Storm Trumper
Why would Trump suddenly admit to paying $130,000?
As a refresher, porn star Stormy Daniels alleged she had an affair with Donald while he was already married to Melanie, that she was threatened, paid the money after agreeing to keep quiet about the affair, and now she wants to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement so she can come clean and tell all and do something noble like write a book about it.
After months of Trump denying the affair, that he had sicced his lawyer Michael Cohen on her, and paying hush money, Trump's newly-retained lawyer Rudy Giuliani suddenly admits on live television that Trump had paid Cohen.
What is this strategy supposed to accomplish?
Was this the product of a skillful legal strategist putting seemingly random pieces into play, a knee-jerk reaction by a flustered adviser to a scary new development? Or, as happens in so many legal cases when a new lead counsel steps in, was this a blunder committed after incomplete information was fed?
I say follow the money. I would bet my sweet ... smile that that's what triggered all this.
When the FBI raided Cohen's offices and hotel room, they must have gotten evidence of funds from Trump. Once those funds are traced to Trump, the authorities would have then started asking what the payments were for.
They would have asked, is this payment for services rendered? What services? Where is the retainer contract? What is the scope of services defined in the contract? (Which could suddenly firm up the conclusion that Donald did indeed have an affair with Stormy).
When was this service billed? Why was this not paid immediately? Did you allow him to repay it over time? If so, did it become a loan? Is this then the repayment of a loan? (Which requires that Trump should have reported it in his financial disclosures.)
So many difficult questions, especially if one is trying to avoid being linked to Stormy baby.
And so now, perhaps to pre-empt any earth-shaking revelation from authorities, the Trump legal team has decided to come clean first.
So perhaps the strategy is to admit the funds from Trump to Cohen, which is already legitimized by the fact that Cohen is not denied to be a personal lawyer of Trump. After all, what's wrong with paying a lawyer's fees and expenses? Surely, during that relationship, Trump paid Cohen for services from time, perhaps without scrutinizing the billing statement. Sounds plausible, right? Might be enough to satisfy those pesky FBI and those nosy reporters.
I just love the way that Michael Cohen denied he had received the $130,000 from Trump. The denial was crafted very skillfully. He said he had not received money from the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign to pay off Stormy. And everyone apparently bought it.
But wait, he didn't say he did not receive money from Donald Trump, the person. Not Trump the organization or Trump the campaign, but Trump, the leader of the free world and defender of the faith. So apparently, he did get cash from Trump himself!
Much has been written about the quality of the law school Cohen went to and his remarkable achievement of graduating from it and passing the Bar. But really, we cannot help but clap at the masterful sleight of hand he has played versus the world's press. Such skillful dissembling! Worthy to represent a president, perhaps.
Except the FBI is sniffing at him, and the president's suits are in shambles. Feverishly anticipating the climax of this thriller.
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