Breaking: Trump Knew About DNC Email Dump in Advance

No matter how much you want it to be, nondisclosure agreements are not illegal and neither is paying for them. Cohen isn't going to prison for the NDA. He's going to prison for perjury, lying to congress (as well as tax evasion and bank fraud). Using your own money to pay for things is not a campaign finance violation, no matter how much you want that to be either. 

Cohen may have added to his prison time with his "testimony" by commiting perjury before congress again. The matter has been referred to Attorney General Andrew Barr. I hope the stunt orchestrated by Lanny Davis results in more charges against the convicted liar. 

Bob said, No matter how much you want it to be, nondisclosure agreements are not illegal and neither is paying for them. Cohen isn't going to prison for the NDA. He's going to prison for perjury, lying to congress (as well as tax evasion and bank fraud). Using your own money to pay for things is not a campaign finance violation, no matter how much you want that to be either.

Whose interpretation of the law are you going to believe career Federal prosecutors in NY or Bob's?  I know which side I come down on. 

Bob's interpretation is correct.

As I've said before, Mark simply never gets tired of being wrong.  He revels in it evidently.

Fact checkers weigh in.  Trump cheerleaders lose - as usual.

https://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/article/2018/aug/23/donald-trump-and-hush-money-it-legal-it-worse-jayw/

"Cohen described a careful process to pay McDougal and Daniels in ways that would fly beneath the radar. He created two shell companies to hide the source of the funds. He fronted the money, then submitted invoices for legal work he never did to get repaid by Trump.

And this is where the real legal hazard comes in.

That effort could run afoul of federal election law’s "knowing and willful" standard. While most reporting violations involve systemic accounting lapses that draw fines, a conscious scheme to keep activities hidden can trigger criminal penalties with a maximum penalty of five years in prison.

Trump tweeted Aug. 22, "President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!"

The 2008 Obama campaign did pay a $375,000 fine for failing to file 48-hour reports on about 1,300 late arriving contributions worth about $1.8 million. But the Federal Election Commission treated that as an administrative infraction, not a ploy to deceive the public.

If Trump were in the dark about the payments, Frampton wrote, he would be on safe ground. But "if he was involved in orchestrating the pay-off," he could face charges.

Cohen says Trump was fully aware. 

The case for Trump may turn on whether he actually was."

There is quite a difference between failing to report Campaign Contributions - and - paying hush money. Apples and oranges. Once again, PJ is wrong with his conclusion. The "knowing and willful" standard has nothing to do with paying a personal transaction. 

Good point, David MIller.  I'm sure there was nothing "willfull and knowing" about creating a shell corporation in which to launder money to a porn star.    It was an accident.  Clerical error.   He was ordering a pizza from DOminos and dialed the wrong number.    

Thanks for that.

Apparently PJ does not get it. Paying a consenting adult blackmailer to silence her has nothing to do with campaign contributions.

Yes, it does when it was done 16 days before the election to keep voters from finding out about it. That makes it a campaign expenditure.  

Mark says-"Yes, it does when it was done 16 days before the election to keep voters from finding out about it. That makes it a campaign expenditure." ----- That is your misguided opinion about a private matter.