The Independent View: Trump Says He Did Not Commit Campaign Violations

President Trump said he “did not commit a campaign violation” in the Run-Up to the 2016 Election, despite a Filing last month from Federal Prosecutors implicating the President in his former Attorney’s Campaign Finance Crimes.

“Many people currently a part of my opposition, including President Obama & the Dems, have had campaign violations, in some cases for very large sums of money. These are civil cases. They paid a fine & settled,” Trump wrote. “While no big deal, I did not commit a campaign violation!”

Longtime Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen was Sentenced in December to Three Years in Prison for tax and fraud Charges, for Lying to Congress, and for a Pair of Campaign Finance Violations stemming from Hush Money Payments which Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York allege Trump Directed his Ex-Fixer to make to a Former Porn Star and the National Enquirer Tabloid Magazine.

For the Campaign Finance Violations, Trump was an Unindicted Co-Conspirator, a Person or Entity that is Alleged in an Indictment to have Engaged in Conspiracy, but who is Not Charged in the Same Indictment.

Trump has previously complained of what he views as Insufficient Media scrutiny over former President Barack Obama’s Campaign Finance Error, tweeting in August: “Michael Cohen plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime. President Obama had a big campaign finance violation and it was easily settled!”

The Federal Election Commission in 2013 Fined Obama’s 2008 Campaign $375,000 after it Failed to provide a Series of 48-hour Notices for nearly 1,300 Contributions that Totaled more than $1.8 Million. Notices must be Filed on Contributions of $1,000 or more within 20 Days of Election Day. Obama's Campaign paid $230,000, with the Democratic National Committee Paying the rest of the amount.

In August 2016, Cohen pleaded guilty to Campaign Finance Violations, and detailed an Illegal Operation to stifle Sex Stories and Distribute Hush Money to Buy the Silence of Porn Actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy Model Karen McDougal, who had both Claimed they had Affairs with Trump. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 as part of a Nondisclosure Agreement signed Days before the 2016 Election.

Also in August 2016, the National Enquirer's Parent Company reached a $150,000 Deal to Pay McDougal for her Story of a 2006 Affair, which it never Published, a Tabloid Practice known as Catch and Kill. In 2015, the Company's Chairman met with Cohen and Trump and "offered help with negative stories" about Trump's Relationships with Women by Buying the Rights to the Stories, Prosecutors said. After McDougal Contacted the Enquirer, the Chairman of its Parent Company, American Media Inc., contacted Cohen about the Story. After Cohen Promised the Company would be Reimbursed, the Enquirer Paid McDougal $150,000, according to Court Documents.

So that comes to $280,000 of what is called In-Kind Service Campaign Contributions and was not Reported.

But the Prosecutors in the Southern District of New York are looking at Trump's Foundation that allegedly used Donation Money to Pay, or Passed to his 2016 Election Campaign to Pay, the Cost of His Campaign. That is the Crime he should be worried about.