The morning after what aides are calling the darkest day of his presidency, President Donald Trump, predictably, let loose on Twitter, siding with his Paul Manafort over his former lawyer and effectively trolling Michael Cohen.
Trump started the Twitter tirade with a sardonic tweet about Cohen, warning those looking for a “good lawyer” to avoid his former attorney, who pleaded guilty to eight counts Tuesday associated with his financial dealings, including the hush payments he made to women alleging affairs with Trump.
If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
While maintaining throughout the investigation and trial that Manafort only worked for his campaign for a short period of time, Trump’s sympathy for Manafort resurfaced last week when the President told reporters that his former campaign manager is “actually” a good person. That sentiment carried over to Wednesday’s tweet-storm, when Trump praised Manafort for refusing to “break” and “make up stories to get a ‘deal.'”
A jury found Manafort guilty on five counts of filing false tax returns, one count of failure to disclose a foreign bank account and two counts of bank fraud. The jury found itself at a stalemate Tuesday on the remaining 10 charges.
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” – make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
A large number of counts, ten, could not even be decided in the Paul Manafort case. Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
Trump then moved on to baselessly claim that two of the campaign finance charges that Cohen pled guilty to were “not a crime.”
Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime. President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
It appears as though aides attempts to keep Trump distracted — to avoid self-harm — with absentminded activities like golf and campaign rallies have crashed and burned.
I would like to know to which crimes (which #actually are not a crime) Donald Trump would be willing to confess.
Probably all of them, Katie.
Saying the campaign violations are not a crime could be seen as an admission of guilt. ie., “Ok, ok, Yes, I did it, but hey it wasn’t a crime!”
Bluster has always served him well, except during his bankruptcies (and even then, to an extent). Not so much any more.
Also if you want a good lawyer, don’t hire Rudy Giuliani. Or Ty Cobb. Or Jay Sekulow. Or John Dowd. Or Marc Kasowitz. Or Jeff Sessions. Or…
Trump offers an “interesting” defense of Manafort: He wasn’t found guilty of everything, so he must be guilty of nothing!