General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsNew York Prosecutors Can Go After Trump Now, Even If Mueller Won't - By David Cay Johnston
Michael Cohens Guilty Plea Opens the Door to State Criminal Charges for Trump, His Company and His Kids
By David Cay Johnston, DCReport Editor-in-Chief
Michael Cohens admission today in federal court that he committed felonies at the direction of Donald Trump exposes the president to criminal prosecution in New York State, an angle the mainstream news organizations have all missed.
State prosecution is a critical concern because Trump has the constitutional authority to pardon Cohen, or commute his sentence, for federal crimes. Trump claims he can pardon himself and continue in office.
Trump has claimed the power to fire Robert Mueller, the special prosecutor, or hobble his inquiry, and authority to take over the investigation and even run it himself.
But Trump has no power to stop any state-level criminal investigation or pardon anyone convicted of state crimes.
Justice Department guidelines prohibit indicting a sitting president, though he could be prosecuted after leaving office. No such restriction applies to New York and other state prosecutors, however, who are limited only by their willingness to act in the public interest.
more
https://www.dcreport.org/2018/08/22/new-york-prosecutors-can-go-after-trump-now-even-if-mueller-wont/
dalton99a
(81,566 posts)beachbum bob
(10,437 posts)Kirshner as they are state tax and finance laws they would have broken as well.. trumps pardon power disappears.
ScratchCat
(2,002 posts)There are many State laws that have been violated including NY State tax laws.