Stormy in a teacup — campaign finance case against Trump is laughably weak

[volsrock]

The argument is that since the hush money was paid to “influence” the election, it was a campaign expenditure. But by that logic, every dime Chris Christie spent to lose weight before his 2016 run — the diet books, the StairMaster, the bariatric surgery — was a campaign expenditure. If Christie bought a SlimFast shake with his personal money, was he a felon?

Former Federal Election Commissioner Bradley Smith posited another hypothetical: “If a business owner ran for political office and decided to pay bonuses to his employees in the hope that he would get good press and boost his stock as a candidate, would that be a campaign expenditure, payable from campaign funds?”

If a candidate who normally gets a $12 haircut shells out $40 for a better cut, is he a criminal for paying out of his own pocket even though the idea is to look sharp in front of news cameras? If a candidate pays a contested past-due personal bill only to make the headache go away before the debates begin, is he legally required to pay out of his campaign coffers?


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/o...laughably-weak

[Darth Omar]

The argument is that since the hush money was paid to “influence” the election, it was a campaign expenditure. But by that logic, every dime Chris Christie spent to lose weight before his 2016 run — the diet books, the StairMaster, the bariatric surgery — was a campaign expenditure. If Christie bought a SlimFast shake with his personal money, was he a felon?

Former Federal Election Commissioner Bradley Smith posited another hypothetical: “If a business owner ran for political office and decided to pay bonuses to his employees in the hope that he would get good press and boost his stock as a candidate, would that be a campaign expenditure, payable from campaign funds?”

If a candidate who normally gets a $12 haircut shells out $40 for a better cut, is he a criminal for paying out of his own pocket even though the idea is to look sharp in front of news cameras? If a candidate pays a contested past-due personal bill only to make the headache go away before the debates begin, is he legally required to pay out of his campaign coffers?


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/o...laughably-weak

I’m hoping the House Impeachment Circus is centered on Trump’s campaign law ‘violation’ [which results in a fine in more sane instances] for a couple reasons.

The first one is obvious: it’s a weak charge. But secondly, the hush money paid out of the congressional slush fund looms in the background. Do House Democrats really want to go there when Trump can order declassification of it? There will be some serious dirty laundry aired if that happens.

This could get interesting.

[Phantasmal]

I’m hoping the House Impeachment Circus is centered on Trump’s campaign law ‘violation’ [which results in a fine in more sane instances] for a couple reasons.

The first one is obvious: it’s a weak charge. But secondly, the hush money paid out of the congressional slush fund looms in the background. Do House Democrats really want to go there when Trump can order declassification of it? There will be some serious dirty laundry aired if that happens.

This could get interesting.

You think Republicans really want to go there themselves? You’re right, it could get interesting, let’s do it. It could help drain the swamp of all the predators.

[Darth Omar]

You think Republicans really want to go there themselves? You’re right, it could get interesting, let’s do it. It could help drain the swamp of all the predators.

We agree, finally lol. Let’s do this.

Oh, I’m sure it’s a bipartisan thing. All the more reason democrat’s impeachment hopes will die on the vine if they go that route. One thing the Congress critters can be counted on to work together is on saving their own skins.

[Phantasmal]

We agree, finally lol. Let’s do this.

Oh, I’m sure it’s a bipartisan thing. All the more reason democrat’s impeachment hopes will die on the vine if they go that route. One thing the Congress critters can be counted on to work together is on saving their own skins.

I believe if they decide to impeach, they will have more grounds than just this. Mueller isn’t done.

[domer76]

The argument is that since the hush money was paid to “influence” the election, it was a campaign expenditure. But by that logic, every dime Chris Christie spent to lose weight before his 2016 run — the diet books, the StairMaster, the bariatric surgery — was a campaign expenditure. If Christie bought a SlimFast shake with his personal money, was he a felon?

Former Federal Election Commissioner Bradley Smith posited another hypothetical: “If a business owner ran for political office and decided to pay bonuses to his employees in the hope that he would get good press and boost his stock as a candidate, would that be a campaign expenditure, payable from campaign funds?”

If a candidate who normally gets a $12 haircut shells out $40 for a better cut, is he a criminal for paying out of his own pocket even though the idea is to look sharp in front of news cameras? If a candidate pays a contested past-due personal bill only to make the headache go away before the debates begin, is he legally required to pay out of his campaign coffers?


https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/o...laughably-weak

Yeah, those make believe scenarios are EXACTLY like paying a whore $130,000 to stay quiet just days before the election.

EXACTLY the same.

[Legion]

[Phantasmal]

Yeah, those make believe scenarios are EXACTLY like paying a whore $130,000 to stay quiet just days before the election.

EXACTLY the same.

Did they create a shell corporation to do it, too? These attempts to justify Trump’s breaking the law are amusing .

[Darth Omar]

I believe if they decide to impeach, they will have more grounds than just this. Mueller isn’t done.

You’d do well to hope that lol.

Though the fact Mullet is barking up that tree seems to indicate desperation on his part. Campaign finance violations are low hanging fruit. Not as bad as invoking the 1799 Logan Act, but nearly so.

Why would he even bother with it if he serious goods on Trump?

[Legion]

I believe if they decide to impeach, they will have more grounds than just this. Mueller isn’t done.

Your faith is unlikely to be justified by results, imbecile.

Even if the new DEMOCRAT-infested House votes to impeach, removal from office requires a conviction in the Senate.

[Phantasmal]

You’d do well to hope that lol.

Though the fact Mullet is barking up that tree seems to indicate desperation on his part. Campaign finance violations are low hanging fruit. Not as bad as invoking the 1799 Logan Act, but nearly so.

Why would he even bother with it if he serious goods on Trump?

He is a prosecutor going after all the laws that were broken, that is what they do. He’s starting with the small stuff and working his way up.

[Althea]

Yeah, those make believe scenarios are EXACTLY like paying a whore $130,000 to stay quiet just days before the election.

EXACTLY the same.

I especially liked the one about the bonuses. One is out in public, and bragged about, and the other is done in secret, with the help of others employing illegal monetary scams.

And...the issue is the dollar amount. Not necessarily the scope of the contribution.

Ironically, this is exactly what put Kushner's real daddy in jail.

[Legion]

You’d do well to hope that lol.

Though the fact Mullet is barking up that tree seems to indicate desperation on his part. Campaign finance violations are low hanging fruit. Not as bad as invoking the 1799 Logan Act, but nearly so.

Why would he even bother with it if he serious goods on Trump?

Did you notice that no "Russian collusion" seems to have occurred?

Looks like the FISA warrant was a fabricated excuse to get an open-ended investigation going.

Never-Trumpers and DEMOCRATS started with the premise that Trump has to be guilty of something/anything and have spent over $30 million and 19 months trying to find a "crime."

[Bourbon]

I'm sure laughing about it, not sure if Donny or Milaniais.

[Bourbon]

Benghazi