After the CBS Evening News and NBC Nightly News refused on Wednesday to mention that the U.S. Attorney’s Southern District of New York office was closing its much-hyped investigation regarding the now-infamous hush money payments, Thursday’s CBS Evening News noticed this legal victory for President Trump, but offered a tinge of disappointment there were no new charges.
And similar to how the liberal media tried to make hay with the Mueller Report despite the lack of collusion, CBS tried to do that on a smaller scale with the documents released on the probe.
“Newly released court documents today show President Trump was very much aware of efforts in 2016 to keep two women silent about their affairs with him. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is serving three years for his involvement. It appears Cohen will be the only one charged in this,” anchor Norah O’Donnell began.
White House correspondent Paula Reid reiterated that “the Justice Department is not expected to file additional charges in an investigation into hush money paid to the President's alleged mistresses during the final days of the 2016 election, but court documents unsealed today reveal how extensive the President's involvement in the payments may have been.”
Reid then spent a large portion of her time going through how the court documents allege that the President was in contact with then-aide Hope Hicks and then-attorney and fixer Michael Cohen (who’s now serving a three year prison sentence related to the payments)
Reid also promoted a statement from Cohen, who seemed to mirror what many in the Resistance must be feeling, which is that “the exoneration of ‘the Trump Organization’s role should be of great concern to the American people and investigated by Congress.’”
Back live, O’Donnell circled back with Reid to again wonder why no one else was charged (click “expand”):
O’DONNELL: Paula joins us now from outside the White House. And Paula, if there is all this information now about these regular contacts over the hush money payments, why will no one else be charged?
REID: Norah, the Justice Department does in the believe a sitting President can be indicted, so he was not expected to be charged, but sources confirm that other officials who were involved in facilitating these hush money payments received immunity. Now Congress may investigate why more people weren't charged.
So while NBC Nightly News has yet to cover this probe ending (unlike how they at least acknowledged a case against the President regarding the emoluments clause fell through), CBS decided to cover it by trying spin it as a negative story for team Trump.
To see the relevant transcript from July 18's CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell, click “expand.”
CBS Evening News with Norah O’Donnell
July 18, 2019
6:30 p.m. Eastern [TEASE][ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Hush Money]
NORAH O’DONNELL: New details of President Trump's efforts to buy the silence of a porn star and a Playboy model at the height of the 2016 election.
(....)
6:38 p.m. Eastern
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Hush-Money Involvement]
O’DONNELL: Newly released court documents today show President Trump was very much aware of efforts in 2016 to keep two women silent about their affairs with him. Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is serving three years for his involvement. It appears Cohen will be the only one charged in this. Paula Reid got reaction from the President.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: No More Charges Over Trump Hush Payments]
PAULA REID [TO TRUMP] Are you relieved the New York investigation is resolve?
[TRUMP NODS]
PAULA REID: CBS News has learned the Justice Department is not expected to file additional charges in an investigation into hush money paid to the President's alleged mistresses during the final days of the 2016 election, but court documents unsealed today reveal how extensive the President's involvement in the payments may have been.
DONALD TRUMP [in Access Hollywood tape]: When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything.
BILLY BUSH [in Access Hollywood tape]: whatever you want.
REID: The day after the release of the infamous Access Hollywood tape, Mr. Trump got on the call with Michael Cohen and Hope Hicks. Prosecutors believe the call was to discuss quashing reports of an affair between Trump and adult film star Stormy Daniels as he was under fire for his treatment of women. On the days before and after Cohen made a payment of $130,000 to Daniels, he spoke to the President three times. Prosecutors say the two men usually spoke about once a month.
MICHAEL COHEN (on 02/17/19): He asked me the pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair and to lie about it to his wife, which I did.
REID: Cohen was ultimately repaid in part by the Trump Organization. The President initially denied knowing about the money.
UNIDENTIFIED REPORTER [TO TRUMP] (on 04/05/18): Did you know about the $130,000 payment?
TRUMP (on 04/05/18): No. No.
[ON-SCREEN HEADLINE: Records: Trump Involved in Hush Payments]
REID: And in House testimony last month, Hope Hicks testified that she was never present for discussions of payments to Daniels. Cohen is currently serving three years in federal prison in part for campaign finance violations related to these payments. Today, he released a statement saying the exoneration of “the Trump Organization's role should be of great concern to the American people and investigated by Congress.”
O’DONNELL: Paula joins us now from outside the White House. And Paula, if there is all this information now about these regular contacts over the hush money payments, why will no one else be charged?
REID: Norah, the Justice Department does in the believe a sitting President can be indicted, so he was not expected to be charged, but sources confirm that other officials who were involved in facilitating these hush money payments received immunity. Now Congress may investigate why more people weren't charged.
O’DONNELL: Alright, Paula Reid, thank you.
