US President Donald Trump arrives for a political rally at Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia, on August 21, 2018. AFP
US President Donald Trump arrives for a political rally at Charleston Civic Center in Charleston, West Virginia, on August 21, 2018. AFP

Jolted by allies' criminal cases, Trump faces election and legal risks



US President Donald Trump suffered setbacks on Tuesday with two of his former advisers facing prison sentences – and one of them saying Mr Trump told him to commit a crime – in developments that may hurt his Republican Party's mid-term election prospects this autumn and widen a criminal investigation that has overshadowed his presidency.

Within minutes of each other in separate courts, former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty on tax and bank fraud charges, while Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to a number of charges.

Cohen also testified that Mr Trump directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments before  the 2016 presidential election to silence two women who said they had had affairs with Mr Trump.

The setbacks refocused attention on Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election, whether Mr Trump's campaign colluded with a foreign power and whether Mr Trump obstructed justice by firing then-FBI Director James Comey, who was formerly in charge of the investigation.

Mr Trump has denied collusion, describing Mr Mueller's investigation as a "witch hunt".

Of the two latest developments, Cohen's plea deal was the more troublesome, according to those around Mr Trump.

"A bad day for the home team," said one source close to the president.

The source said the legal woes could depress voter turnout and increase Republicans' risk of losing their 23-seat majority in the House of Representatives in November's congressional elections.

A Democratic victory in November would limit Mr Trump's ability to push through legislation and increase the risk of calls for his impeachment.

Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said on Tuesday that his client was "more than happy" to tell Mr Mueller's legal team everything he knows about Mr Trump.

Democrats pounced on the Cohen and Manafort cases, saying they bolstered their argument that the Trump White House was weighed down by scandal.

"The American people deserve answers regarding the president's role in these corrupt and criminal actions," said Democratic Representative Rosa DeLauro.

Rodell Mollineau, a senior Democratic strategist, said the news "adds to a constant drumbeat that will ultimately affect some independent voters" and help Democrats at the polls.

"Manafort being convicted, on its own, might not sway any votes. But given the totality of criminality uncovered...it will be hard for some Republicans to ignore and even harder to explain."

Still, there were no calls for Mr Trump's impeachment and Republicans did not join the chorus of criticism from Democratic ranks.

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Read more:

Prosecutors “preparing charges” against Michael Cohen

Michael Cohen says US president knew about Trump Tower meeting with Russians

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The long-term impact of the Cohen and Manafort cases are likely to depend on how they affect the turnout of Republican and Democratic voters in November.

While he undoubtedly had a bad day on Tuesday, some analysts said Mr Trump might be able to turn the setbacks to his advantage by reinforcing core supporters' views that he is under siege, said Andy Smith, director of the University of New Hampshire Survey Centre.

"In midterm elections, the president's party tends to be less interested and less motivated to vote. But one thing that will motivate people to get out and vote is if they believe the party is being attacked unfairly," he said.

At a rally in Charleston, West Virginia, on Tuesday night, a relatively subdued Mr Trump did not mention either the Cohen or Manafort cases.

Instead, as supporters cheered him on, he made fun of his opponents' focus on the Mueller investigation, saying they were desperate to find collusion with Russians.

"Where is the collusion? Where is it?" he said, mimicking his critics.

Josh McGrew, who travelled from Huntington, West Virginia, for the rally, called the investigation a smear campaign and said his support for Mr Trump was unshaken.

"This is all about finding out anything they can in somebody's past," Mr McGrew said. "They haven't come up with anything in a year and a half, almost two years."

Polling by Ipsos/Reuters has shown Mr Trump's job approval rating holding steady at about 40 per cent, even with Mr Mueller's investigation already bringing guilty pleas by several former Trump advisers.

The Cohen and Manafort cases were unlikely to erode Mr Trump's support from his political base or the Republican Party establishment, said Larry Sabato, a political analyst and director of the University of Virginia Centre for Politics.

"I don't think there is any change at all," said Mr Sabato. "That's the amazing part of it. The Trump base and virtually the entire Republican Party could care less. The polls will bear me out."

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Founders: Tamer Amer and Karim Maurice

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Name: Kumulus Water
 
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Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
 
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UPI facts

More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
More than 3.5 million Indians reside in UAE
Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
Indian residents in UAE can use their non-resident NRO and NRE accounts held in Indian banks linked to a UAE mobile number for UPI transactions

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ICC Women's T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier 2025, Thailand

UAE fixtures
May 9, v Malaysia
May 10, v Qatar
May 13, v Malaysia
May 15, v Qatar
May 18 and 19, semi-finals
May 20, final

At a glance

Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.

 

Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year

 

Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month

 

Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30 

 

Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse

 

Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth

 

Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances

EMERGENCY PHONE NUMBERS

Estijaba – 8001717 –  number to call to request coronavirus testing

Ministry of Health and Prevention – 80011111

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Emirates airline – 600555555

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Ambulance – 998

Knowledge and Human Development Authority – 8005432 ext. 4 for Covid-19 queries

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The years Ramadan fell in May

1987

1954

1921

1888

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES

All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated

Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid

Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona

Grand Slam Los Angeles results

Men:
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62kg – Joao Gabriel de Sousa
69kg – Gianni Grippo
77kg – Caio Soares
85kg – Manuel Ribamar
94kg – Gustavo Batista
110kg – Erberth Santos

Women:
49kg – Mayssa Bastos
55kg – Nathalie Ribeiro
62kg – Gabrielle McComb
70kg – Thamara Silva
90kg – Gabrieli Pessanha

Virtuzone GCC Sixes

Date and venue Friday and Saturday, ICC Academy, Dubai Sports City

Time Matches start at 9am

Groups

A Blighty Ducks, Darjeeling Colts, Darjeeling Social, Dubai Wombats; B Darjeeling Veterans, Kuwait Casuals, Loose Cannons, Savannah Lions; Awali Taverners, Darjeeling, Dromedary, Darjeeling Good Eggs

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Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg

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Genes in Space is an annual competition first launched by the UAE Space Agency, The National and Boeing in 2015.

It challenges school pupils to design experiments to be conducted in space and it aims to encourage future talent for the UAE’s fledgling space industry. It is the first of its kind in the UAE and, as well as encouraging talent, it also aims to raise interest and awareness among the general population about space exploration. 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
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Director: Dean Fleischer Camp

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The five pillars of Islam

1. Fasting

2. Prayer

3. Hajj

4. Shahada

5. Zakat 

UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets