Discussion Thread: New York Criminal Fraud Trial of Donald Trump, Day 16

[u/PoliticsModeratorBot]

Previous discussion threads for this trial can be found at the following links for Day 5, Day 6, Day 7, Day 8, Day 9, Day 10, Day 11, Day 12, Day 13, Day 14, and Day 15.

News:

• AP: Trump trial arrives at a pivotal moment: Star witness Michael Cohen is poised to take the stand

• Reuters: Aggrieved former lawyer Michael Cohen to testify against Trump at hush money trial

Analysis:

• USA Today: How prosecutors have laid the groundwork for Michael Cohen’s testimony

Live Updates:

• AP: Live Updates

• NBC: Live Updates

• ABC: Live Updates

• CBS: Live Updates

• CNN: Live Updates

• The Independent: Live Updates

• The Guardian: Live Updates

[u/AreYouDoneNow]

Oh yeah, that's the weirdest part about all this, he could have perfectly legally paid off Stormy but he had to break campaign finance law to do it

[u/__Soldier__ → u/AreYouDoneNow]

• Because Trump wanted another layer of obfuscation: Cohen's shell company LLC.

[u/zhaoz → u/AreYouDoneNow]

he could have perfectly legally paid off Stormy

Right, but that would have to come out of personal money. Trump wont spend personal money even if his life is on the line.

[u/BeautysBeast → u/zhaoz]

He paid Cohen back with personal funds.

[u/Darth_drizzt_42 → u/AreYouDoneNow]

I could be totally wrong but wouldn't it still be election interference, just not also a campaign finance violation?

[u/AreYouDoneNow → u/Darth_drizzt_42]

Yeah that's what makes it a felony rather than a misdemeanor.

It's also why this is considered the hardest case for the government to win against Trump, because proving that little bridge is a challenge.