President Trump, arriving in Charleston, W.V., for a rally tonight, gave a brief statement about Paul Manafort, who was convicted on eight felony counts earlier today. (Video below.)
Trump insisted that Manafort is “a very good man” noting that he had worked for both President Reagan and Sen. Bob Dole.
“It’s a very bad thing that happened to him,” Trump said. “This has nothing to do with Russian collusion, it’s a witch hunt, it’s a disgrace… I feel very badly for Paul Manafort.”
“It was not the original mission” of the investigation, he said. “It had nothing to do with Russian collusion. We continue the witch hunt.”
He refused to answer shouted questions about Michael Cohen.
JUST NOW: Trump, asked about Manafort, says he feels bad for him, calls him a "good man", and insists he "had nothing to do with it" several times.
Asked about Cohen, Trump says nothing and walks away from reporters. pic.twitter.com/4WZRthLJhi
— Melanie Schmitz (@MelsLien) August 21, 2018
Update 6:33 p.m. EST: Rudy Guiliani, President Trump’s private attorney, reacted to Michael Cohen’s statements in court today. “There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the President in the government’s charges against Mr. Cohen,” he said. “It is clear that, as the prosecutor noted, Mr. Cohen’s actions reflect a pattern on lies and dishonesty over a significant period of time.”
Update 8:33 p.m. EST: President Trump did not mention either Cohen or Manafort during his rally in W. Virginia tonight. There was a great deal of speculation that the president might go off on prosecutors or special counsel Robert Mueller, but at least for this speech, Trump stuck to the script — perhaps apprehensive about getting himself into more legal hot water.
Update Wednesday, 9:48 a.m. EST: President Trump, not surprisingly, took to Twitter this morning to discuss yesterday’s happenings with Michael Cohen and Paula Manafort. The president again expressed sympathy for Manafort, pointing out that he was found not guilty on ten of the 18 charges. At the same time, he blasted Cohen, even while pointing out that Cohen “plead guilty to two counts of campaign finance violations that are not a crime.”
If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” – make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
A large number of counts, ten, could not even be decided in the Paul Manafort case. Witch Hunt!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
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!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
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