Executive Power: Laws And Limits

WAMU 88.5

Published August 23, 2018 at 10:06 AM EDT

Supporters listen to President Donald Trump speak at the Charleston Civic Center on August 21 in West Virginia. Paul Manafort, a former campaign manager for Trump and a longtime political operative, was found guilty in a Washington court today of not paying taxes on more than $16 million in income and lying to banks where he was seeking loans.

On Tuesday, a set of jaw-dropping legal developments turned up the heat on President Trump.

Former personal lawyer and known fixer for Trump, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations regarding the payment of two women who said they had a sexual relationship with the president.

Also on Tuesday, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort was found guilty on eight counts of financial crimes. Jurors were unable to reach a verdict on 10 other charges, and the judge declared a mistrial.

We covered these rulings in-depth Wednesday. You can hear those conversations here and here.

One of the best-sourced reporters covering the Trump administration, Maggie Haberman, described the White House’s mood this way:

Trump folks are worried about impeachment more than before. The thinking goes like this: this is something tangible, not a theoretical. And it didn’t come from Mueller. Does not mean it will happen, but this has moved to a different stage in their minds.

— Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) August 21, 2018

The president responded to Michael Cohen’s admissions on Twitter.

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

But Trump’s tone was different when he touched on Paul Manafort.

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

Conditions have looked bad for the president before.

Just last month, there was the Helsinki news conference. His zero-tolerance policy of separating families at the border sparked widespread outrage. At the beginning of his presidency, he accused President Obama of wiretapping him with no discernible evidence to corroborate the claims. And when Trump was still a candidate, we heard the infamous tape of him talking about grabbing women’s genitalia.

But now that Cohen has admitted that the president ordered him to break campaign finance laws, are things different? Is impeachment of the president on the table? What about other political and legal consequences? Or, is all of this distracting from the fact that Trump is exactly the president his voter base hoped for?

*For this show, we’re opening the phones and want to hear from you. 855-236-1212.

*Produced by Jonquilyn Hill. Text by Gabrielle Healy*.

GUESTS

Jeffrey Rosen, President and CEO, The National Constitution Center; professor at The George Washington University Law School; author of “William Howard Taft” and “Louis D. Brandeis: American Prophet” @RosenJeffrey

Michael Isikoff, Chief investigative correspondent, Yahoo News; co-author, “Russian Roulette: The Inside Story of Putin’s War on America and the Election of Donald Trump;” @Isikoff

Rachel Bovard, Senior director of policy, Conservative Partnership Institute; former legislative director, Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY); former director of policy services, The Heritage Foundation; @rachelbovard

For more, visit https://the1a.org.