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Perjury Before Congress: Big Deal? (e.g what M Cohen is accused of)

Perjury before Congress should...

  • ...be legal & encouraged for everyone

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ...be legal for everyone but discouraged

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ...result in potential minor non-criminal fines & assorted repercussions

    Votes: 0 0.0%
  • ...result in potential major non-criminal repercussions — hefty fines & forfeiture

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Total voters
    22
  • Poll closed .
How serious of a thing is perjury before Congress?

Michael Cohen has been referred for potential charges for perjury for his recent testimony before Congress.

Is perjury before Congress a big deal or no?


0 This activity should be legal and encouraged for everyone
1 This activity should be legal for certain individuals
2 This activity should be legal for everyone but discouraged
3 This activity should be legal for certain individuals but discouraged
4 This activity should result in potential minor non-criminal fines and assorted repercussions
5 This activity should result in potential minor criminal fines and assorted repercussions
6 This activity should result in potential major non-criminal repercussions like hefty fines and forfeitures
7 This activity should result in potential minor criminal fines, and minor jail time, and assorted repercussions
8 This activity should result in potential major criminal repercussions and lengthy prison sentences
9 This activity should be a capital offense
a rutabaga & cabbage


no room for rutabaga and cabbage

Which statement by Michael Cohen in last week's hearing was untrue?
 
Which statement by Michael Cohen in last week's hearing was untrue?

That he didn't want to work at the White House. So basically he admitted to killing twenty girl scouts but insists on lying about what he had for breakfast? Yeah, weird.

I don't see it being prosecutable though because pinning down a person's frame of mind (criminal intent to commit perjury) is absolute murder. Also, this particular lie (if it is indeed a lie) isn't material to anything.
 
That he didn't want to work at the White House. So basically he admitted to killing twenty girl scouts but insists on lying about what he had for breakfast? Yeah, weird.

I don't see it being prosecutable though because pinning down a person's frame of mind (criminal intent to commit perjury) is absolute murder. Also, this particular lie (if it is indeed a lie) isn't material to anything.

That feels like a bit of a stretch. He may not have wanted to join a new presidential administration, but if tRump really does act like a mob boss, then Cohen basically had no choice.

Also, if your point is that that's the least trustworthy thing he said all-day, then yeah, his testimony was solid. And damaging to the Trump presidency.
 
It depends what you are lying about, whether it is a minor forgetfulness, or whether it is a major issue, like treason. The more serious the behavior being investigated, the heavier the sentence. Therefore, heavy sentences must be allowed. Then discretion must be allowed, because not all lies are created equal. Let the punishment fit the crime.
 
McCabe lied to Congress, no charges.
Strzok lied to Congress, no charges. Lerner lied, Hillary Clinton lied, Clapper lied, Brennan lied, Comey lied and no charges.
And those are just the ones that come to mind, right off the bat.

The statute of limitations has not expired.

When will Trump's DoJ get on with prosecuting these scofflaws [and Killary]?
 
...result in potential major criminal repercussions & lengthy prison sentences

But it depends on the case, if someone lies to get someone convicted and that person is executed as a result, the person who lied effectively committed murder, using the state as their weapon.
Thus in that case perjury would be a capital offence.
 
The statute of limitations has not expired.

When will Trump's DoJ get on with prosecuting these scofflaws [and Killary]?

When is Mueller going to go after McCabe and Strzok?

The answer is, he isn't, because it won't be damaging to President Trump.
 
When is Mueller going to go after McCabe and Strzok?

The answer is, he isn't, because it won't be damaging to President Trump.

Or because neither are within the scope of his investigation. But out of curiosity, which specific crimes do you think McCabe and Strozk might be guilty of?
 
Perjury before Congress should...

I cannot choose from among the substantive poll-answer options because of the ambiguity of the following:

Of the answer options in the poll, I can tell you the first six and the last two are not one's I'd select.


  • Perjury is definitionally unlawful. Distinguishing between lies one tell under "regular" circumstances and lies told on the occasion of one's having sworn not to lie is the raison d'etre for the word "perjury." If perjury isn't going to be unlawful, then we have no need for the word "perjury" for "lying" and its synonyms would suffice. Accordingly, the notion that perjury should not be unlawful is preposterous from the start.
  • I wouldn't cotton to perjury being a civil offense because the instant it's so, it becomes something that one can treat as a "cost of doing business;" thus people having access to sufficient means can perjure themselves and simply pay the fine and face no consequences for obscuring part or all of the the truth of the matter about which they perjured themselves. Abetting more so than our current jurisprudential code such a decision-making calculus would, in turn, make our system even more dependent on witness' character. Jurisprudence, though it will always be somewhat dependent on the characters of participants in its execution, discovering at truth is easier when there are life-altering consequences for lying when one has sworn to tell the truth.
 
Or because neither are within the scope of his investigation. But out of curiosity, which specific crimes do you think McCabe and Strozk might be guilty of?

Those are crimes that arose during his investigation. Just like when Cohen lied to Congress.

They're guilty of perjury.
 
Those are crimes that arose during his investigation. Just like when Cohen lied to Congress.

They're guilty of perjury.
If they'e already been found guilty, then no need for an investigation.
But in any case, the accusations of "lacking candor" under oath were the results of an IG investigation, not the Mueller investigation.
 
Michael Cohen has been referred for potential charges for perjury for his recent testimony before Congress.
If it is related to the conduct laid out in the criminal information against him, he is immune to further prosecution.

D0blG82WkAE8ND4.jpg:small



READ: Michael Cohen's plea agreement
 
Not only is lying while under oath (perjury) a big deal, but giving false statements to Congress while not under oath is also illegal.

That said, few are charged and even convictions yield fairly lenient sentences.

In fact, Cohen was charged by Mueller for lying to congress. Not by a congressional referral to DoJ. The only people I've heard of getting prosecuted for lying were relatively small fry civilians outside the political umbrella.

I suspect the new AG may look at things differently.

If it is related to the conduct laid out in the criminal information against him, he is immune to further prosecution.


If Congress or the DoJ has the stomach for it, they can revoke his plea deal. But he's just collateral damage, and he is more trouble to the democrats than he is worth at this point.
 
How serious of a thing is perjury before Congress?

Michael Cohen has been referred for potential charges for perjury for his recent testimony before Congress.

Is perjury before Congress a big deal or no?


0 This activity should be legal and encouraged for everyone
1 This activity should be legal for certain individuals
2 This activity should be legal for everyone but discouraged
3 This activity should be legal for certain individuals but discouraged
4 This activity should result in potential minor non-criminal fines and assorted repercussions
5 This activity should result in potential minor criminal fines and assorted repercussions
6 This activity should result in potential major non-criminal repercussions like hefty fines and forfeitures
7 This activity should result in potential minor criminal fines, and minor jail time, and assorted repercussions
8 This activity should result in potential major criminal repercussions and lengthy prison sentences
9 This activity should be a capital offense
a rutabaga & cabbage


no room for rutabaga and cabbage

Let's start here:

1. Which of Cohen's statement do you contest? What, specifically, is he lying about?
2. What is your evidence (i.e. would hold up in a court of law) that he lied to Congress on Feb 27th?
 
Perjury in most American jurisdictions should be against the law, subject to fines and prison time, same with lying to a police officer or Federal authority.

Wait a moment, that already is the case.
 
When is Mueller going to go after McCabe and Strzok?
If they committed crimes shouldn't Trump's DoJ do their ****en job and get them indicted?

I'm sure Trump's DoJ will get right on these cases just any moment now.
It's not like you're just bringing up empty CT BS.
You are bringing up super cereal crimes that Trump's DoJ is ignoring.

There's absolutely zero chance that you could ever be mistaken about crap like that.

But what a ****en mystery that Trump's DoJ is not being more aggressive with these super cereal crimes.
Just a big ol' ****en mystery.

:shrug:
 
Let's start here:
1. Which of Cohen's statement do you contest? What, specifically, is he lying about?
2. What is your evidence (i.e. would hold up in a court of law) that he lied to Congress on Feb 27th?

Shouldn't we start with the places where I made the assertions you are asking me to defend?
 
If they committed crimes shouldn't Trump's DoJ do their ****en job and get them indicted?

I'm sure Trump's DoJ will get right on these cases just any moment now.
It's not like you're just bringing up empty CT BS.
You are bringing up super cereal crimes that Trump's DoJ is ignoring.

There's absolutely zero chance that you could ever be mistaken about crap like that.

But what a ****en mystery that Trump's DoJ is not being more aggressive with these super cereal crimes.
Just a big ol' ****en mystery.

:shrug:

You're right, but, the system is rigged. Lying to Congress just isn't big of a deal, unless the deep staters are targeting certain people.
 
You're right, but, the system is rigged. Lying to Congress just isn't big of a deal, unless the deep staters are targeting certain people.
Trump is unable to effectively run the executive branch?

Say it ain't so.

Trump is the greatest executiver ever.
He can dealmake the executive branch to do his bidding,
Trump is the greatest dealmakerer ever.

Given these big league facts, I find your assertion that Trump is unable to do his job and run the executive branch
totally ****en laughable.

There's no ****en way that Trump is so incompetent that he cannot run the govt.
He's a ****en billionaire guy who's been on TV.
That means he's the best at everythings. Duh.

So, take your silly assertions that Trump is unable to effectively run his branch of govt and go sit in the corner with Jane Fonda.

Are you some sort of victim of TDS that you are accusing Trump of being unable to do his job and run the executive branch?
 
If Congress or the DoJ has the stomach for it, they can revoke his plea deal. But he's just collateral damage, and he is more trouble to the democrats than he is worth at this point.
No, Congress can not revoke a plea deal. And at this point time it is after Cohen has been found guilty on the basis of the Court accepting his plea, and has been sentenced. So no in regards to the DOJ doing any such thing. He has immunity and they have to hold to the plea they made and the Court accepted.
 
Trump is unable to effectively run the executive branch?

Say it ain't so.

Trump is the greatest executiver ever.
He can dealmake the executive branch to do his bidding,
Trump is the greatest dealmakerer ever.

Given these big league facts, I find your assertion that Trump is unable to do his job and run the executive branch
totally ****en laughable.

There's no ****en way that Trump is so incompetent that he cannot run the govt.
He's a ****en billionaire guy who's been on TV.
That means he's the best at everythings. Duh.

So, take your silly assertions that Trump is unable to effectively run his branch of govt and go sit in the corner with Jane Fonda.

Are you some sort of victim of TDS that you are accusing Trump of being unable to do his job and run the executive branch?

Is this an example of how weak your argument is?
 
When is Mueller going to go after McCabe and Strzok?

The answer is, he isn't, because it won't be damaging to President Trump.
Spot on, we have two justice systems, one for sleezy democrats and one for everyone else. Lynch and Comey ought to be breaking rocks right now.
 
Spot on, we have two justice systems, one for sleezy democrats and one for everyone else. Lynch and Comey ought to be breaking rocks right now.

Inorite?

If only we could get a member of the GOP to take charge of the executive branch and maybe have the GOP control one or two houses of Congress.

Then we would see these innumerable criminals face justice.

But until that day we will just have to cast about aspersions of how unfair Life is.
'Cause that's what conservatism is all about — playing the victim card.


UNFAIR! UNFAIR! UNFAIR!

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Is this an example of how weak your argument is?
Since it's such a weak argument, then it should be easy-peasy for you to show that Trump is actually unable to run the executive branch and thus unable to bring these criminal to justice.

Feel free to start when you're ready.

Until then, the rest of us will take comfort in the fact that the US Govt has never been in better more competent hands than Trump's.
Trump has the executive branch of the USG running like a 'well oiled machine'.
Totally no chaos or incompetence or w/e else it is you're accusing Trump of when you say Trump is unable to bring these criminals to justice.
 
Since it's such a weak argument, then it should be easy-peasy for you to show that Trump is actually unable to run the executive branch and thus unable to bring these criminal to justice.

Feel free to start when you're ready.

Until then, the rest of us will take comfort in the fact that the US Govt has never been in better more competent hands than Trump's.
Trump has the executive branch of the USG running like a 'well oiled machine'.
Totally no chaos or incompetence or w/e else it is you're accusing Trump of when you say Trump is unable to bring these criminals to justice.

That's some great deflection. :lamo
 
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