Former FEC Chairman: Trump Paying Stormy Daniels With Own Money is Not Illegal.
Anti-Trump liberals are thrilled that President Donald Trump’s former
attorney Michael Cohen has turned on his former boss and struck a plea
deal with prosecutors, which includes prison time. In this case, the
prosecutors are claiming that President Trump and Cohen violated
campaign finance laws for the large payment to infamous porn star Stormy
Daniels.
But there’s one big problem!
On conservative legend Mark Levin’s radio show, he interviewed
Clinton-appointed former Federal Elections Commission chairman Bradley
Smith. Smith made it absolutely clear that Trump’s payment to Stormy
wasn’t illegal, and details just how difficult this case will be for
prosecutors, despite the hopes of the biased mainstream media.
Cohen’s charges are one false statement to a financial institution,
five counts of tax evasion, and two counts of campaign finance
violations. The left is focused on the campaign finance charges, even
though Cohen only pleaded guilty to avoid more charges and likely more
prison time.
As Levin opined, “It’s not a precedent… They obviously had more on
Michael Cohen, or Michael Cohen wouldn’t have cut a deal.” Levin added
that a plea deal doesn’t mean there was an actual violation of the law.
In the interview with Smith, the former FEC chairman repeatedly noted
that just because a private expense happens to also help a candidate’s
public image or improves the chances of winning an election, does not
make every dollar spent by a candidate – as a private citizen – is a
violation of the law.
Levin asks, “The argument seems to be and it hasn’t changed is that
if I spend money to make myself look better or to take away negative
issues in my private life, my business life, my employment life, and use
my own money, that somehow that is a campaign contribution, correct?”
Smith agrees, “Right.”
Levin confirms, “Which it is not.”
And Smith agrees again, “That’s right, it’s not.”
Listen to his interview (below) on Mark Levin’s popular radio show:
Smith also published an op-ed in The Washington Post, where he notes that while the payments are unseemly, they are not illegal.
This is an important distinction to make. It would be one thing if
Trump used campaign funds for personal matters. But an individual
running for public office doesn’t suddenly lose his right to buy and
spend money as he sees fit. And Trump, a high-profile billionaire, has
faced down accusations his entire career, long before he entered
politics. Sometimes, it’s cheaper to pay off accusers than fight them in
court.
