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Head Spinning Over the Manafort and Cohen News? We’ll Catch You Up Head Spinning Over the Manafort and Cohen News? We’ll Catch You Up
(about 4 hours later)
Within a few whirlwind minutes on Tuesday, major developments were revealed in the cases of two associates of President Trump.Within a few whirlwind minutes on Tuesday, major developments were revealed in the cases of two associates of President Trump.
Michael D. Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he committed them at the direction of Mr. Trump, and Paul Manafort was convicted on multiple counts of fraud.Michael D. Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he committed them at the direction of Mr. Trump, and Paul Manafort was convicted on multiple counts of fraud.
Confused or overwhelmed by the developments? Here’s a look at what happened.Confused or overwhelmed by the developments? Here’s a look at what happened.
[Listen to The Daily podcast on the meaning of Tuesday’s revelations]
On Tuesday, Mr. Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, and admitted to arranging payments to two women at Mr. Trump’s behest to secure their silence about affairs they said they had with him. Mr. Cohen said the payments were made “for the principal purpose of influencing the election.”On Tuesday, Mr. Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, and admitted to arranging payments to two women at Mr. Trump’s behest to secure their silence about affairs they said they had with him. Mr. Cohen said the payments were made “for the principal purpose of influencing the election.”
More details:More details:
• Read about the tense and somber hearing in the courtroom and watch a video of Mr. Cohen leaving court.• Read about the tense and somber hearing in the courtroom and watch a video of Mr. Cohen leaving court.
• If Mr. Cohen’s admissions and accusations are true, Mr. Trump committed serious crimes. Here’s a legal analysis of what prosecutors could do now.• If Mr. Cohen’s admissions and accusations are true, Mr. Trump committed serious crimes. Here’s a legal analysis of what prosecutors could do now.
• Here are six takeaways from Mr. Cohen’s guilty plea.• Here are six takeaways from Mr. Cohen’s guilty plea.
• This graphic shows how the payments were made. One of them involved the help of a third party, a tabloid publisher and Trump ally accused of buying the rights to one of the women’s stories only to bury it.• This graphic shows how the payments were made. One of them involved the help of a third party, a tabloid publisher and Trump ally accused of buying the rights to one of the women’s stories only to bury it.
• Here’s how Mr. Cohen built his shadowy business empire.• Here’s how Mr. Cohen built his shadowy business empire.
• And here’s a look at what the Trump team said about the payments to Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic actress better known as Stormy Daniels.• And here’s a look at what the Trump team said about the payments to Stephanie Clifford, the pornographic actress better known as Stormy Daniels.
Mr. Manafort, the former campaign chairman for Mr. Trump, was convicted of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account.Mr. Manafort, the former campaign chairman for Mr. Trump, was convicted of five counts of tax fraud, two counts of bank fraud and one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account.
Of the 18 total charges against him, the judge declared a mistrial on 10 counts. The verdict was the most significant victory yet for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III.Of the 18 total charges against him, the judge declared a mistrial on 10 counts. The verdict was the most significant victory yet for the special counsel, Robert S. Mueller III.
Read more:Read more:
• More than 30 others have been charged in the Russia investigation so far.• More than 30 others have been charged in the Russia investigation so far.
• Here’s a look at Mr. Manafort’s rise and fall and how his ambition set the stage for his own downfall.• Here’s a look at Mr. Manafort’s rise and fall and how his ambition set the stage for his own downfall.
• Watch a video that traces his trail of scandals.• Watch a video that traces his trail of scandals.
Mr. Trump responded to Mr. Manafort’s conviction after landing in Charleston, W.Va., for a rally on Tuesday night, calling Mr. Manafort “a good man.”Mr. Trump responded to Mr. Manafort’s conviction after landing in Charleston, W.Va., for a rally on Tuesday night, calling Mr. Manafort “a good man.”
On Wednesday, Mr. Trump praised Mr. Manafort on Twitter as “brave” for refusing to “break” under pressure, in contrast to Mr. Cohen, whom the president accused of fabricating stories “in order to get a ‘deal.’” In a separate tweet, Mr. Trump also offered a negative review of Mr. Cohen’s legal services.On Wednesday, Mr. Trump praised Mr. Manafort on Twitter as “brave” for refusing to “break” under pressure, in contrast to Mr. Cohen, whom the president accused of fabricating stories “in order to get a ‘deal.’” In a separate tweet, Mr. Trump also offered a negative review of Mr. Cohen’s legal services.
“If anyone is looking for a good lawyer,” he wrote, “I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”“If anyone is looking for a good lawyer,” he wrote, “I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”
What’s next for Mr. Manafort and Mr. Cohen? The president could pardon them, but Lanny Davis, Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, said in several interviews on television on Wednesday that his client would not accept one, if given.What’s next for Mr. Manafort and Mr. Cohen? The president could pardon them, but Lanny Davis, Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, said in several interviews on television on Wednesday that his client would not accept one, if given.
“He considers a pardon from somebody who has acted so corruptly as president to be something he would never accept,” Mr. Davis said on NBC’s “Today” show.“He considers a pardon from somebody who has acted so corruptly as president to be something he would never accept,” Mr. Davis said on NBC’s “Today” show.
The two men also might have incentives to cooperate with prosecutors in the special counsel’s investigation, a former federal prosecutor said. With their legal trouble, one person could benefit: Mr. Mueller — and here’s why.The two men also might have incentives to cooperate with prosecutors in the special counsel’s investigation, a former federal prosecutor said. With their legal trouble, one person could benefit: Mr. Mueller — and here’s why.
As television journalists struggled to keep up with the developing drama on Tuesday, even the president’s most loyal defenders have said in private that the legal setbacks could divide Republicans in Congress and open Mr. Trump himself to impeachment in the House.As television journalists struggled to keep up with the developing drama on Tuesday, even the president’s most loyal defenders have said in private that the legal setbacks could divide Republicans in Congress and open Mr. Trump himself to impeachment in the House.
Now, the fate of the Trump presidency rests with Congress.Now, the fate of the Trump presidency rests with Congress.
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