Ppl frequently talk about how Mueller won't charge obstruction against Trump unless there's an underlying crime.
The crime most frequently mentioned is that Trump conspired with Russia to steal the election.
But this Cohen plea changes that calculus . . .
The crime most frequently mentioned is that Trump conspired with Russia to steal the election.
But this Cohen plea changes that calculus . . .
The idea that the Trump Tower Moscow was under consideration during the campaign itself raises a different underlying crime -- public corruption.
We don't know if winning the Presidency was the aim or building the tower was the aim of the campaign. But we can look at signs.
We don't know if winning the Presidency was the aim or building the tower was the aim of the campaign. But we can look at signs.
The Trump campaign didn't have a serious transition effort. They only had a cursory idea of who their cabinet officials would be. They didn't have serious policy proposals. Trump was never taking the job of the Presidency seriously.
This suggests that his real aim was other than governing the United States -- it suggests that his real aim all along was the real estate empire.
It had been his whole life. A leopard doesn't change his spots.
It had been his whole life. A leopard doesn't change his spots.
With this plea agreement, Mueller is laying the predicate that the real aim of the campaign was self-enrichment. This raises the spectre of public corruption and emoluments clause violations.
This is why Trump doesn't want Mueller looking at his finances, because that's where the real crime is.
