Comment on Notorious GOP Lobbying Firm Is First Presidential Debate Host

Federal prosecutors went to court last month with what seemed like a slam-dunk case that New Jersey Sen. Robert Menendez had accepted bribes to help the governments of Egypt and Qatar while he was the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Prosecutors have the gold bars Menendez supposedly received as a corrupt payment, a cooperating witness, and text messages that, they say, showed the senator promising to take votes and other official actions in exchange for bribes. But the prosecution is being complicated by the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause—or at least by the trial judge’s expansive reading of it.

A new Reuters/Ipsos poll finds 10% of Republican registered voters say they are less likely to vote for Donald Trump following his felony conviction for falsifying business records to cover up a hush money payment to a porn star. Also important: “Among independent registered voters, 25% said Trump’s conviction made them less likely to support him in November, compared to 18% who said they were more likely and 56% who said the conviction would have no impact on their decision.” Playbook: “The numbers stand as counterpoint to the GOP bravado, led by the Trump campaign, about how Trump’s 34 felony convictions and potential jail sentence will have no effect on the election.”

“I don’t think there’s anything to lose and a lot to gain, because I am convinced there’s a swath of people out there who are going to be very, very troubled by this at this point and haven’t really completely followed it, wondered about it — but now all of a sudden, this is a game changer.” — Former Sen.

Todd Blanche told the Associated Press there was a chance Donald Trump might be sentenced to jail time. Said Blanche: “On the one hand, it would be extraordinary to send a 77-year-old to prison for a case like this. A first-time offender who was also president of United States, I mean, I think almost unheard of.” However, he added “this is a very highly publicized case” in which some might argue Trump deserves a harsher punishment because he faces charges elsewhere. Playbook: “Watch the prosecution’s filings in the run-up to the July 11 sentencing to see if they raise the 54 other charges pending against Trump as a reason Trump should face jail time — in addition to his lack of remorse, attacks on the justice system and ten contempt citations.”

“I was shocked at how he took the verdict. He just stood there and just kind of took it. And I think had a lot of appropriate solemnness for the moment that made me very proud to be sitting next to him when it, when it was happening.” — Todd Blanche, Donald Trump’s attorney, quoted by the Associated Press.

Associated Press: “It’s more than drugs and border crossings. As criminals take control of territory south of the border, the U. S. could lose its top trading partner and potentially strongest ally.”