This has been the day from hell for the Trump family, especially Donald Trump Jr., who has now been implicated by the president’s former attorney, Michael Cohen, in the conspiracy to pay hush money to women who allege they had extramarital affairs with the president.
Cohen gave the House Oversight Committee evidence that proves Don Jr. was involved in the money paid to adult film star Stormy Daniels so she wouldn’t reveal her relationship with the president just months before the 2016 election. That makes Don Jr. part of a conspiracy to commit bank and wire fraud.
“At the hearing on Capitol Hill, Mr. Cohen produced two checks that he said were among 11 payments to reimburse him for the $130,000 he had paid with his own money to one of those women, the pornographic film actress Stephanie Clifford, known professionally as Stormy Daniels.
“One check, dated March 17, 2017, bore the signatures of Donald Jr. and Mr. Weisselberg. The other, dated Aug. 1, 2017, had the president’s own signature.”
The top check bears the signatures of Don Jr. and Trump Org. CFO Alan Weisselberg. The bottom check contains President Trump’s signature.
Cohen also shot holes in Junior’s assertion that he never told his father about the infamous Trump Tower meeting in June of 2016. That meeting, you’ll recall, was attended by Don Jr., Paul Manafort, and Jared Kushner. They were meeting with Russian nationals for “dirt” on Hillary Clinton. The Washington Post notes this passage from Cohen’s prepared statement:
“I remember being in the room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his father’s desk — which in itself was unusual. People didn’t just walk behind Mr. Trump’s desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: ‘The meeting is all set.’ I remember Mr. Trump saying, ‘Ok good … let me know.’”
If Don Jr. testified to Congress and said he didn’t tell his father, then prosecutors also have him for perjury.
And if you’re thinking the president can just pardon his son and take him out of legal jeopardy, keep in mind that the Attorney General of New York is also investigating these financial crimes, which took place in her jurisdiction.
Donald Trump Jr. — aka Traitor Tot — is screwed. And his daddy can’t save him from prison.