Seven Reasons President Trump Will Not Be Impeached And Convicted

Let me be clear: I cannot and will not condone Pres. Trump's sexual misconduct.  I hope it has stopped.  I wish our president did not have this history.  I also wish he would not make many of the inflammatory statements he makes That said, I generally support his policies.  Looking past all of the above, he has done a good job as president.

The question is not if he is qualified to be a pastor (hint - he isn't), it is whether or not it can be proved that he committed a serious crime - one that could result in impeachment and conviction.  Unless the "special prosecutor" has a ton more evidence that we do not know about, they are going to fall short.

1) A guilty plea does not prove that a crime has been committed.  Michael Cohen faced decades in prison on charges completely unrelated to Pres. Trump.  He simply plead guilty to what prosecutors wanted him to admit in order not to spend the rest of his life in prison.

2) Trump used his own funds for the payment.  He did not use campaign contributions. 

3) Former Federal Election Commission (FEC), Bradley Smith has confirmed that this is not a campaign contribution.  “Not everything that might benefit a candidate is a campaign expense,” Smith wrote in an editorial for the Wall Street Journal.

4) Democratic Presidential candidate John Edwards actually used money given to him by a supporter to pay hush money to a woman he had an affair with.  He was charged and it was clearly established that he had indeed used money from a supporter to make the payment.  His lawyers argued that this did not constitute a campaign contribution.  Edwards was found not guilty.  If Trump used his own funds to make the payment, his defense is even stronger. 

5) Michael Cohen's credibility can be easily impeached.  He has made many statements that can be proven false.  In fact, one of the charges he faced was lying to banks in order to get loans.  If Pres. Trump were to face charges, his lawyers would ask Michael Cohen if he had ever be charged with making false statements - and he would have to answer "yes".  The moment he makes that statement his credibility is shot.

6) Michael Cohen has ample reason to lie.  Not only is he a proven liar, the charges against him were a powerful incentive to do so.  Additionally, the more significant the testimony he could offer, the better deal he could make.  As the judge in the Manafort case said, people in these circumstances often not only sing, they compose - meaning they tell prosecutors what they want to hear.

7) If presidents can be impeached for campaign finance violations, virtually every president could be impeached.  Every presidential campaign violates the rules - because it is very hard not comply perfectly with the law.

So, after nearly two years of investigation - which was supposed to be focused on Russian interference, this is the best they can come up with?  Sorry, but it will take more than these charges to get rid of Trump.  Put up or shut up.