Paul Manafort and Michael Cohen’s co-operation with federal authorities pose a disastrous threat to Donald Trump’s freedom, his presidency, his business empire and his family. For this he can thank Jared.
Donald Trump likes to boast that he hires the best people. The truth of the matter is that he surrounds himself with sycophants, posers and cowards who feed his ego and bow to his mercurial whims. Given current events; his worst hire is undoubtedly his son-in-law; Jared Kushner.
James Comey served the Trump administration as Director of the FBI. Comey was investigating whether the Russians had interfered with the 2016 election and whether members of the Trump camping had wittingly or unwittingly assisted the Russians in their efforts. Donald Trump asked James Comey to be personally loyal to him. Comey declined. Donald Trump asked James Comey to end the FBI’s investigation into Trump’s National Security Advisor, Michael Flynn. Comey declined. Trump decide Comey had to go. Jared Kushner encouraged his father-in-law to fire Comey. Trump concurred.
James Comey no longer works for the federal government. As a member of Trump’s campaign, Trump’s Attorney General Jeff Sessions was forced to recuse himself from all matters pertaining to the Russian investigation. With Comey out and Sessions sidelined , acting Attorney General Rob Rosenstein was forced to appoint someone to oversea the investigation into Russian meddling. Rosenstein decided to appoint Robert Mueller as Special Counsel in charge of the Russian investigation and bestowed on him broad powers to not only look into the Russian meddling but to investigate any additional criminal activity his Russian probe might uncover. Kushner was instrumental in having Trump fire Comey. Comey’s firing resulted in Mueller’s appointment.
Paul Manafort was the man responsible for bringing the Russian mob, aka the Kremlin, into the inner circle of the Trump campaign. When it became evident that former Campaign Chairman Corey Lewandowski had take the Trump train as far as he could it was Kushner who lobbied Trump to kick Lewandowski to the curb and bring Manafort in to take them over the finish line. Trump needed someone to run the convention and wrangle delegates into the Trump camp. Manafort had a history of being an expert in that discipline. He had also spent the better part of the last decade doing business with many of the same Russian oligarchs and bankers who had poured funds into both Trump and Kushner’s real estate empires. He was a perfect fit. That Manafort brought with him a horrible reputation as a dirty political pol willing to resort to less than ethical methods to get his candidate where he wanted to go, was of little consequence. Manafort was Kushner’s guy and that made him Trump’s new campaign manager.
Today Manafort is awaiting sentencing having been either convicted or pleaded guilty to ten felony charges in Virginia and Washington D.C. In exchange for his co-operation with federal authorities Manafort hopes to avoid what could amount to a life sentence in a federal prison. Manafort has a lot to say and he is highly motivated to sing like a bird.
Michael Cohen was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer and chief “fixer” for over a decade. He has extensive knowledge of Trump’s business dealings as well as those of Trump’s children. When Trump was elected, Cohen expected that his years of loyal service to Trump would earn him a prime White House job and a cushy West Wing office. But Kushner found Cohen to be too rough around the edges for the refined trappings of Washington politics. Kushner lobbied Trump to leave Cohen behind. Trump concurred. Cohen felt betrayed and deeply hurt. When the FBI raided Cohen’s home and office it quickly became apparent Cohen’s loyalty to Trump might have its limits. Rather than console and support Cohen, Trump went out of his way to distance himself publicly from his former advisor. Trump ridiculed Cohen and downplayed Cohen’s involvement in Trump’s business dealings. This only served to fan Cohen’s anger and widen the wedge between Cohen and his former boss.
Cohen pleaded guilty to eight federal felony charges. In his statement to the court Cohen named Trump as a co-conspirator in the illegal campaign finance scheme to pay off Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Cohen knows where all the bodies are buried. Cohen know the identities of all the women Trump paid off. Cohen knows everything about the Russian money pouring into Trump’s business. The Washington Post is reporting that Cohen has already spent hours with Mueller’s investigators spilling his extensive knowledge of events surrounding the Trump, Campaign, Trump International, the Trump Foundation, Russian involvement with Trump’s business and political interests and the dealings of Trump’s three children: Don Jr., Ivanka and Eric.
It was Kushner who lobbied Trump to fire Comey; which led to the appointment of the Special Counsel that ensnared Manafort and Cohen. Manafort and Cohen now threaten the very existence of the Trump empire as well as the personal freedom of Trump and his children. It was Kushner who persuaded Trump to bring Manafort into the tent. It was Kushner who persuaded Trump to leave Cohen outside.
Well done, Jared!
Trump like to boast that he hired the best people.
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