Michael Cohen's got the receipts -- but impeachment is still a big gamble

[DonViejo]

Possible new evidence against Trump is more damning than ever. But Republicans don't care whether he's guilty

AMANDA MARCOTTE

JANUARY 18, 2019 5:25PM (UTC)

Late on Thursday night, BuzzFeed News dropped a bombshell report alleging that, finally, there's documentary evidence of Donald Trump committing a crime.

"President Donald Trump directed his longtime attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, according to two federal law enforcement officials involved in an investigation of the matter," reporters Jason Leopold and Anthony Cormier write.

They also claim that Trump worked with Cohen to set up a personal meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin to make the Moscow Trump Tower deal happen.

Perhaps most important, Leopold and Cormier report that there are text messages, internal memos and emails to prove this — throwing a wrench in Trump's legal strategy of writing Cohen off as a liar and turning the issue into a "he said/he said" standoff.

Talk of impeaching Trump has already been on the rise in the past month, as Democrats have taken control of the House of Representatives and now have the ability to file articles of impeachment. A new cover story in The Atlantic, published before the latest revelation, features senior editor Yoni Appelbaum arguing that the Democratic House majority "must immediately open a formal impeachment inquiry into President Trump."

more
https://www.salon.com/2019/01/18/michael-cohens-got-the-receipts-but-impeachment-is-still-a-big-gamble/

[Pantagruel]

1. With a growing body of evidence

of criminality, collusion and overall debasement of our democracy, failure to impeach is rapidly becoming a greater threat than worrying impeachment may fail in the Senate.

Waiting for Mueller to finish becomes problematic as Trump's conduct seemingly adds more charges for M. to investigate daily.

[FakeNoose]

2. Cohen's evidence was all turned over to the feds a year ago

We're only hearing about it NOW, but Mueller has known all of this for at least a year. He's had plenty of time to track down the corroborating witnesses and ask the right questions. It's not the only thing on his plate, but it is a solid provable crime that Cheeto committed as President, rather than before his inauguration. I'm certain that this isn't his only crime, but it's going to be an easy one to prove. The other crimes having to do with conspiracy/collusion/treason will be harder to prove.

[jberryhill]

4. A lot of it, yes

At least enough to prepare to jump through the DOJ procedural hoops the obtain, and then execute, a search warrant on Cohen to fill in the details for which they already had probable cause.

And that's at a minimum.

[uppityperson]

3. K&R