Trump–no one to compare him to. Photo-Gage Skidmore–Flickr.
Last week, more incriminating evidence emerged signaling the need for serious discussions about impeaching Donald Trump—but there is now a deafening ongoing conspiracy of silence among the partisan Republicans who control Congress.
Republicans are acting as if nothing of constitutional consequence just happened. They act as if they didn’t see that Trump cronies, Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen, just became convicts. And as if they’re not aware that Trump Tower CFO Allen Weisselberg and Enquirer CEO David Pecker were both granted immunity from prosecution for their Trump testimony.
Is the Republican Party now proving their “principles” are driven by pure partisanship?
Republicans love to lecture us about “country before party.” Last week demonstrated their astonishing hypocrisy. They have chosen party politics instead of doing what is best for the country: which is to hold this president accountable for his damaging actions.
Instead, Republicans are aiding-and-abetting Trump—and becoming accessories after the fact.
Last week started with the continuing fallout between Trump and Omarosa Manigault-Newman, whose book “Unhinged” is now a New York Times bestseller. Omarosa’s released recordings have caused a firestorm. She has exposed Trump and dishonorable General John Kelly. Her last recording shows Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara, trying to bribe Omarosa, after she had been fired. She says she has lots more tapes.
Last week was deservedly horrendous for Trump.
On Tuesday, Manafort, Trump’s former campaign chairman, was convicted on five tax fraud counts, two bank fraud counts, and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account. Apparently, like Trump, Mr. Manafort has been hiding millions of dollars, and lying about it, to avoid paying taxes. Unlike Trump, Manafort will now have to pay a serious price for his financial fraud.
Even worse, Mr. Manafort faces a second trial this September, in Washington, on seven other charges, including: conspiracy to launder money, obstruction of justice and failure to register as a foreign agent. This upcoming trial will be overseen by special counsel Robert Mueller. Given the world of hurt Manafort is in now, Trump’s praise of Manafort for not allowing prosecutors to “break” him during the first trial, may prove to be short-lived, since it is extremely likely Manafort will flip and start talking.
Trump has dangled the pardon possibility for Manafort.
As Manafort was being convicted, former Trump lawyer, Michael Cohen, was pleading guilty to eight counts, including campaign finance violations, likely related to hush-money payments made to former Playmate Karen McDougal and porn-star Stormy Daniels. During allocution, Cohen stated he made the payments “in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office,” which was of course Trump. Cohen also admitted that “I participated in this conduct for the principal purpose” of influencing the 2016 elections.
If all this wasn’t bad enough, on Thursday, it was reported that David Pecker, CEO of America Media Inc., the parent company of the National Enquirer, and longtime friend of Trump, had agreed to an immunity deal. By Friday, it was revealed Trump Tower CFO Allen Weisselberg had also agreed to an immunity deal.
The Manhattan D.A. is said to be now mulling charges against the Trump Organization.
A wall is building here. But it’s not on the Mexican border. This wall is building around Donald Trump, and boxing him in.
The immunity deals for Mr. Weisselberg and Mr. Pecker spell doom. Trump recently said he hates “flipping,” but Mr. Weisselberg maybe about to flip on Trump. As the CFO, Weisselberg presumably has evidence to corroborate the charges made by Cohen: that he paid the hush-money at Trump’s request. More troublingly, Weisselberg’s knowledge of Trump’s financials—and likely criminal dealings—could lead to the final nails being secured in Trump’s legal coffin, especially since Trump won’t be able to pardon Weisselberg.
Apparently, Mr. David Pecker has substantive evidence as well related to the payments.
The incredible irony here is: Trump may, metaphorically speaking, have his pants pulled down with evidence provided by a man named Pecker. Reportedly, Mr. Pecker kept secret files, in an Enquirer safe, about sordid stories related to Trump, like the story that was buried—through the practice of “catch and kill”—regarding Trump’s sexual affair with Playmate Karen McDougal.
What evidence regarding these hush-money payments does Mr. Pecker have in his possession? Does Pecker have philandering pictures of Trump’s private peccadilloes with Playmates and porn-stars? Trump lies regarding his sexual affairs with McDougal and Daniels will probably be further laid bare when Cohen’ claims are corroborated by Mr. Pecker and Mr. Weisselberg.
For months, Trump continually said he knew nothing about the hush-money payments. Now, he says he knew afterwards—though he claims the payments came out of his own pocket, not campaign funds. Before anyone believes this, let’s remember Omarosa’s last released recording: where we hear Trump’s daughter-in-law telling Omarosa she could continue receiving payments by Trump—through the campaign funds of small donors.
Since Trump is now saying he paid hush-money out of his pocket, we should now ask: isn’t this also and admission that he lied about having sexual affairs with Ms. McDougal and Ms. Daniels? The whole point of Trump denying he paid these payments is his denial of ever being sexually involved with these women. His admission of making these payments undercuts that denial of having sex with them.
Why would Trump pay money to these women if he wasn’t involved with them sexually?
Trump’s denials of engaging in sexual affairs with McDougal and Daniels shouldn’t be examined in a vacuum. They should be scrutinized within the larger context of the other sexual misconduct charges that have been made against Trump, by some 19 women—whom he all called liars. People who now realize Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels were telling the truth should also realize those 19 women were most likely all telling the truth too. Let’s remember, on the infamous Access Hollywood tape Trump brags about sexual assault.
The only thing worse than Trump’s conduct is the craven Republican-controlled Congress that cares more about scoring political points that doing what is right. Which brings us to South Carolina Senator Lindsey Graham.
Recently, MSNBC’s Lawrence O’Donnell shared a video of Senator Graham making grandstanding comments, in January 1999, arguing then President Bill Clinton should be impeached. During those impeachment hearings then Rep. Graham said “You don’t even have to be convicted of a crime to lose your job (as president) in this constitutional republic if this body determines your conduct as a public official is clearly out of bounds in your role… Because impeachment is not about punishment. Impeachment is about cleansing the office. Impeachment is about restoring honor and integrity to the office.”
One wonders why Senator Graham doesn’t see the need for “cleansing” and “restoring honor and integrity” to the White House now? Does Graham not see that Trump’s conduct is way “beyond the pale” of anything we’ve ever seen in contemporary presidential politics? Wasn’t President Clinton impeached for far less than what Trump has done?
Hasn’t Trump flagrantly flaunted his disdain for the “rule of law?” Didn’t he clearly concede his attempt to obstruct justice when he told NBC reporter Lester Holt that he fired former FBI Director James Comey because of the Russia investigations? Aren’t his consistent complaints against Attorney Jeff Sessions’ recusing himself rooted in his expectations that Sessions would quash these investigations into his Russia connections?
At the end of last week, Trump was again denouncing Sessions saying he never took “control” of the Justice Department. Sessions fired back by saying he would not be “improperly influenced by political considerations.” In Trump’s mad mind, Sessions is just as insubordinate as James Comey: by not adhering to his perverted sense of loyalty.
Republicans, like Graham, have given Trump the greenlight to fire Sessions.
Senator Graham last week turned on Sessions saying Trump is “entitled to an attorney general he has faith in.” By saying this, after last week’s events—and after what Graham said during President Clinton’s impeachment hearings—Senator Graham has destroyed the little integrity he had left.
Along with Republicans, Senator Graham protects this depraved president.
