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Robert Mueller and Michael Cohen Take on Trump

Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III, former Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, will be turning in his report to Attorney General William P. Barr on President Trump’s affairs with Russia. Mueller’s investigational findings includes Russia’s role in the 2016 presidential election and any links to Trump’s campaign.

The Washington Post says that democrats have offered to subpoena President Trump if the report is not made public, however, Mueller has been investigating these relations since May 2017, and has already indicted or secured 34 guilty pleas. These include six of Trump’s associates, and three Russian entities.

According to an online article by Reuters, conspiracies of this report include Trump having willing relations or direct coordination with Russia, and if any evidence of this is found, it could launch the U.S. government’s impeachment process.

The U.S. Constitution states that articles of impeachment include: bribery, treason, and “other high crimes and misdemeanors.” If the House of Representatives approves any of these articles, the Senate will hold a trial determining whether or not to remove the president from office.

Of all Mueller’s of cases, his findings against Paul Manafort and Roger Stone have come the closest to providing evidence of coordination between the U.S. and Russian leaders. Manafort was found to have shared election polling data with a Russian associate, and attended a 2016 meeting, held at Trump Towers, where a Russian lawyer promised “dirt” on Hillary Clinton, along with campaigning support for the 2016 election. He also discovered that Stone communicated with Wikileaks and a Russian hacker under the name of Guccifer 2.0.

These cases show Trump’s close aids communicating with Russia, but public reports fail to show Trump himself colluding with Russia. According to an article by Reuters, “Collusion is a non-legal term often used to describe acts that in a criminal context in this investigation likely would translate to a charge of conspiracy against the United States.”

It is possible that Mueller’s report will show that only those who work closely alongside the President conspired with Russians, but may not show evidence that the President himself was involved or aware of these relations.

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former attorney, delivered a Congressional testimony against Trump on Feb. 27.

White House Correspondent, Maggie Haberman, has said that this testimony would not be happening if The Wall Street Journal had not investigated the story that the President allegedly paid off Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal to keep them from talking during the election.

The Chairman for this hearing, Representative Elijah E. Cummings of Maryland, gavels in to begin the the testimony.

Cohen has stated that his goal is to “correct the record, to answer the committee’s questions truthfully, and to offer the American people what [he knows] about President Trump.”

Cohen goes on to say how ashamed he is and how much regret he holds in his actions of working under and supporting Trump, his career beginning in 2007.

“I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. Trump is a racist, he is a con-man, and he is a cheat,” he continued.

Cohen presented a receipt of a check that was signed after Trump’s inauguration, from his own personal bank account, that was paid to Cohen as reimbursement for the hush money payments he gave to Stormy Daniels. This prevented damage to his campaign.

He also brought forward financial statements from 2011-2013; an article with Trump’s handwriting, that reported on the auction of a portrait of himself that he had arranged with the bidder previously, and then reimbursed the bidder with money from his non-profit charity. As well, copies of letters Cohen wrote under Trump’s direction that threatened his high school, colleges, and the College Board to not release his grades or SAT scores.

“Trump did not tell me to lie to Congress,” said Cohen, referring to 2016 when he defended Trump, “that’s not how he operates.”

“He would look me in the eye and tell me there’s no Russian business, and then go on to lie to the American people by saying the same thing. In his way, he was telling me to lie.”

Cohen said that there was many times where Trump would ask how it’s going in Russia. He continued by giving examples of Trump’s lies and work he had hidden from American citizens.

“My first instinct has always been to help those in need. It is painful to admit that I was motivated by ambitions at times and that many times I ignored my conscience and acted loyal to a man when I should not have.”

His concluding statements said that he wants to set an example for his children, and change his reputation in history.

“I may not be able to change the past, but I can do right by the American people today.”

Robert Mueller and Michael Cohen are making their mark on history, providing the U.S citizens and Congress with information that will bring our government to the next chapter in American History.

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