How the Mass. congressional delegation is reacting to the Cohen and Manafort guilty findings
“Not a coincidence. Not a witch hunt.”
In a span of a few hours on Tuesday afternoon, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign-finance violations, and a jury found his ex-campaign chairman, Paul Manafort, guilty of eight financial crimes.
Related Links
While the president made no mention of the guilty findings for Cohen and Manafort during a rally Tuesday evening in West Virginia, on Wednesday morning he tweeted that those in need of a “good lawyer” should not hire Cohen.
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
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
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
Massachusetts Democrats began calling for accountability in the nation’s capital in the hours immediately following the court developments.
Here’s what Massachusetts politicians are saying about the one-two punch of legal setbacks for the Trump White House:
Sen. Elizabeth Warren
Paul Manafort lied about lobbying for a foreign government and got rich. And it’s shocking that @realDonaldTrump‘s campaign mgr has been convicted of criminal tax fraud. But it’s insane that ANYONE is allowed to take shady foreign cash to lobby our government. #EndCorruptionNow
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 21, 2018
Since introducing my bill to #EndCorruptionNow this AM: Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign crimes. Paul Manafort convicted on tax fraud. Rep. Duncan Hunter indicted for misuse of campaign funds. And these are just the guys who’ve been caught.
Time to clean up Washington.
— Elizabeth Warren (@SenWarren) August 21, 2018
Sen. Ed Markey
Paul Manafort – found guilty. Michael Cohen – pleads guilty, implicates Donald Trump. Donald Trump has nominated a Supreme Court justice who believes he can’t be indicted.
Not a coincidence. Not a witch hunt.
— Ed Markey (@SenMarkey) August 21, 2018
Rep. Jim McGovern
Trump said he would hire only the best. Instead he’s surrounded himself with liars & criminals. Manafort? Guilty. Cohen? Guilty. Flynn? Guilty. Papadopoulos? Guilty. Gates? Guilty. Notice a pattern? https://t.co/NEa0LBQyN7
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 21, 2018
The American people deserve answers. They ought to know whether or not their President ordered illegal hush-money payments. No one, including him, is above the law. https://t.co/KihIGlzMIg
— Rep. Jim McGovern (@RepMcGovern) August 21, 2018
Rep. Joe Kennedy
6 guilty pleas. 1 Trump campaign chair convicted. 2 GOP Congressmen indicted. 1 President implicated in court. 1 indifferent, incompetent GOP Congress. Time for accountability.
— Joe Kennedy III (@joekennedy) August 22, 2018
Rep. Katherine Clark
Trump’s lack of a moral compass hasn’t been news for a long time but today, within 1 hour, we learned both his campaign chairman & attorney were guilty of felonies. There’s no time to waste when it comes to protecting the Mueller investigation- and our democracy. #Cohen #Manafort
— Katherine Clark (@WhipKClark) August 21, 2018
Rep. Michael Capuano
https://twitter.com/RepMikeCapuano/status/1032287601355571200
