Election Interference Trial

The criminal trial over payments made to conceal damaging information from voters in the 2016 presidential election has begun with opening statements today.  Heather Digby Parton gives a summary of events:

Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to those campaign finance violations [of making unreported in-kind donations to help win the election], saying in court that he did so at [Dear Leader's] direction. [David] Pecker ... corroborated Cohen's account that [Fuckface] was in on the scheme. ... "Individual 1" ... was let off the hook even though it was clear that he was guilty of the same crimes for which Cohen was going to prison and Pecker was given immunity.

Pecker was the first witness to testify in the trial. 

Victoria Bekiempis quotes prosecutor Matthew Colangelo's opening statement:

This was a planned, coordinated, long-running conspiracy to influence the 2016 election, to help [von Clownstick] get elected through illegal expenditures – to silence people with something bad to say about his behavior.

It was election fraud, pure and simple.

Update (May 24):  In anticipation of closing arguments, Dennis Aftergut offers his summation of the case.

Falsifying business records is a felony whenever someone: 

1. Knowingly 

2. Makes or causes to be made 

3. A false entry in business records 

4. With an intent to defraud [deceive]

5. Which includes an intent to commit another crime or to aid or conceal the commission of that other crime.

The totality of proof establishes beyond a reasonable doubt that [Fuckface von Clownstick] was at the hub of a conspiratorial scheme to falsify business records with an intent to defraud New York officials, federal officials and the public in order to promote his own candidacy in the 2016 election.

Update (May 30):  Aftergut also explains the jury instructions.