Last Tuesday, the Democrats and many of their mainstream media allies went into a state of jubilation at the thought that impeachment of President Donald Trump could be imminent in the wake of the court convictions of Paul Manafort and the guilty pleas of former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. However, CNN legal analyst Paul Callan tossed cold water on these celebrations with a few reality checks that they definitely won't be thrilled to hear.
For those who have been hoping for an end to the Donald Trump presidency, Tuesday appeared to be cause for celebration. On that day, a Virginia jury returned eight felony convictions against the president's one-time campaign manager, Paul Manafort, at nearly the same time that Trump's personal attorney and "fixer" Michael Cohen entered guilty pleas to a variety of financial and election law crimes. In short, Trump's critics could revel in the hope that the conviction and imprisonment of both men might foreshadow Trump's exit.
It is premature for anti-Trumpers to dance in the streets.
Uh-oh. And now the very sad news for the Democrats and their MSM brethren.
The charges against Manafort were largely unrelated to the Trump presidency, and the trial judge virtually banned the use of Trump's name through most of the trial. Furthermore, none of Manafort's crimes were ever linked to the president, and the vast majority of his alleged criminal activities predated his appointment as Trump campaign manager.
He added:
In pleading guilty, Cohen admitted to participation in a scheme to pay hush money payments to two women -- Karen McDougal and Stormy Daniels -- with whom Trump is alleged to have had affairs. Missing, though, were the details of Trump's intentional involvement in criminal activity substantial enough to tip the Constitution's "high crimes and misdemeanors" scale.
...There may be other criminal offenses chargeable against Trump as more is revealed about Cohen's shady dealings, but Trump's opponents shouldn't put on their dancing shoes just yet.
Too late, Paul. They are already doing victory dances in their impeachment end zone.
