Cohen Sentencing Memo
08 Dec '18 04:29The biggest news out of it comes on p. 11 where it discusses Cohen's illegal campaign contributions i.e. his payments to Karen McDougal and Stephanie Clifford (AKA Stormy Daniels):
During the campaign, Cohen played a central role in two similar schemes to purchase the
rights to stories – each from women who claimed to have had an affair with Individual-1 – so as
to suppress the stories and thereby prevent them from influencing the election. With respect to
both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election. Cohen
coordinated his actions with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings
and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments. (PSR ¶ 51). In particular, and
as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with
and at the direction of Individual-1. (PSR ¶¶ 41, 45). As a result of Cohen’s actions, neither
woman spoke to the press prior to the election. (PSR ¶ 51).
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5453401/SDNY-Cohen-sentencing-memo.pdf
The wording is significant. It clearly states the "hush payments" made weeks before the election were made to benefit the Trump campaign and were thus illegal campaign contributions (the amounts were far above those allowed). And Cohen admitted, not claimed or alleged, acting in coordination with and under the direction of Individual 1 i.e. Donald Trump.
In blunt terms, an official court document filed by federal prosecutors accuses Donald Trump of committing a crime i.e. conspiring with and ordering someone to make an illegal campaign contribution to aid his Presidential campaign.
We've known of this allegation since September of course, but for prosecutors to actually confirm that they believe it surely indicates that there is more evidence than merely Cohen's assertion. And the memo further shows that Cohen was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization for these illegal contributions on a fraudulent basis:
At the instruction of an executive for the Company, Cohen sent monthly invoices to the
Company for these $35,000 payments, falsely indicating that the invoices were being sent pursuant
to a “retainer agreement.” The Company then falsely accounted for these payments as “legal
expenses.” In fact, no such retainer agreement existed and these payments were not “legal
expenses” – Cohen in fact provided negligible legal services to Individual-1 or the Company in
2017 – but were reimbursement payments. Cohen then received the $420,000 during the course
of 2017. (PSR ¶¶ 54-56).
5
p. 14
These are bombshells beyond question.
During the campaign, Cohen played a central role in two similar schemes to purchase the
rights to stories – each from women who claimed to have had an affair with Individual-1 – so as
to suppress the stories and thereby prevent them from influencing the election. With respect to
both payments, Cohen acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election. Cohen
coordinated his actions with one or more members of the campaign, including through meetings
and phone calls, about the fact, nature, and timing of the payments. (PSR ¶ 51). In particular, and
as Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with
and at the direction of Individual-1. (PSR ¶¶ 41, 45). As a result of Cohen’s actions, neither
woman spoke to the press prior to the election. (PSR ¶ 51).
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/5453401/SDNY-Cohen-sentencing-memo.pdf
The wording is significant. It clearly states the "hush payments" made weeks before the election were made to benefit the Trump campaign and were thus illegal campaign contributions (the amounts were far above those allowed). And Cohen admitted, not claimed or alleged, acting in coordination with and under the direction of Individual 1 i.e. Donald Trump.
In blunt terms, an official court document filed by federal prosecutors accuses Donald Trump of committing a crime i.e. conspiring with and ordering someone to make an illegal campaign contribution to aid his Presidential campaign.
We've known of this allegation since September of course, but for prosecutors to actually confirm that they believe it surely indicates that there is more evidence than merely Cohen's assertion. And the memo further shows that Cohen was later reimbursed by the Trump Organization for these illegal contributions on a fraudulent basis:
At the instruction of an executive for the Company, Cohen sent monthly invoices to the
Company for these $35,000 payments, falsely indicating that the invoices were being sent pursuant
to a “retainer agreement.” The Company then falsely accounted for these payments as “legal
expenses.” In fact, no such retainer agreement existed and these payments were not “legal
expenses” – Cohen in fact provided negligible legal services to Individual-1 or the Company in
2017 – but were reimbursement payments. Cohen then received the $420,000 during the course
of 2017. (PSR ¶¶ 54-56).
5
p. 14
These are bombshells beyond question.
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