President Trump continued to defend former campaign chairman Paul Manafort Wednesday morning after a Northern Virginia jury found him guilty on eight felony counts of bank fraud and tax evasion Tuesday afternoon.
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
Trump did the same yesterday on his way to a rally in West Virginia.
"It doesn't involve me, but [it's] a very sad thing that happened. This has nothing to do with Russian collusion" Donald Trump said of his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort's conviction on eight felony counts https://t.co/tgC6dSmD4I pic.twitter.com/DpZnXyw9Z9
— POLITICO (@politico) August 21, 2018
But Trump isn't offering the same sympathy for his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who claimed in a New York federal court room yesterday that the presidential candidate directed him to violate campaign finance laws with payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
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
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
Cohen's lawyer, Clinton operative Lanny Davis, vows more is coming.