Wednesday, April 18, 2018

Mueller and Cohen: Political Danger and Existential Threat

It is said the White House believes that the Michael Cohen investigation is a much greater threat to the President than what Robert Mueller is likely to release as a final report. This belief is well-founded and reinforced by the news last week of the impeached president of South Korea being sentenced to 24 years in prison and former, very popular President of Brazil beginning a 12-year sentence, both for financial corruption.

Mueller’s finding related to the President could be violations of law and the Constitution that will be considered by Congress. The Cohen investigation could produce criminal indictments, including Donald Trump.

New polling from ABC News/Washington Post conducted by Langer Research Associates shows the American public has a different view. They are very supportive of the Mueller investigation of collusion, but less so on the hush money allegations; i.e., Stormy Daniels.

There is eleven percent less support for the hush money investigation than the Russian election interference. In terms of the Mueller investigation of collusion, even 43 percent of Republicans support it compared to 80 percent of Democrats and 70 percent of Republicans. But in another question, only 51 percent of the public believe Trump’s pattern of sexual misconduct is important vs. 46 percent who do not. However, there is a gender gap. Women are 15 percent more likely to judge both issues – the hush money investigation and the importance of the politics of sexual misconduct – higher.

See questions and poll here

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