Trump Timeline ... Trumpocalypse



It is hard to exaggerate the potential significance of the news, first reported by CNN, that the president’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, can testify that Donald Trump both knew in advance and approved of the June 9, 2016, meeting at Trump Tower between his campaign’s high command and Kremlin emissaries who promised dirt on Hillary Clinton.

There was already substantial evidence that (a) https://wapo.st/2uYc3TS (the Russian intervention helped to make Trump president) and (b) that individuals associated with the Trump election effort, from campaign chairman Paul Manafort on down, had dealings with the Russians. What has been missing is proof that the president was personally involved in these sordid machinations.

There was already, to be sure, circumstantial evidence suggesting Trump knew of the Russian offer to demonstrate “support for Mr. Trump.” Before and after the 2016 meeting, Donald Trump Jr. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/05/18/did-trump-jr-call-the-blocked-number-or-vice-versa/?utm_term=.d17bb17f4528 (called) a blocked number three times. His father's private number was blocked, but prosecutors should be able to subpoena the phone records. And, on June 7, 2016, hours after the meeting was scheduled, Trump https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2017/07/11/what-happened-and-when-the-timeline-leading-up-to-donald-trump-jr-s-fateful-meeting/?utm_term=.671841ba1bb9 (announced): “I am going to give a major speech on probably Monday of next week and we’re going to be discussing all of the things that have taken place with the Clintons.

I think you’re going to find it very informative and very, very interesting.” The Russians’ promise of dirt apparently did not pan out, and the speech was never given, but there is good cause to suspect the Russians simply decided it would be more effective to give their dirt (i.e., stolen emails) to WikiLeaks rather than handing it directly to the Trump campaign.

What has been lacking so far is the “smoking gun.” Cohen may just supply it, if his purported testimony is credible and corroborated (admittedly big ifs). Indeed, Rudolph W. Giuliani, Trump’s lawyer, has https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-fix/wp/2018/07/30/rudy-giuliani-obliterates-the-goal-posts-on-trump-russia-collusion/?utm_term=.beeec61fb38b (gone from arguing) that Trump didn’t know about the Trump Tower meeting to arguing that the then-candidate wasn’t present (which no one has alleged he was) — and from arguing that no collusion occurred to arguing that collusion, even if it occurred, is no big deal. This is his actual defense: “My client didn't do it, and even if he did it, it’s not a crime.”
 
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