I still think what the Russians have on Trump is money laundering.

[RDANGELO]

Him and Manefort go back 40 years; they traveled in the same circles. The pee tape wouldn't be much more embarrassing than the access Hollywood tape. They are blackmailing him on it.

[NCjack]

1. Agree. #45 really doesn't care about the office of the president

or the USA. But, he loves his empire. If convicted of money laundry, he could lose every property touched by dirty money. I look forward to him being stripped of everything and going to prison.

[jalan48]

2. There was an excellent article in the New Yorker about this.

https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/08/21/trumps-business-of-corruption

[RDANGELO]

6. That's a good article.

I have wondered about how easy or hard it is to convict on shady business deals. According to the concept of due diligence you can't be willingly ignorant of the situation. You have to inspect the deal.

[jalan48]

7. It's why Trump has said he will fire Mueller if he goes into his business dealings.

It's not part of the Russian interference in our election according to Trump. I believe the State of New York can look into the business dealings though. Trump has been laundering money for the Russians for decades. He started because of financial problems he was facing. The media should be all over this, they would be if it were any Democrat.

[dalton99a]

8. Great article.

[roamer65]

3. I agree. See below.

https://www.fincen.gov/news/news-releases/fincen-fines-trump-taj-mahal-casino-resort-10-million-significant-and-long

[BigmanPigman]

4. Of course...this is why he won't release his taxes.

The pee pee tape would probably boost his ratings with his GOP base of morons since they have no morals or principles when it comes to THEIR people.

[Wounded Bear]

5. For sure...

The pee tape has salacious value, I guess, but the real question is how much is Trump in hock to the Russians, and how is he paying them bac? Follow the money, always follow the money.

BTW, that's why Mueller's team is stocked with many of the best prosecutors in the country dealing with money laundering issues.

[Brother Buzz]

9. That, or he's already owned by the Russian oligarch

I can believe they own paper on every chunk of real estate the orange anus wants us to believe he owns, and he does their bidding for fear of being expose as a penniless fraud. Real fear of being exposed!

[Hekate]

10. Kompromat comes in many forms, but sexual behavior is visual and easy to understand...

The Russians are very skilled at luring people in step by step, offering a favor here, an exchange of favors there, creating obligations both legal and illegal, creating the illusion of friendship but the reality of dependency, until the mark is caught in a snare. Then the mark can be played along until the spymaster (Kislyak; Putin) is ready to reel them in, and the mark cannot refuse. They must pay the piper when the tune ends.

Of course it's money laundering. Rachel Maddow has reported on this consistently month after month. Money laundering can land you in prison, bigly, and while the feds are at it they can make you forfeit all your assets, right down to your gold cufflinks. in Trump's case, this is a family business -- his kids, at least Ivana's 3 spawn plus Jared -- are in it up to their eyeballs, and they are very much at risk.

Motive #1 to keep playing along with Putin.

What does Putin want in return? Oh, not much -- just a little light treason. It probably didn't seem like much to men like Trump and Manafort (and Tillerson) who deal transnationally -- money, money, golden thrones -- and what is America and its problems to them? Absolutely nothing, from their Olympian heights. Just an address and a name on a US passport. Life is all transactional, and Putin (to them) is just another player transacting deals.

Putin, however, knows very well how much his asked-for payment is worth, and it means everything to him: the cheapening of America's name in the world community, the weakening of America's diplomatic power, driving divisions inside America deeper and deeper, making us doubt our institutions, our government, ourselves, and bankrupting our economy. You name it, Putin has struck pure gold this time.

Motive #2 to keep playing along with Putin, and to deny deny deny: It has finally occured to those around Trump, if not the Orange One himself, that they are in vastly more trouble than they ever bargained for. They are caught, and desperately hoping to bargain their way out of their demise. Putin is probably laughing, but Mueller is not.

[LuckyLib]

11. Excellent points. It is racketeering and money laundering

that will bring him down. And New York State might have to do it.

[Hekate]

12. Its a fact that after all his murders Al Capone was finally jailed for tax evasion

Mueller and the State of NY will do what it takes tho it may take awhile. Meanwhile we Resist and take to the streets as well.

[DeminPennswoods]

13. Definately financially related info

As we all know by now, Trump is a major narcissist and inhabits his own world where is the smartest, most successful businessman (possibly person) ever. It would be intolerable to him if he was exposed as a fraud.

Increasingly, I think this is what Putin knows. He knows how much his oligarch friends have spent purchasing Trump real estate. He knows how much Russian banks have loaned Trump and how much debt Trump has. I think Putin could expose Trump as a bankrupt fraud any time he chooses. What could be more devastating to Trump than being shown to be the emporer wearing no clothes? What better reason for Trump to cozy up to Putin?

[JI7]

14. i think they have a few things but it's their power to affect him financially which is probably

what scares him the most.

unless there is something on tapes like underage girls.

and it can be both.

[Gothmog]

15. Putin has a great file on Trump that can be used at any time

[GreenEyedLefty]

16. That is what will bring him down.

Not the election. Money laundering.