Linking Trump to falsification of records is ‘weakest part of prosecution’s case’: Fmr. prosecutor
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- čas přidán 28. 05. 2024
- In New York today, Michael Cohen is back on the witness stand at former President Trump’s hush money trial. Former NY Assistant Attorney General Adam Pollock, criminal defense attorney Danny Cevallos and former federal prosecutor Jessica Roth discuss Cohen's testimony on allegedly false financial records.
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Linking Trump to falsification of records is ‘weakest part of prosecution’s case’: Fmr. prosecutor
#Trump #MichaelCohen #Trial
Rubbish. He is the CEO. His name is on the checks. The buck stops at his desk.
Falsifying business reports is a misdemeanor.
So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
And...whats the crime, other than this misdemeanor?
@@Todd_Swank Trump for gravel pit 2024!!
@@dhillman7522 The IRS mission is more about funds recovery - throwing people in jail is rare because it is counterproductive... those people in jail are no longer earners capable of paying tax. But your point isn't well taken anyways. Part of the scheme involved invoices for retainers which were fraudulent and which Donald passed off as genuine to his accountant. That's just criminal. And don't tell me Donald naive...
Who is the candidate , who would gain , then ask the question, if he was not running would these people have committed these same acts
Who indeed in 2017?
Who cares. Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor.
looks to me like trump wanted to just pay cash but did it this way under the advice of legal counsel.
Federal Issue which was looked at.
So what? It's a misdemeanor.
Cheats at College - Cheats at Business - Cheats at military service - Cheats at Politics - Cheats at Golf and Cheats at Marriage
You could say them same about biden for almost all of these lol😂
@@AmericanWarrior882 😂😂😂😂 the most hilarious sentence of the day. Only an idolatrous maga cultist could come up with that 😂😂
Are you talking about Old Joe ?
LOL @ the cowardservatives trying to pretend that Biden is even 1% as crooked as their cult leader.
Biden is by far the most boring POTUS we've ever had. The biggest controversy about Biden is that he likes ice cream.
@walterbo7687 biden plagiarized in college. Assaulted Tara Reade. Changed voting policies, and had a pay to play scheme as VP
Stop dissecting hairs! Whoever signs checks and solely benefited form it, owes the problem!!!
They’re discussing possible defenses, not what many observers have already concluded about the evidence presented so far.
Who cares? Falsifying business reports is a misdemeanor.
Owe's the problem? So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
@@dhillman7522exactly what happens because it’s your responsibility to check if it’s right 😂
@@Godseesall-jr7sg Isn't that what you pay for?
They heard Trump in his own words, there’s a previous admission by Trump in previous court documents, and his signature on the checks.
And? Paying hush money isn't illegal.
But what's the crime? The only crime we know of is blackmail committed by stormy and Cohen.
Under advice from counsel. trump wanted to pay cash, Cohen told him no, it had to be done this way to be legal.
Yep 8 years ago and NO charges filed😂😂😂
I bet at least 1 juror won't convict, resulting in a hung jury. Trump walks on these bogus charges, wins the election, and rules America for another 4 years.
Hmmm, the guy ordering and paying for the crime is difficult to link to the crime.. hmmm
The point, there are actually have the verbal recordingS that detail this plan time stamped, notes , reciepts, bank statements ... the story is not made up ! It is what it is!
Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor. So?
What is the crime?
The owner of any company is responsible for the books, not the accountant or CPA. The buck stops with him. Pretty simple.
Payments don’t matter it only matters if he instructed Cohen to pay hush money “out of campaign funds” without proof he is innocent
I've heard all of the evidence. The dude is guilty let us stop pretending and defending criminals!
Guilty to what the charges are? Beyond a reasonable doubt?
@@josefeibl8230 Ofc they are without a doubt. You choose to see and hear what you want but guilty as charged is obvious at this point no need to argue about it.
@@josefeibl8230 When your signature is on a check guess what it means? It means you assume all responsibility for what that money was used this case is over has been since the beginning.
You haven’t heard what the defense has to say. This segment concerns possible defenses. It’s up to the jury to decide whether the defendant is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
@@user-fb5ir2py6t You mean the check signed for "legal services" to a lawyer who just admitted to submitted false invoices for those services? Cohen defrauded Trump, yet Trump is on trial. You missed that part
Using the words, "don't flip" is clearly an indication of wrong doing. Those were Trump's words to Cohen. Strongest point yet!
No it wasn't👌
Because he knew Cohen would say anything to save his own A$$.
@@dhillman7522 Cohen lied while working for the Trump organization. That is what fixers do, especially in a crime organization. He kept records and secretly taped conversations incase there would be a day that he would have to "spill the beans." Mobsters call them "flipping little rats." It is what it is.
@@dhillman7522 Trump for gravel pit 2024!!
Oh please, based on Pollock & Cevallos, no CEO would ever be convicted for financial fraud.
Who benefited from this financial fraud. Who signed the checks. Now Trump is supposed to be innocent of possible financial fraud. Based upon all this evidence in this case. The prosecutor connected the dots straight to Trump. Period. With Trump's track record. This Pollock and Cevallos are in Fairy Land with their opinions of this case. Give me a break. Have a nice day.
It’s not a financial fraud case.
They’re presenting possible arguments the defense might make. That’s the topic of this segment.
These attorneys aren’t expressing their own opinions about whether Trump committed a crime.
@@kenmurray4005 Your absolutely correct. I'm simply frustrated that either these two lawyers are secretly defending Trump, or they are simply out of touch with reality. Which is it. Even if Ray Charles or Steve Wonder were sitting in the jury box listening to this evidence. They could come to the conclusion that the prosecution has easily connected the dots in this Election Fraud case. Over the course of Trump's tenure in politics. It appears that anyone associated with Trump including Trump other than the January 6th rioters are treated with kid gloves in regard to prosecution in criminal courts of law. Any other American would not Pass Go. They wouldn't collect two hundred dollars. They Go straight to Jail. Like in the game of Monopoly. You have a nice day.
@@kenmurray4005Oh yes it is. When you pay money to someone to benefit your campaign, you MUST PUBLICLY REPORT THAT. When you don’t, that is campaign finance fraud. It is the campaign finance fraud that is the crime they covered up by filing and using false business records
if you sign your name to something you're responsible. thats not hard. jesus. what have we become.
Unless it's college tuition right?
So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
@@dwaynehecker5374 I paid my tuition. And have no problem with others having to pay theirs back. I do think pushing college on teens and giving them money for that and not for a small business and then charging them an insane tax needs looked at and worked on. I also think college should be free anyways and paid for by the passing of marijuana, and only 20% of the taxes from that could cover it, college football teams could cover all tuition and still turn a profit. And on top of all that learn to read, because the tuition debt policies are just taking away the profit margins of the loan and not the actual loan. Which yes we can disagree with and have a conversation about it. We can also have a conversation on the difference between a teenager who has been drilled into thinking college is the only answer and the responsibly of that loan between that and a full on adult in charge of a “billion” dollar company who has been found guilty on dozens of tax and loan and money crimes that I could write a novel on and novels have been written on. And props for your overall deflection, which still doesn’t take away from my point or the trial.
@@dwaynehecker5374 Trump for gravel pit 2024!!
This theory makes a ton of sense as long as you ignore the facts and testimony. 👍
I disagree, it doesn't seem that hard to me. He was directing and knew everything. No one would be in jail if everybody was held to these standards.
Falsifying businesss records is a misdemeanor. You get fined for that just like the Hillary campaign and the DNC when they falsified their records over the russian collusion hoax.
But thats the thing, whats the crime he should be in jail for? Falsifying business records is a finable offense, and this one is way past statute of limitations.
yes you do know, because, it is beyond a reasonable doubt, and no juror based on the evidence and testimony, so far, can say they don't think he was involved beyond a reasonable doubt
In a misdemeanor? So what?
Who looks after the money not Weizilberg or Cohen. Its Trump.
There's actually two trials going on here. One a legal one in the courts. Then theres the lying to the people before and after the legal process. He's appealing to the voters. Giving his versions.
Of a misdemeanor? Who cares?
His base knows and doesnt care about the wording of a payment to a blackmailer like Stormy. The base doesnt even care if her slept with her. His base says this is a misdemeanor and so far past the statute of limitations that the trial itself is a crime. This is Putinesq tactics to lock up your political opponent on Trumped up charges.
@@The1stDukeDroklar you sure it's a misdemeanor?🙄
@@brucewagner4394 Yes. It can only be elevated to "First Class" if it was to cover up another crime. So far, they have failed to make a case for what "other crime" is involved.
@@The1stDukeDroklar it's not over yet,you can't make that distinction.
Commentators, please. You forget the book published by Trump where he claims that so far as money is involved, he is always 100 % in charge. Over and over again in his published words. No missing link. None.
His parents taught him wrong things... they taught him to steal cheat do what he liked
You must be talking about Joey Obyedone
good
The ONLY reason to gross up is to allow for the payment to be entered on the books as an expense and not a reimbursement. There is no other reason, none.
Actually, the facts that Trump approved the scheme to characterize the reimbursement as legal fees and accepted invoices he knew to be false is compelling evidence of intent to falsify business records. By falsifying the nature of the transaction he, ipso facto, agreed to and directed how the transaction would be recorded.
It is quite silly to insist the Trump needed to tell the bookkeepers to record the payments as legal fees. How else would they record them when presented with the false invoices? Also, at the most basic level, the false invoices are themselves false business records that caused the ledger entries to be incorrectly made in the books.
It’s a no brainer.
He paid Michael cohen for a legal service … if I pay a lawyer to defend me and he commits fraud, that’s not on me because I paid for legal services .. easy defense
The question is whether the jury finds the evidence compelling. These attorneys are reviewing some possible defenses that may affect how the jury interprets evidence.
So? Falsifying business records is a misdemeanor. Again... so?
You sure have the no brain part down .ipso facto you're hilarious Perry Mason.
Ok, and the simple fact that "crime" is a misdemeanor and far past the statues of limitation makes it moot. Its not a campaign finance crime cause paying hush money is done many times when not in a political race, thats why the FEC didnt charge Trump on the federal level. What is a FEC violation is falsifying records for a fake dossier of oppo research on your political opponent, which is why it was only a $3k fine. Trump didnt even misuse campaign funds, so how can you say this is even a FEC crime?
I’m glad Cohen recorded the conversations
I would rather be apolitical over following the "Orange Jesus"
Whose idea was it?!!! How about the person that would benefit the most?
Who benefits from changing the label of payments? These payments happened after the election. I don't understand how anyone benefits from labeling the reimbursement "legal fees" vs. Repayment for legal expenses.
…don
So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
@@Vanessa-pe2xs Who benefitted the most? Trump. Always Trump. Until it comes back to bite him. ETTD.
No crime has been exposed.
The appellate aren’t gonna leave a guilty verdict alone. If they can get it.
This is the story that truly exposes this corporate media outlet and they just cant realize it yet, too funny.
I would bet all my pension money that a..h..e will get away with it
If you can't tell, they are preparing you for the loss
And subsequent appeal to overturn this sham of a trial.
Know why they keep lying - because it's in their nature
$130,000 for an NDA?
There ya go both sides again! Why do you feel that you have to defend him? Just give us the news!
Trump is so unserious and goofy looking.
The defense at one time did state these were reimbursements.
Yes the meeting
The mere fact that Donald said he didn't do it, proves he did.
Not how it works.were is the Crime?
"The key part that is still missing here is, who's idea was it to do the coverup in the records..." It makes no difference who came up with the idea! Did Trump go along with it? A bank robber can't just claim that he's innocent because it wasn't his own plan that he went along with.
If they can prove he didn't know about the coverup, that might make a difference.
using your reason, So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
@@dhillman7522 You're arguing a mistake vs coverup.
@@PeytonWind
Exactly. You may still have to pay a fine. But that's it.
@@PeytonWind I don't think it was either one. The choice of the accountant to right it down as a legal expense, since it was to a lawyer, was his choice. No one has proven Trump told him to do it for any reason. Now Joe and 51 intelligence personel who signed a letter saying the Hunter Biden laptop was Rusian disinformation before the 2020 election that would be intentional.
Criminal defendant the best that the republican party can provide.
Aaahhhh.. You may want to review Biden’s rap sheet.
@@tpryce6243 Biden sucks too
look at your choice
It’s hard bc what seasoned criminal, like trump, would put into record a record of the crime.
The prosecution hasn't met the burden of proof. They needed to link an accountant, bookkeeper, or controller. Trump needed to have told someone to record the NDA as "legal expenses".
Who does it benefits Trump and no one else.
Each video focused on this criminal trial should include a 30-second PSA on American democracy, the judicial branch of gov't, and/or how-to-citizen. The breathless speculation derby should at least connect the legal mechanics of the current criminal trial to last year's grand jury (publicly available) indictment.
The signature and object of payment ain’t the crime. Connect trump to the accounting of it. Haven’t seen it. They better have a paper clip to connect trump to the accounts.
You mean like the fact that the money came straight from his personal accounts or the fact that there is an actual recording of Trump discussing the payments with Cohen?
It did come out.meeting with the account person. It was said
NDA is not illegal so why not do the invoice for NDA....it was obviously planned to cover up the payment as something else....so legal services was used....
Agree! Also, trump claims it's on the up and up by saying he never even claimed those "legal expenses" on his taxes. As a business person, why oh why wouldn't you if they were indeed legit. 🤔
Assuming verdict. Assuming appeal. Gtreat journalism folks
Strange.. they bring in experts then desperately try to make them say what they want to hear...but didn't...is a dead giveaway...
This case has shown me that Trump is quite smart. 😂
Dont worry the NYC jury will vote on hate not facts or law .
Cool. He could theoretically go to prison for decades and that would be poetic justice considering all the karma he has coming.
Unfortunately you are correct. Maybe one will have common sense.
there are people on death row because they sat in the car as a 'friend' ran into a gas station and, unknown to the passenger, robbed the store and shot the clerk.
no one has to prove that this criminal defendant "masterminded" the underlying crime crime. it's proven he participated in it, and that is all that is required.
common sense says that if the defendant would have just cut daniels a check from his own account, NONE of this would be happening. and his greed in refusing to give her her money is how HE put the whole crime in motion.
Benedict Donald.
Katie Johnson's full testimony of 2/11/16
This guy is full of crap
It was trumps account! Are you serious, Danny?
GUILTY
All these analysts miss the point. Once Trump and co. decided to reimburse Cohen $420K by multiple installments instead of a single $130K payment, that inevitably resulted in recording multiple payments totaling $420K. Why would anyone pay $420K in multiple installments but record one payment of $130K, as one analyst suggested. That wouldn’t make sense. The structure of the payments and their recording go hand in hand. Hence when Trump decided to pay $420K in multiple installments, he simultaneously decided to falsify the records. There was no need for Trump to have said “Cohen, make sure to record multiple installments that total $420K”. That was a given. Same for the purpose of the payments. The whole point of breaking into multiple installments was to make them look like retainer payments for legal fees.
They’re discussing possible defenses-that’s the topic of this segment.
When he gets acquitted, the dictator will be unleashed.
Trump tried to play it like nothing happened, when in fact something did happen,
What happened?
@@kenc7120Trump signed those 9 checks is what happened.
@@kenc7120He falsified business records and trying to sway an outcome of 2016 election.
Is Trump’s knowledge of false entries enough or did he have to “direct” them to do it?
We think that the republican ticket should be Pence/Romney in 2024. Neither one has any scandals!
This is just trying too hard to be contrarian.
Subpoena Hannity now
Cover up " I'm your guy" nod wink
He didn’t need to order it. He didn’t need to come up with the idea. He only needed to cause or allow it to happen.
MNSBC please tell your viewers to take the vaccine. Please you need to earn the money they paid you to say this.
🤮
The claim that Trump might not have known and wasn’t the person making the accounting entries is laughable. There is more than signing most of the cheques and being in the room with the discussion over the payments, the biggest smoking gun is the amount paid itself. Remember, the figures was ‘grossed-up’, doubling the amount. People forget it’s not just how the entries were made, it is agreeing to pay 2x (more with the bonus) rather than simply reimburse Cohen. And if Cohen did it out of his love for Trump, why pay him anything?
I am sorry but putting down hush money payments would not have solved things because the amount spent on the hush money would have exceeded the campaign donation limits. Basically, even if it was a loan he could not have supplied it because it was a loan in support of the campaign.
When you sign a check YOU are liable for what that money was spent on! Let us not play these silly games!
So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
Well you might feel its "Silly Games!" but (Thank God) you are not on the jury....the Jury will decide and not those of us on the MSNBC comments section.
@@dhillman7522 Nice deflection dummy! Not even the same thing!
@@linusfingesi2222 Indeed and they will return the charge of guilty! Go get your glasses fixed!
@@dhillman7522 IF YOU SIGN A CHECK YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR WHERE THOSE FUNDS ARE GOING! PERIOD!
No matter what anyone on tv thinks or says, the jury has the final say. Save your breath.
Well yes a democratic jury in an all democratic city.
I hope "Bloodbath" Trump takes the stand in his own defense and tells us the only person he's ever worshipped is 'Hannibal the Cannibal' Lecter.
Don’t forget his love for Hitler and his buddies, Putin, and Jung Kung Un
Doesn't matter who thought up the crime! It's the approval of the checks! Trump never stopped payment so that means he approved it😅😅😅😅😅😅😅
These checks are from Trump’s personal checking account
He's guilty - and everyone who's not in the cult knows it
Not to state the obvious.... But surely they should compare the disclosures to other payments to Cohen.
🤔
Only way trump can save himself is to testify which he won’t because of perjury.
I'm no lawyer by no means just a guy who runs boats for a living, but I always thought it was a matter of What you can prove NOT what you Think you know or how you feel when it comes down to a court room and jury. Now with that being said if the juriers want to convict someone weather it be Trump or the ;local Garbage truck driver for something based on How They Feel,Or What they think ,then the Justice system is truley broken down as you can plainly see by whats taking place here. So far the only thing the Stae has produced is a secertly recorded phone conversation where when monies Or payments are mentioned BY Cohen, if you listen you hear Trump ask him What payment,What money? You have checks signed for legal services from a business owner to his attorny Whom he has on retainer, don't most people who hgave attornies on retainer pay them? Oh yeah he dosen't use email" That's a ganster move" no matter What you think, it's What you can prove
Put Cohen u Der headline! Not the other guy. We've seen enough of him
These two guest talks as if they are that good. If they are they should be prosecuting Trump.
He signed the checks! You heard his secretary! He signed the checks ✔
So? It's a misdemeanor.
So if your tax accountant makes a mistake the IRS should throw you in jail? You signed it......
Do you watch Bill Maher Bill Maher has Stormy Daniels on and she said something completely different
yes she did but the jury will never see that evidence.
This migjt be a set up to prolong this.
Yeah, the dumb person defense.
I'm from the UK. To see "journalists" not even hiding the fact that they're biased is troubling. If you agree with them you might not see how dangerous this is. You'll eventually arrive at state run TV, radio & newspapers who do the bidding of the incumbent party. Think Pravda, The People's Daily, Russia Today.
What would you have done about it?
You're absolutely right! Fox has been a MAGA propaganda arm for the duration of its existence and that's a massive part of how we arrived where we have today with a corrupt, lying, document thieving, wanna be election thieving insurrectionist who is still part of the political conversation.
The man can turn seconds into years and billions into nothing....and people call him The Choosen One..... HAHAHAHAHA
Wonderful how all these pundits are throwing around potential excuses for team Trump to go, 'hey yeh, that sounds good'.
Nobody should be talking about this case.....only those involved
I've noticed a change at MSNBC. Not a fan.
Minor detail 😂
Trump is losing another case.
Isn't Donnie the "unindicted co-conspirator that went on to become president"?
"There's nothing illegal about a hush-money payment"????
There is something illegal about defrauding every American voter in 2016.
THERE IS IF YOU FALSIFY BUSINESS RECORDS TO HIDE IT!
If the other party signs it and takes the money, no there isn’t.
45 ⚖️ 🧱
The buck stops at the Resolute Desk, so according to a previous POTUS; Executive Branch is resolutely responsible for the decisions (Robespierre's own head rolled) to proceed.
Motive..... unless Trump is that bad at running his business and money is coming and going without his knowledge.
Michael Cohen lied to the Jury TODAY!!! You don’t break Attorney Client Priviledges and Lie about it. The Jury is like what a Slime-Ball he is!!! Cohen is Finished. He’ll Never work again🤣🤣🤣
Initially, I thought this would end in a hung jury. Now I think he will be acquitted.
Let see. You may be up to a really big disappointment. And you'll start to cry like a baby 🍼
You did bet your idol was acquitted in the EJ Carrol case, in the trump organisation case and... he lost big way and you cried
@@walterbo7687 No I thought he would be convicted in that case. And I'm not a Trump supporter
Not to go unnoted: he paid cohen 35k/mo for 12 months as reimbursement, but noted as a retainer, and didnt pay cohen as his personal attorney for that year, tho cohen acted in that role
what do you think a retainer is?
@@dhillman7522 not reimbursement for money already paid out of his own pocket. A retainer should have been additional
@@karenritcheydamon8009 Depends on the agreement. Some attorneys are paid for all services by an on going retainer. have you ever heard the phrase I have an attorney on retainer? This means the legal fees will be subtracted from the retainer until the retainer is used up.
Oops 😢😮😅
47
The falsification charge is a misdemeanor, one that passed it's statute of limitations 6 years ago.
WRONG. NEW YORK HAS DIFFERENT RULES ONSTATUTE. STOP LYING!
@@bunnycox1046 Falsifying business reports is a misdemeanor under NY law.
But TDS 😂
@@bunnycox1046 You are wrong, they resuscitated this expired case by using a federal law they have no jurisdiction to bring.
Yes, but the payment was made to influence an election, which makes the payment a felony.@The1stDukeDroklar
Look it appears that Donald highlighted his rug last night!
He's looking extremely shiny and gold today! Face it this clown is comical free entertainment for the world.
But Entertaining or not, and win or lose this case, I still will not vote for him again!
To be honest listening to you anchors talk about what the defense attorneys might do is incredibly stupid. You know they are not showing competence in any legal common sense. So much so that the judge had to step in with some objections to prosecutors questioning. And you guys thinks it's okay to give defense tools of defense they might not have even thought of yet. Not very smart reporting at all.