Archives for May 2024

from the Independent.uk

A unanimous 12-person jury in New York found Donald Trump guilty of all 34 counts against him in his so-called hush money case.

The jury agreed, beyond a reasonable doubt, that Trump not only had a hand in falsifying records but did so in order to commit or conceal another crime – specifically, that he violated state law against conspiracy to influence an election by “unlawful means.”

Those “unlawful means” include violations of the Federal Election Campaign Act, the falsification of other business records, and violations of state and federal tax laws.

These are the full 34 counts against the former president.

Count 1: Michael Cohen’s invoice for January-February 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated February 14, 2017, marked as a record of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 2: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 842457, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 3: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 842460, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

The verdict sheet in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump after it was handed down (AP)

Count 4: Cohen’s check for $70,000 from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about February 14, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated February 14, 2017, bearing check number 000138, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 5: Cohen’s invoice for March 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 16, 2017 through March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated February 16, 2017 and transmitted on or about March 16, 2017, marked as a record of the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 6: A corresponding ledger entry from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for the Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust, bearing voucher number 846907, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 7: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from the Donald J Trump Revocable Trust

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about March 17, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump Revocable Trust Account check and check stub dated March 17, 2017, bearing check number 000147, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 8: Cohen’s invoice for April 2017

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about April 13, 2017 through June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated April 13, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 9: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 858770, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 10: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017, bearing check number 002740, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 11: Cohen’s May 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 22, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated May 22, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 12: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 22, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 855331, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 13: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about May 23, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated May 23, 2017, bearing check number 002700, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 14: Cohen’s June 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 16, 2017 through June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated June 16, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 15: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 858772, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 16: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about June 19, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated June 19, 2017, bearing check number 002741, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

The verdict sheet in the hush money trial of former President Donald Trump is photographed Thursday, May 30 (AP)

Count 17: Cohen’s July 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated July 11, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 18: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 861096, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 19: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about July 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated July 11, 2017, bearing check number 002781, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 20: Cohen’s August 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated August 1, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 21: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 863641, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 22: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about August 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated August 1, 2017, bearing check number 002821, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 23: Cohen’s September 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated September 11, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 24: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 11, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 868174, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 25: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about September 12, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated September 12, 2017, bearing check number 002908, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 26: Cohen’s October 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated October 18, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 27: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 872654, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 28: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about October 18, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated October 18, 2017, bearing check number 002944, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 29: Cohen’s November 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 20, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated November 20, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 30: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 20, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 876511, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 31: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about November 21, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated November 21, 2017, bearing check number 002980, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 32: Cohen’s December 2017 invoice

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an invoice from Michael Cohen dated December 1, 2017, marked as a record of Donald J. Trump, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 33: A corresponding ledger entry maintained by the Trump Organization

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 1, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, an entry in the Detail General Ledger for Donald J. Trump, bearing voucher number 877785, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Count 34: Cohen’s check for $35,000 from Donald Trump’s personal checking account

The defendant, in the County of New York and elsewhere, on or about December 5, 2017, with intent to defraud and intent to commit another crime and aid and conceal the commission thereof, made and caused a false entry in the business records of an enterprise, to wit, a Donald J. Trump account check and check stub dated December 5, 2017, bearing check number 003006, and kept and maintained by the Trump Organization.

Bryce Holliwell, my alter ego, was outside the New York courthouse yesterday and filed this report:

Dateline yesterday from outside the Manhattan Courthouse. (Okay, 335 miles outside the courthouse, but outside the courthouse.)

The judge is giving his instructions to the jury and then will tell them to sequester and come back with a decision, 34 decisions actually. I fully expect the jury to ask why they need to be sequestered and the judge stunned by that begins asking and being interrupted by the jurors, “He’s guilty.” 

And then shout of “Lock Him Up, Lock Him Up,” to follow.

I am disappointed at DJT. He says he didn’t have sex with Stormy Daniels to which I ask, “then how does she know you have a mushroom shaped dick?” 

He could easily disprove the claim by showing the jury his penis. No mushroom, no sex. That would make one of the all time great court drawings. I’d like to see the opinion experts debated what qualifies as mushroom shape. I meant are we talking Shiitake, Morel, Cremini? I go with Button. Yeah, that’s the ticket. What’s that Donnie? Portabello? Whoa. Dude. No, Button. Like Portobello but much much smaller.

But hey, don’t you believe that a week or two before the election that he decided he wanted to protect his wife from the knowledge of a ten year old sexual encounter that never happened?

And, this just in, Donnie says he doesn’t even know what the charges are. Hum. Is he deaf or was he asleep when all of them were just read out loud?

He has said the judge, (or was it the trial?), is a disgrace. I wonder what he might say if found innocent?

He has also said Mother Theresa would be convicted by this trial. Well, yeah, given the evidence. He’s right.

Okay, I gotta go.

Blake,

I don’t know if you know the story of what I’m calling “Jeff and the Drink” so I thought Id write it down.

Come to think of it, I doubt Jeff Cain knows it all.

BTW I have the triple stack of Jeff’s minature kites. Very cool.

Okay. so here goes.

We are flying out of Seattle, switching through Denver. Me, Laurie Dutton, Meg Albers, and Jeff are all on the flight leaving out of Denver. Meg has all kinds of stomach issues and took some medicine and is going down fast. I need to get her on the plane before she conks out. I tell the stewardess at the gate that my wife is pregnant and not feeling well. We get right on the plane. Meg falls asleep on my shoulder.

The drink cart comes by. I want a glass of wine. Unfortunately, my wallet is in my pocket on the side Meg is sleeping on. I look over my shoulder and see Jeff about three rows back next to the window. 

I say to the stewardess, “See that guy, three rows back? Next to the window? He’ll pay for my drink.”

Twenty seconds later I hear Jeff yell, “What?”

Before I can turn back in my seat the stewardess is kneeling beside my seat, with a very distressed look on her face, “That man,” she exclaimed, “Says he doesn’t know you.”

I, in a very calm, voice said, “That’s gratitude for you. After all I’ve done for him.”

“When is the baby due?”

“Baby?” I had to quickly remember that I had used that excuse to get Meg on the plane. Then try to calculate nine months out. “Oh, we just learned not for another eight and a half months.

“Would it be okay if I pay you once she wakes up? My money is in the pocket next to her.”

I got the approving nod, like we’re all helping to bring a new life into the world or some sort of mommy female conspiracy thing.

And that is the story of Jeff and the drink.

After all I’ve done for him. He’s so cheap.

I DECIDED TO WASH THE BATHROOM WINDow (damn caps lock)

I got a jug at HD that I could squirt down the outside and as long as I did that window I might as well do the rest on that side

Then I went around the corner and did the Ocean room windows and then the LR up to the slider.

Having discovered the screen upstairs and realizing it was filthy – just because it hadn’t been washed in 30 or 40 years I did it too

and as long as I was doing it I might as well do the others and if I put them down on the deck where the metal table usually sits that had mildew spots underneath maybe I could get rid of the mildew

And as long as the screens were out I might as well wash the insides of the windows and then the little windows on the doors to the garage and the inside of the window out to the back deck (oh yes I did that window and the kitchen window and the breezeway doors when I had the squirter bottle that I could use on the outside.

And then I discovered that my squirting off of the screens really didn’t get them clean so I had to wipe them down, both sides, and squirt them off, and I discovered some mildew cutter in the garage which did a better job on the mildew on the deck then my squirting the screens off there, and as long as I had the cutter out I might as well do the back stairs off the triangular deck.

And now I’ve got the screens back in and the red sofa pushed back in place and everything put away. 

So I can check off “Wash Window in new bathroom”

Geez, why did such a simple job take all day?

Friday, May 17, 2024

It is being reported that in the case of Donald Trump the defense landed some blows on the testimony of Michael Cohen. What exactly did they do?

Well, this is major. They showed that in a ninety second phone call from eight years ago with Donald Trump or his body guard that what he, Cohen, says the conversation was about might not be correct. Wow. Spectacular. Oh and this the defense asserts shows that Cohen is, or was, a liar. Really?

Let’s consider that Cohen worked for Trump for ten years and his job was to lie for the boss and to cover up things, ie to be a bully. So is he, or was he a liar? Yes. That was his job.

This stunning revelation was what the defense uncovered in hours and hours of cross examination.

Did they mention any of the stuff that this case is really about? No.

The defense is being praised for their strategy of asking Cohen questions out of chronological order, which makes the case confusing and perhaps Cohen as a liar. This after the prosecution went through the same stuff in order. 

Like all of the cases against Trump, the evidence is clear. There really is no debate about what happened, what was done. It’s obvious. Is it criminal? Well, if you read the law and you look at the undisputed facts it’s obvious. And there are some who think he’s being hunted. There are members of Congress who have come to New York to do what Trump with his gag order can not do. Attack the judge and his family. 

Meanwhile, it has ben reported and shown that Justice Alito had flown a U.S. flag uoside down after the Jan 6th insurrection. This was and is a symbolic gesture to say “Stop the Steal.” What does Alito say? “Oh my wife did it.” and it was about a neighborly dispute. What BS. But this is what you get when these people are confronted. “My dog ate my homework.” 

or “Gosh, I didn’t think I had to report those 33 luxury vacations.” 

or “They are out to get me.” Yeah, they are. You broke the law. Not once, not twice but ninety times. And you aren’t even charged with the really bad stuff.