I think it probably aided the campaign to keep a scandal out of the mix, but no, it's not an illegal campaign contribution, since Trump paid Cohen back (reimbursed) and it was an "irrespective" expense that would not be properly paid with campaign funds.Brian Peacock wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 7:44 pmShifting the burden a bit there eh? Do you think that Cohen's paying off of two women, one for the second time, in the run up to the election was of aid or benefit to the election campaign of his boss, and that this action was tantamount to an illegal campaign contribution? I'm asking because you now seem to be arguing against the conviction on the basis that the monies paid didn't come out of the campaign's coffers.Forty Two wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:17 pmYou stop me right there, after making a true statement? There is no rule that any expense that is related to the campaign must be paid with campaign funds or is a campaign expense -- because expenses that are related to the campaign but which also would exist "irrespective of" the campaign, are not campaign expenses. Why did you stop me there? Well, since you did - just confirm that you agree that I'm correct about the irrespective test.Brian Peacock wrote: ↑Fri Dec 14, 2018 2:03 pmI'll just stop you there: So the American justice system which has just convicted Cohen on those exact grounds is a farce?
I don't think it's farcical at all to have a system which does not convict you, or presume guilt, just because someone else pleads guilty to something. A system that would let prosecutors obtain plea deals with witnesses, and not just use that person as a witness for the prosecution in another case, but actually presume guilt of another person because of it - that would be a farce.
Here is Cohen's official plea agreement -- https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/ ... WE8dw4k/v0 Would you be so kind as to tell me, exactly, what you think this says he pled guilty to? Here is the "Information" that Cohen said was substantially correct: https://assets.bwbx.io/documents/users/ ... 2qnRknE/v0
It was a plea deal, by the way.