OA203: Paul Manafort Convicted, Michael Cohen Pleads
Today's extra-long, extra-early Rapid Response episode tackles the two biggest stories in the news right now:\xa0 Paul Manafort's conviction, and Michael Cohen's plea deal.\xa0 We tell you\xa0exactly what these two big stories actually mean. We begin with Paul Manafort.\xa0 What did the jury decide?\xa0 Why did they fail to reach a verdict on 10 counts?\xa0 What were those counts?\xa0 How long is Paulie M going to stay in prison and what's next?\xa0 And, most importantly:\xa0 what does this mean for Yodel Mountain?\xa0 How likely is Paulie M to flip on Donald Trump?\xa0 We answer all of these questions and more! After that, we turn to everyone's favorite weasel, Michael "I Would Take A Bullet For Donald Trump" Cohen, who... has not taken a bullet for Donald Trump but has in fact pled guilty to eight separate crimes.\xa0 What are they, what does it mean, and what comes next?\xa0 Listen and find out! And if all that wasn't enough, we\xa0end with an all new Thomas Takes The Bar Exam #90 involving\xa0 foreseeability, cross-motions for summary judgment, and tortious conduct.\xa0 If you'd like to play along, just\xa0retweet our episode on Twitter or share it on Facebook along with your guess and the #TTTBE hashtag.\xa0 We'll release the answer on next Tuesday's episode along with our favorite entry! Recent Appearances None!\xa0 If you'd like to have either of us as a guest on your show, drop us an email at openarguments@gmail.com. Show Notes & Links
- You'll want to start with the Manafort indictment, and you can also read the\xa0Manafort verdict.\xa0 Of the eight guilty counts, Manafort was convicted under 18 U.S.C. \xa7 1344,\xa026 U.S.C. \xa7 7206(1), and 31 U.S.C. \xa7 5322.
- We first discussed the Federal Sentencing Guidelines back in Episode 162; you can check out the full manual (long!) and also the FSG Sentencing table\xa0to figure out how long Paulie M is going away.
- And don't forget Manafort still has another trial pending in DC!\xa0 We gave you a primer on that back in Episode 194, and you can check out the pending indictment\xa0in that case.
- If Paulie M flips, it will be to take advantage of Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules of Criminal Procedure.
- Of course, we first covered how Stormy Daniels is a Legal Genius back in Episode 154, and then the Karen McDougal story in Episode 158.
- Here's\xa0Cohen's plea deal; here are the conditions of his release; and here's the article quoting his allocution.
- Sneak preview of the bonus episode:\xa0 here's the DOJ manual on prosecuting campaign finance violations that proves Alan Dershowitz is lying.\xa0 Again.