 2018
The Trumpster, who thought the world of Cohen for over a decade, has also changed HIS tone as well.
Check his latest tweet this morning:
If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
Former Trump Attorney Pleads Guilty To 8 Counts, Former Trump Campaign Chair Found Guilty Of 8 Counts
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| Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen (L), former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort (R) |
Well, the folks in the White House have got to be serious shook at this point.
In a single afternoon, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to 8 counts
From The New York Times:
Michael D. Cohen, President Trump’s former fixer, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to breaking campaign finance laws and other charges. He made the extraordinary admission that he arranged payments to two women “at the direction of the candidate,” referring to Mr. Trump, to secure their silence about affairs they said they had with Mr. Trump.
Mr. Cohen told a judge in United States District Court in Manhattan that the payments were “for the principal purpose of influencing the election” for president in 2016.
Mr. Cohen also pleaded guilty to multiple counts of tax evasion and bank fraud, bringing to a close a monthslong investigation by Manhattan federal prosecutors who examined his personal business dealings and his role in helping to arrange financial deals with women connected to Mr. Trump.
Of course, the most stunning news here is that Cohen said, under oath, that he committed a crime at the direction of Donald Trump.
Prosecutors promised Cohen a prison sentence of between 43 to 63 months, although the judge isn’t bound by that agreement.
Cohen also did not agree to a cooperation deal regarding the Special Counsel’s ongoing investigation, but he could in the future. Robert Mueller could, in exchange, recommend a lesser sentence for Cohen.
At almost the same time, 250 miles south of New York City, Trump’s former campaign chair, Paul Manafort, was found guilty of 8 counts of the 18 he was charged with. The judge declared a mistrial on the other ten counts leaving the door open for a retrial on those charges.
Also from The New York Times:
The verdict was a victory for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III, whose prosecutors built a case that Mr. Manafort hid millions of dollars in foreign accounts to evade taxes and lied to banks repeatedly to obtain $20 million in loans.
Mr. Manafort was convicted of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. The jury was unable to reach a verdict on the remaining 10 counts, and the judge declared a mistrial on those charges.
Kevin Downing, a lawyer for Mr. Manafort, said his client was “evaluating all of his options at this point.”
Manafort faces a maximum of 80 years in prison for the 8 guilty counts. One legal scholar on MSNBC just said the sentencing guidelines would call for between 8-10 years in prison, possibly more since the judge can consider the other 10 charges in terms of sentencing if the evidence was considerable.
Plus, we don’t know if the prosecutors plan to retry the ten remaining counts.
However, I’ll state right now – you can count on Donald Trump to pardon Manafort.
Watch.
Madonna Explains The Aretha ‘Tribute’ That Wasn’t A ‘Tribute’
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| Madonna |
After a huge backlash on social media about Madonna’s “tribute” last night on the MTV VMAs for recently deceased ‘Queen of Soul’ Aretha Franklin, the ‘Queen of Pop’ posted a clarification today on her social media explaining what happened.
To recap: Madonna took the stage to present the Video of the Year award with a huge photo of Franklin behind her.
But before the award, she launched into a long, seemingly disconnected remembrance about her early days and an audition where she sang an a cappella rendition of Franklin’s “Natural Woman” to get a gig as a backup for a French recording artist.
Turns out she got the gig, but returned home unfulfilled by the experience.
Madge appeared to bring the story to a close saying, “”You are probably all wondering why I am telling you this story. There is a connection, because none of this would have happened—could have happened—without our Lady of Soul. She led me to where I am today. And I know she influenced so many people in this house tonight. In this room tonight. And I want to thank you, Aretha, for empowering all of us. R-E-S-P-E-C-T.”
But then there was one more anecdote to add about losing a shoe at the 1984 VMAs. Still not sure about that one.
In any case, today Madonna posted a photo of herself along with Video of the Year winner, Camila Cabello (for “Havana”). She also shared that her speech about Aretha was not meant to be a “tribute.”
“They asked me to share any anecdotes I had in my career connected to Aretha Franklin,” wrote Madonna. “I shared a part of my journey and thanked Aretha for inspiring me along the way.”
Madge added, though, “ I did not intend to do a tribute to her!”
“That would be impossible in 2 minutes with all the noise and tinsel of an award show,” she continued. “I could never do her justice in this context or environment.”
The newly-minted 60-year-old went on to say she loves Aretha, she loves Camilla, and she loves the dress she wore last night.
Here’s the social media post Madonna:
Former Trump Attorney Michael Cohen Reaches Plea Deal, Taken Into Custody
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| Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen |
President Trump’s former lawyer and ‘fixer,’ Michael Cohen, has reportedly reached a plea deal with federal prosecutors in New York.
According to The New York Times, Cohen’s agreement may not include a plan to cooperate with federal prosecutors.
Additionally, ABC News reports the deal reportedly includes campaign finance violations, bank fraud, and tax evasion.
At this time, there are no indications if possible violations of campaign finance law, regarding payments he facilitated to several women who claimed to have had extramarital affairs with Trump, are in the mix.
In related Trump news, a jury decision in the trail of former Trump campaign chair Paul Manafort could be handed down this afternoon.
BREAKING: “Michael Cohen is expected to plead guilty to multiple counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud and bank fraud” reports @ShimonPro adding that “the deal will include jail time and a substantial monetary fine” https://t.co/htLGH7syKQ pic.twitter.com/bPipj4VlGf— CNN Newsroom (@CNNnewsroom) August 21, 2018
Five words Donald Trump never wanted to hear: Michael Cohen Takes Plea Deal.— Dan Rather (@DanRather) August 21, 2018
The guilty plea of Michael Cohen provides further confirmation of the following fact:MOST SUCCESSFUL WITCH HUNT EVER
(And it’s not over) https://t.co/QE36ajZHBn
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) August 21, 2018
Reporter: why would Michael Cohen pay someone $130,000?trump: “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael’s my attorney.” (Air Force One, April 5, 2018)
Mueller: I’ll do that.
— Philippe Reines (@PhilippeReines) August 21, 2018
News Round-Up: August 21, 2018
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| Ryan Worley |
Some news items you might have missed:
• Chippendales’ Ryan Worley doesn’t care that its only Tuesday – he’s already looking to the weekend.
• San Francisco’s last gay strip club, the iconic Nob Hill Theatre, closes its doors.
• Utah public libraries are banning LGBTQ displays during Pride month due to complaints.
• The LGBTQ community has raised more than $29,000 to help a young transgender girl get the hell out of Bigotsville, OK.
• Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh pushed for some very graphic questions during the Whitewater investigation that led to Bill Clinton’s impeachment.
• Madonna got trolled something bad for attempting to honor Aretha Franklin at last night’s MTV Video Music Awards but ended up talking about herself more than anything. Never before has the word “I” been used so many times in a tribute to someone else. Watch from Billboard News below.
Madge offered something of a Mea Culpa this moring:
Kelly Clarkson Claps Back At Anti-LGBT Trolls On Twitter
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| Kelly Clarkson |
Do not come for the gays on Kelly Clarkson’s Twitter account or you will be named and shamed.
On Sunday, the ever-and-always American Idol offered congrats to a couple of fans who had just tied the knot.
Congrats you two!! https://t.co/3l3jiq6EPL— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) August 20, 2018
But one fan wasn’t down with Clarkson’s support for same-sex marriage, tweeting, “Sorry Kelly…. love your music but I don’t dig the dikes…still a sin any way you cut it.”
Sorry Kelly…. love your music but I don’t dig the dikes…still a sin any way you cut it.— Terri D Fallis (@Wildvine74104) August 20, 2018
The Voice judge clapped back saying originally she wasn’t going to give the hate a spotlight, but decided the truth was more important.
Clarkson tweeted: “I almost didn’t respond 2 this because hate doesn’t deserve a spotlight but u know what, truth does, & the truth is that God is Love, & Love shared between two people should be praised not condemned in my personal opinion. I love u 2 although we see the world/love differently.”
I almost didn’t respond 2 this because hate doesn’t deserve a spotlight but u know what, truth does, & the truth is that God is Love, & Love shared between two people should be praised not condemned in my personal opinion. I love u 2 although we see the world/love differently. https://t.co/63KjhMrZVU— Kelly Clarkson (@kelly_clarkson) August 20, 2018
BOOM!
#WeLoveYouKellyClarkson
Just Because…
I think this pretty much speaks for itself 😉
New Yorker: Trump Considered Revoking President Obama’s Security Clearance
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| Donald Trump |
According to a new article in The New Yorker, Donald Trump considered revoking President Obama’s security clearance.
Some of Trump’s most fervent supporters in the White House saw former Obama Administration officials as powerful enemies who threatened the new President’s rule, and they agitated for punishing them by revoking their security clearances. The idea was rebuffed by the national-security adviser at the time, H. R. McMaster, who signed a memo extending the clearances of his predecessors at the N.S.C., Republicans and Democrats alike.
As Trump stepped up his public and private attacks on Obama, some of the new President’s advisers thought that he should take the extraordinary step of denying Obama himself access to intelligence briefings that were made available to all of his living predecessors. Trump was told about the importance of keeping former Presidents, who frequently met with foreign leaders, informed. In the end, Trump decided not to exclude Obama, at the urging of McMaster.
It will come as no surprise that the Donald denies ever considering taking away Obama’s security clearance.
Does anyone believe Trump?
Me neither.
Fake News, of which there is soooo much (this time the very tired New Yorker) falsely reported that I was going to take the extraordinary step of denying Intelligence Briefings to President Obama. Never discussed or thought of!— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 21, 2018
Trump: Revoke Obama’s security clearance.Aide: But, Mr. President—
Trump: LeBron too!
— Michael Blackman (@mikerblackman) August 18, 2018
So #FatNixon wanted to revoke Obama’s security clearance, but not any of other living former presidents.Humm, now I wonder, what is it that is different about Obama and the other four?
😒
— ✊🏻 LilMzResistanista ✊🏻 (@bruntofitall) August 20, 2018