Thread by @just_security

A criminal case against Donald Trump would turn the weaknesses in the prosecution of John Edwards into strengths.

@ThePaulSRyan on the alleged wrongdoing at the center of the Michael Cohen #HushMoney campaign finance scandal
justsecurity.org/60415/prosecut…

A key that could unlock the case against Trump:

"Cohen’s plea documents indicate a host of other people were involved... One of those individuals, the President of AMI has already 'provided prosecutors with details about payments…including Mr. Trump’s knowledge of the deals.'"

Edwards: "DOJ presented no evidence that Hunter was planning or threatening to speak to the press about her affair…Edwards’ lawyers made a big deal out of this"

Trump: "McDougal and Clifford were in negotiation with national media outlets to sell the rights to their stories"

Edwards: "all but one of the payments ... were made before a single primary ballot had been cast, in the calendar year preceding the election year"

Trump: payments were "in August (McDougal) and October (Clifford) of the election year, immediately before Americans voted"

Edwards: "the payments…were made contemporaneously to the affair and the pregnancy"

Trump: "the payments to both McDougal and Clifford were made a decade after the alleged affairs—timing that…makes a lot of sense…if the purpose was to keep the information from voters"

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