Update on 1/18/19: As per a 1/18/19 CNN report by Caroline Kelly, “Special counsel Robert Mueller’s office is disputing a BuzzFeed report that President Donald Trump directed his then-personal attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about the proposed Moscow Trump Tower project.”
“Mueller statement highlights need for an investigation, it doesn’t resolve things. It could be Mueller doesn’t have sufficient evidence Trump ordered Cohen to lie,or it could be about defending his Office’s reputation as a no-leaks place.Stmt mentions SC office 2x. Time will tell”
As per a tweet by Malcolm Vance:
“Shorter Special Counsel statement: ‘Your report may not be precise … but, more importantly WE don’t leak.’ #CarryOn”
For real, BuzzFeed, based on two federal law enforcement officials, is breaking a story that when it’s proven as per legal standards, is a game changer. What’s described in this blockbuster report amounts to the FBI’s Special Counsel Robert Mueller III purportedly having evidence that the republican President Donald J. Trump conspired to suborn perjury by specifically having instructed his former personal attorney, Michael Cohen to lie in his testimony before Congress about matters related to the president’s real estate deal to develop a hotel in Russia, the “Moscow Project.”
Here’s a definition of “Subornation of Perjury” as per West’s Encyclopedia of American Law, Edition 2:
The criminal offense of procuring another to commit perjury, which is the crime of lying, in a material matter, while under oath.
“Obviously, the President and any other official can commit obstruction in this classic sense of sabotaging a proceeding’s truth-finding function. Thus, for example, if a President knowingly destroys or alters evidence, suborns perjury, or induces a witness to change testimony, or commits any act deliberately impairing the integrity or availability of evidence, then he, like anyone else, commits the crime of obstruction.”
As per History.com, “On July 24, 1974, the Supreme Court rejected Nixon’s claim of executive privilege and ordered him to turn over the remaining tapes. When he refused to do so, the House of Representatives passed the first article of impeachment against Nixon for “obstruction of justice.” On August 5, with the impeachment process already underway, Nixon reluctantly released the remaining tapes.
Now, we get why President Trump’s PR lawyer Rudy Giuliani has recently been doing the TV Cables news circuit, twisting whatever he says into a torrent of confusion as he explains that he never said that there wasn’t collusion between some on the president’s 2016 campaign team and Russians but that the president had nothing to do with Russia’s hacking US officials to help him win the presidency in 2016.
Here is the rest of the story…
On January 18, 2019, Everett Rosenfeld of CNBC penned the following BuzzFeed story, “Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about Moscow project, BuzzFeed report says”
Bullet Points:
- “U.S. President Donald Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about the situation surrounding attempts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, a new report from BuzzFeed said, citing two federal law enforcement officials involved in investigating the matter.”
- “Cohen, who served for years as Trump’s personal lawyer, pleaded guilty in November to lying to Congress about a Trump real estate project in Russia, and the extent of the president’s involvement in and knowledge of that deal.”
- “The report said Cohen told Justice Department Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s team that Trump personally told him to lie in order to hide the real estate mogul’s ties to the Moscow negotiations.”
Excerpts:
“According to a new report from BuzzFeed, U.S. President Donald Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.”
“The report, published late Thursday evening, cited 2 federal law enforcement officials involved in investigating the matter. NBC News has not independently confirmed the report.”
“Cohen, who served for years as Trump’s personal lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty in November to lying to Congress about a proposed Trump real estate project in Russia and the extent of the president’s involvement in and knowledge of that deal. The project never came to fruition.”
“Prosecutors said Cohen lied in order to minimize links between Trump and his Moscow building project, and to give the false impression that the project had died before the Iowa caucuses in February 2016, the first contest on the path toward a presidential nomination.”
“At that time, Trump accused his former fixer of lying about his admissions in order to “get a reduced sentence.”
“He’s a weak person and not a very smart person,” Trump said.”
“When Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in December it was for several crimes, including campaign finance violations he said Trump directed him to carry out.”
“According to the BuzzFeed report, the 2 law enforcement sources said Cohen told Justice Department special counsel Robert Mueller’s team that Trump personally told him to lie in order to hide the real estate mogul’s ties to the Moscow negotiations. Mueller is investigating potential links between the Trump campaign and the Kremlin.”
“As for the BuzzFeed report, the White House didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC sent late Thursday. The Washington Post quoted Trump’s current lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, as saying, “If you believe Cohen I can get you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge.”
“The Associated Press received a similar response.”
“Notably, BuzzFeed reported that Mueller’s office learned about Trump’s alleged order for Cohen to lie through “interviews with multiple witnesses from the Trump Organization and internal company emails, text messages, and a cache of other documents.” Cohen, the report said, then subsequently acknowledged that directive.”
“Lanny Davis, who is Cohen’s legal and communications advisor, declined to comment on the BuzzFeed story “out of respect for Mr. Mueller’s and the Office of Special Counsel’s investigation.”
“Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, said in a Twitter post that the allegation against Trump in the BuzzFeed article “is among the most serious to date.”
Adam Schiff
✔@RepAdamSchiff
The allegation that the President of the United States may have suborned perjury before our committee in an effort to curtail the investigation and cover up his business dealings with Russia is among the most serious to date. We will do what’s necessary to find out if it’s true.
BuzzFeed News
✔@BuzzFeedNews
BREAKING: President Trump personally directed his longtime attorney Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow in order to obscure his involvement. https://www.buzzfeednews.com/article/jasonleopold/trump-russia-cohen-moscow-tower-mueller-investigation?bftwnews&utm_term=4ldqpgc#4ldqpgc …
Gronda Morin 
Gronda, we have known for some time the President was guilty of at least obstruction of justice. What is coming out now is his guilt on a number of fronts is as bad or worse than feared.
As the you-know-what hits the fan, GOP leadership won’t be able to move fast enough to wipe the pieces that fly on them. As David Brooks noted, when what we surmise becomes obvious, it will go down hill fast and it will be ugly, He is a cornered animal right now and he will not go down without biting a few folks. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Keith,
When President Trump goes down which he will, he’ll not go gently into that good night. He’ll lash out while he takes down the republican leaders and lawmakers with him.
But they chose to lie down with a wounded lion, and so they should have known better.
But how do we mitigate the damage he would love to impose on the rest of us.. We’re already feeling it.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLike
Hi Gronda,
CNN’s Brian Stelter interviewed Ben Smith and Anthony Cormier from Buzzfeed this morning and they reaffirmed that they’re sticking with their sources and story. I missed the first few minutes, but it sounds like they’re alluding that the sources weren’t from Mueller ‘s office, but from the SDNY. I’m not positive about this though so don’t quote me. I have a feeling that when everything comes out, that a good portion of the article will be proven true. Hopefully that’s not wistful thinking.
LikeLike
What gives me hope regarding this is that if Buzzfeed’s article is correct, Mueller has corroboration from multiple sources both verbally and through emails, texts and other documents. That renders Guiliani’s assertion that Cohen is lying, moot.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kim,
According to the BuzzFeed writers, they did not rely on the word of Michael Cohen for their reporting. They reviewed documents and spoke to 2 people who are were in a position to know about these details.
I’m thrilled that this news outlet broke this news scoop as they have been under attack from the right because of its publication of the Steele dossier.
This story is a game changer.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Kim,
The FBI’s Special Counsel is pouring cold water on this story without being specific. For me this means that the BuzzFeed story cannot be accepted at face value. This is a bummer.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
I was so dismayed whenI heard this last night. Not only for the actual story, but that this gives Trump, his minions and his supporters more ammunition in their war against “the fake news.” I did think that the statement released last night by Mueller’s office was a bit vague, so I’m still hopeful that at the very least parts of the report will be proven true in the end.
LikeLiked by 1 person
If the Buzzfeed report is verified as being accurate, and I strongly suspect it is, there can no longer be any doubt that Trump has played his base for the fools that they are. Like you, I fear the damage he will cause to this nation and its people as he goes down. Nonetheless … he MUST go down before he completely destroys this nation. Meanwhile, I hope somebody has the good sense to take the nuclear codes away from him. Just sayin’ …
Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jill,
The US House Intel Committee Chair Rep.Schiff has publicly stated that his committee will be getting to the bottom of this story asap. He has also committed to subpoenaing Don Jr.’s phone records for that day of June 9, 2016 when there was that infamous Trump towers meet between Paul Manafort, Don Trump Jr.and Jared Kushner the Russians.
It looks like there will be answers soon enough.
And I’m right with you. The president has to be removed from office asap.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Jill,
The FBI’s Special Counsel Mueller has gone on the record to challenge the accuracy of this story without being specific. This means that we can’t rely on the facts of this story. This is not a good day for journalism.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLiked by 1 person
Yes, I saw that last night … er this morning … before going to bed and I held my head and groaned. Mueller did the right thing, but this is going to cause problems going forward for the press. Buzzfeed ought to be drawn and quartered … it is just that type of irresponsible reporting before they have all the facts that puts our free press in danger of not being so free.
Hugs!
LikeLiked by 1 person
At this writing, BuzzFeed’s report hasn’t been verified by any other news agency. Having said that, I would tend to believe it’s legit and will soon be substantiated.
Hopefully, this will be the final straw, but this guy is slipperier than an eel!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Nan,
BuzzFeed journalists, because of past issues with the right, would not publish this report without being absolutely certain of the underlying facts of this story. That’s why other news outlets are running with this story even when their employees have yet to independently verify it.
He isn’t been known as Teflon Don for nothing.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLike
Gronda, Nan, on PBS Newshour tonight, David Brooks noted in the Cohen filings a few months ago, he lied to Congress at the direction of Individual #1 who is the President. So, that is additional corroboration. He also noted BuzzFeed is reputable organization. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person
Dear Keith,
This is not good news. The FBI’s Special Counsel Mueller has put the kabush on the BuzzFeed reporting which means that the facts that were being detailed can’t be accepted at face value.
The BuzzFeed journalists are saying that they’re sticking by what they published. But Mr. Mueller who has never commented on a news story before has to be the final word, for now.
This is a sad day for journalism. It gives the president a reason, a bullet for yelling about, “fake news.”
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLike
Dear Nan,
For the 1st time ever, the FBI’s Special Counsel Mueller has gone on the record to challenge of the accuracy of the BuzzFeed reporting but he did not offer specifics. My thinking is that this means that we simply cannot rely on the facts as detailed in the BuzzFeed story.
This gives journalism a black eye. The BuzzFeed reporters are sticking by their reporting.
Hugs, Gronda
LikeLike
Gronda, there is an overarching impact. Mueller is to be believed. When he does publish his findings, they will have more veracity. It will be used inappropriately as a means that Buzzfeed was totally inaccurate, but I don’t think that is what Mueller is saying. There is more to come on this. Keith
LikeLiked by 1 person