BREAKING NEWS: Vivek Ramaswamy, Top Trump Allies Lambast Hush Money Trial As Michael Cohen Testifies

Forbes Breaking News
14 May 202412:25

Summary

TLDRIn the provided transcript, Governor Doug Bergham and Congressman Vake, along with other political figures, express their strong disapproval of a trial they perceive as politically motivated and unjust. They argue that the trial is an attempt to interfere with President Trump's campaign activities by tying him up in legal proceedings. They accuse the judge of being a political donor to Biden, the prosecutors of being Biden supporters, and the judge's relatives of financially benefiting from the trial. They also criticize the star witness as a serial perjurer. The speakers claim that the American people have already acquitted Trump, citing polls that show him leading in the election. They further assert that the issues that matter to the public, such as inflation, crime, and the economy, are not being addressed by the Democrats, who are instead focusing on pursuing their political rival. The politicians call for the trial to be concluded swiftly to allow Trump to return to campaigning and discuss the issues that matter to the American people.

Takeaways

  • 📜 The speaker, Governor Doug Bergham, accuses the trial of being a politically motivated sham, suggesting that the judge and prosecutors are supporters of Biden and that the judge's relatives are financially benefiting from the trial.
  • 💼 The star witness is described as a serial perjurer, casting doubt on the credibility of the testimony and the integrity of the trial process.
  • 🔍 The accusation is made that the trial is an act of election interference, designed to prevent the president from campaigning and to distract from issues such as inflation, crime, and the economy.
  • 📊 Polls, even from sources like the New York Times and Rasmuson, are cited to show that President Trump is leading in the polls, implying that the public has already 'acquitted' him.
  • 🚫 The congressman argues that there is no crime in the legal expenses paid by the Trump campaign or organization, calling the proceedings a farce and a misuse of the justice system.
  • 🏛 The judge is criticized for not recusing himself from the case due to perceived conflicts of interest, including his daughter's fundraising activities for Democrats related to the trial.
  • 🤝 The speakers express support for President Trump and condemn the trial as a weaponization of the Department of Justice against the president and the American people.
  • 📉 The trial is seen as a distraction from more pressing issues facing the nation, with the suggestion that the Democrats are not addressing real concerns like crime and the economy.
  • 💰 The financial benefits reaped by the judge's family and the use of the trial for fundraising are highlighted as particularly egregious examples of the trial's alleged political motivations.
  • 📉 The legal theory of the case is questioned, with the argument that it would be problematic if campaign funds were used for personal expenses, yet the case hinges on the opposite scenario.
  • 🗳️ The speakers call for the American people to vote in November to reject the perceived weaponization of justice and to support Donald Trump as the 47th president of the United States.

Q & A

  • What does Governor Doug Bergham describe the trial as?

    -Governor Doug Bergham describes the trial as a 'scam trial,' citing the involvement of a judge who is a donor to Biden, prosecutors who are supporters of Biden, and relatives of the judge who are financially benefiting from the trial.

  • According to the congressman, what is the main issue with the trial?

    -The congressman argues that the main issue is that the trial is a politically motivated prosecution of a political rival by the Democrat Party, which he views as a misuse of the justice system and a travesty of justice.

  • What does the congressman claim about the judge's daughter?

    -The congressman claims that the judge's daughter is making money by fundraising for Democrats, using the trial as a fundraising ploy.

  • What is the congressman's view on the importance of the issues being ignored due to the trial?

    -The congressman believes that the real issues facing the nation, such as inflation, crime, and the border, are not being addressed by the Democrats, and that their focus is instead on pursuing Donald Trump.

  • What does the congressman imply about the American people's stance on Donald Trump?

    -The congressman implies that the American people have already acquitted Donald Trump, as indicated by polls showing Trump leading in various parts of the country.

  • What does Congressman Cory Mills suggest about the motivations behind the continuation of the trial?

    -Congressman Cory Mills suggests that the trial is being continued as a means of fundraising for Adam Schiff, Biden, and other Democrat opponents, and that it represents election interference.

  • What does Congressman Mills claim about Michael Cohen's credibility?

    -Congressman Mills claims that Michael Cohen has no credibility or integrity, and that his testimony is part of the weaponization against President Trump.

  • What does the congressman argue about the use of campaign funds?

    -The congressman argues that if Donald Trump had used campaign funds for a personal expense, he would be prosecuted for that. However, the case against Trump depends on the premise that he should have used campaign funds for an allegedly personal payment, which he did not.

  • What does the congressman describe as the best proof that the trial is a sham?

    -The congressman describes the contradictory nature of the case against Trump—the fact that he would be criticized for either using or not using campaign funds for the alleged payment—as the best proof that the trial is a sham.

  • What does the congressman say about the judge's impartiality?

    -The congressman questions the judge's impartiality, pointing out that the judge's children are allegedly collecting money from Democratic operatives by fundraising off the trial.

  • What does the congressman call on the American people to do?

    -The congressman calls on the American people to vote in November to reject the weaponization of justice and to ensure that Donald Trump becomes the 47th president of the United States.

Outlines

00:00

🏛️ Sham Trial: Political Interference and Election Tactics

Governor Doug Bergham and Congressman Vake criticize a trial they deem a sham, alleging it's a politically motivated attempt to interfere with President Trump's campaign. They accuse the judge of being a Biden donor, prosecutors of supporting Biden, and the judge's relatives of financial gain from the trial. They also label the star witness a serial perjurer. Bergham and Vake argue that the American people have already acquitted Trump, citing polls showing him leading on key issues. They call for the trial's conclusion to allow Trump to campaign on matters important to the public.

05:00

📚 Legal Expenses and the Search for a Crime

Congressman Vake and others discuss the nature of the trial, focusing on the lack of a clear crime committed by Donald Trump. They highlight Michael Cohen's testimony regarding legal expenses paid by the Trump campaign and organization, questioning where the criminality lies. They accuse the Democrats of prosecuting a political rival during an election and neglecting real national issues. Vake emphasizes the safety concerns in New York due to the trial and criticizes the district attorney for focusing on political rivalry rather than actual crime. He calls for the American people to voice their opinion on the matter in the upcoming election.

10:01

🤝 United Front Against Politicized Persecution

The speakers, including Governor Burkham, Congressman Mills, and Congressman Donalds, condemn the trial as a politically motivated persecution. They argue that the proceedings are depressing and liken the situation to a Kafka novel, with the prosecution's strategy criticized as an attempt to bore jurors into submission. The speakers challenge the audience to identify the specific crime committed by Trump, suggesting that the case is based on vague allegations and bookkeeping errors. They also accuse the judge's family of profiting from the trial and argue that the case sets a dangerous precedent where any politician could be targeted. The speakers express their support for Trump and call for a strong voter response in the election to reject the weaponization of justice.

📉 Inflation and the Impact on the American People

In the final paragraph, the speaker addresses the American public, particularly those struggling with the economic challenges of inflation under the Biden administration. They assure the public that while the trial is ongoing, many are campaigning for Trump to ensure his message is heard. The speaker emphasizes Trump's strength on various issues including the border, crime, China, and the economy, contrasting this with Biden's perceived weaknesses. They argue that the legal system's politicization is failing and that the focus should be on issues that matter to the citizens. The speaker concludes by reiterating the importance of the election in determining the future of the country's legal and political landscape.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Sham trial

A term used to describe a trial that is considered to be unjust or lacking in legitimacy. In the context of the video, it is used to express the speaker's belief that the trial is a politically motivated act rather than a genuine pursuit of justice. The speaker, Governor Doug Bergham, uses this term to criticize the proceedings, suggesting they are a 'scam trial' due to perceived conflicts of interest and political bias.

💡Election interference

This refers to any actions, whether by foreign states or domestic entities, that are intended to influence the outcome of an election. The speakers in the video assert that the trial is a form of election interference, as they believe it is designed to prevent the president from campaigning and to sway public opinion against him.

💡Star witness

A key or primary witness in a trial who is expected to provide significant evidence or testimony. The term is often used to denote a witness whose testimony is seen as crucial to the case. In the script, the 'star witness' is described as a 'serial perjurer,' casting doubt on the credibility of the witness and, by extension, the case itself.

💡Double digits

This phrase typically refers to a lead or margin that is measured in tens of percentage points. In the context of the video, it is used to describe the president's alleged lead in the polls over his rival, Joe Biden, on various issues such as the economy, crime, and border security.

💡Justice system

The system of laws, courts, and law enforcement that is responsible for the administration of justice in a country. The speakers in the video argue that the justice system is being misused and weaponized for political purposes, which they believe is a departure from the principle that justice should be blind and impartial.

💡Fundraising

The process of collecting voluntary contributions of money or other resources, usually for a specific purpose. In this video, fundraising is criticized as it is alleged that the judge's daughter is financially benefiting from the trial by using it as a means to collect money for the Democratic Party.

💡Weaponization

The act of using something (often abstract concepts or systems) as a tool or weapon for achieving a particular end, often with negative connotations. The video's speakers claim that the Department of Justice has been 'weaponized' against the president, suggesting that it is being used to attack him politically rather than serve its intended purpose.

💡Bookkeeping error

A mistake made in the process of recording financial transactions. The term is used in the video to downplay the severity of the alleged financial misconduct, suggesting that if any wrongdoing occurred, it was a simple accounting mistake rather than a deliberate act of fraud or corruption.

💡Gag order

A legal order prohibiting certain people from making public comments about a case or legal proceeding. The video mentions a gag order being imposed on the president, which the speakers argue is an unjust limitation on his freedom of speech and a part of the alleged political persecution.

💡Attorney-client privilege

A legal principle that protects the confidentiality of communications between a client and his or her attorney. It is mentioned in the video in the context of a claim that the 'star witness' is violating this privilege by disclosing confidential information, which the speakers argue is further evidence of the trial's lack of integrity.

💡Third Rate Banana Republic

A derogatory term used to describe a politically unstable and economically weak country. In the video, one of the speakers likens the situation in the United States to that of a 'Third Rate Banana Republic' to emphasize their view that the trial and the perceived injustices within it are beneath the standards expected of a developed, democratic nation.

Highlights

Governor Doug Bergham and Congressman Vake claim the trial is a 'sham trial' and a 'scam trial', accusing the judge and prosecutors of being politically biased.

They argue that the judge's relatives are financially benefiting from the trial, suggesting a conflict of interest.

The star witness is described as a 'serial perjurer', casting doubt on the credibility of the testimony.

The politicians suggest that the trial is an act of 'election interference', aiming to prevent President Trump from campaigning.

Polls are mentioned to show that President Trump is leading in the country, implying public support despite the trial.

Congressman Vake criticizes the lack of a clear crime in the case, calling the proceedings a 'joke' and a 'farce'.

The accusation that the judge's daughter is fundraising for Democrats using the trial is highlighted as a misuse of the justice system.

Congressman Mills claims the trial is a source of fundraising for political opponents of President Trump, calling it 'election interference'.

It is stated that even if campaign funds were used for personal expenses, it would be prosecuted, indicating a double standard.

The legal strategy of the prosecution is questioned, with the suggestion that it is designed to bore jurors into submission.

The politicians express their belief that the American people have already acquitted President Trump on the issues they care about.

They assert that the justice system should be blind to politics and that the current situation is a 'travesty of justice'.

The call for the American people to vote in November against the 'weaponization of justice' is emphasized.

A plea is made to the American people to focus on the real issues affecting them, rather than the trial.

The politicians close by reiterating the strength of President Trump on various issues, in contrast to perceived weaknesses of his opponents.

The overall message is one of political persecution and a call for the public to recognize and respond to the injustice they perceive in the trial.

Transcripts

00:05

morning

00:06

everyone I'm Governor Doug

00:09

bergham along with our congressman and

00:11

vake we're here today to offer some

00:13

observations of firsthand I think uh one

00:17

thing that we've all known is this was a

00:19

sham trial but when you have an

00:20

opportunity to see it up close uh in

00:22

personal you can see it's actually a

00:24

scam trial when you've got a a a judge

00:29

that's a donor to Biden you got

00:31

prosecutors that are supporters of Biden

00:33

and then you've got

00:35

a you've got relatives of the judge uh

00:38

that are benefiting financially directly

00:42

uh from this trial and that information

00:44

uh and then you've got a the star

00:46

witness uh is a Serial perjurer then you

00:50

have to ask yourself what is this all

00:52

about I think the only conclusion of

00:54

course is it's election interference and

00:56

it's tying up the president uh from

00:58

being out on the campaign Trail and of

01:00

course uh we know that from the polls

01:02

that have come out uh even from the New

01:04

York Times rasmuson interactive this

01:06

week uh president Trump is leading all

01:08

over the country and the conclusion you

01:10

can draw from that is the American

01:12

people have already acquitted Donald

01:14

Trump because the things that that

01:16

they're concerned about inflation crime

01:18

the border the economy all of these

01:21

things president Trump is leading by

01:23

huge double digits versus Joe Biden and

01:25

the sooner that this uh scam trial can

01:28

be concluded uh the sooner that the

01:30

president can get back to getting out

01:31

campaigning and talking to the American

01:33

people about the issues that matter to

01:35

them and with that I'm going to turn it

01:38

over to the congressman then vake uh

01:40

thank

01:44

you ladies and gentlemen of America this

01:47

this trial is a joke this thing is a

01:49

farce we were in there all morning a

01:52

Michael Cohen basically sat there and

01:54

said yeah he invoiced legal expenses the

01:57

Trump campaign the Trump organization

02:00

not the campaign paid out money in legal

02:02

expenses where's the crime there is no

02:05

crime the only crime that's happening

02:07

here is this Democrat judge and the

02:10

Democrat Party Prosecuting their

02:12

political rival right in the middle of a

02:14

presidential election the crime here is

02:17

that the issues facing our nation are

02:19

not being addressed by the Democrats but

02:21

they want to go after Donald Trump and

02:23

there's nothing wrong there is nothing

02:25

that has been wrong here nothing that

02:27

except nothing that has been done uh

02:29

poorly by president Trump the only thing

02:30

that's being done wrong is by this judge

02:33

his daughter's making money raising

02:35

money for Democrats and all of the

02:37

fundraising emails and all the

02:39

fundraising things are about this trial

02:41

that his daughter is using he won't

02:43

recuse himself this is a travesty of

02:46

Justice this is a misuse of the justice

02:48

system and look around New York New

02:50

York's got plenty of issues I'm from

02:52

Brooklyn New York you have all of nypd's

02:55

finest down here because of this

02:57

travesty going on in that courtroom

02:59

meanwhile the citizens of New York are

03:01

less safe and the district attorney in

03:03

New York is not Prosecuting real crime

03:06

he's a Soros back da going after his

03:09

chief political rival in Donald Trump

03:12

America is better than this and so

03:14

unfortunately it's going to take the

03:15

American people this November to let

03:18

their voices be heard on this travesty

03:21

of Justice that's occurring and making

03:23

sure that Donald Trump is the 47th

03:25

president of the United States I've

03:27

never seen anything like it this is a

03:29

joke it is a farce it is a travesty we

03:32

are better than this as Americans and

03:34

unfortunately the Democrat Party has led

03:37

has lost their ever loving minds and so

03:40

it's going to take the American people

03:41

to remind them that Justice is supposed

03:43

to be blind it is not supposed to be

03:46

going after political opponents and

03:48

political Rivals with that I'll turn it

03:50

over to my colleague from Florida

03:51

Congressman Cory

03:54

Mills thank you so much what do we learn

03:57

here today what we've learned is that

03:59

Michael Cohen has listed his invoice as

04:02

being an actual legal precedent where in

04:05

fact he's now claiming that it's

04:07

something other than that and that he

04:08

knowingly and fraudulently put that

04:10

forward look as we talked about why do

04:12

they want this trial to continue well

04:14

they want it to continue because this is

04:16

the fundraising source for Adam Schiff

04:19

for Biden and for the Democrat opponents

04:22

this is nothing more than election

04:23

interference at its finest you are

04:25

seeing where the weaponization of what

04:27

was the Department of Justice now the

04:28

department of Injustice justice has

04:30

continued to be utilized against the

04:32

American people and against the

04:34

president of the United States I will

04:35

tell you right now the same way that I

04:37

stand Here steadfast behind our

04:39

president I know that America stands

04:41

with him as well they see this sham

04:43

indictment they see this for what it is

04:45

without any actual substance whatsoever

04:48

keep in mind they keep actually talking

04:50

about the Fe violations but when you're

04:53

utilizing personal funds or you're

04:54

utilizing a trust that is not campaign

04:57

funding there is no violation which is

04:59

why the FB

05:00

never actually even pursued this and so

05:03

I think the American people see this for

05:04

what it is they want to keep president

05:06

Trump off the campaign Trail they're

05:08

seeing what's happening in the swing

05:09

States Across America and they're seeing

05:12

exactly this is draining down assets and

05:14

resources that can be utilized by the

05:16

president to continue to forge ahead to

05:18

build a stronger economy to secure our

05:20

border and to get our nation back on

05:22

track this is a sham and that is the

05:24

only thing this is Michael Cohen has no

05:26

credibility no integrity and this is

05:28

weaponization against our

05:32

president thank you I want to thank my

05:35

colleagues Governor burkham Congressman

05:37

Mills and Congressman Donald's for

05:39

laying out the political backdrop here

05:42

this is a politicized persecution that

05:44

is nakedly apparent what I want to do is

05:46

dive a little bit deeper into what we

05:49

actually learned today in that courtroom

05:52

what do we see in there first of all I

05:53

learned a lot from being in there in

05:54

person it is one of the most depressing

05:56

places I have been in my life but it is

05:58

fitting because the only more depressing

06:00

than the environment of that courtroom

06:02

is what's actually happening in there

06:03

it's straight out of a Kafka novel the

06:05

prosecution's main strategy appears to

06:08

be to bore the jurors into submission

06:10

and if you look in that direction sadly

06:13

it may appear to actually be working now

06:15

I would like for anybody anybody here in

06:17

the Press anybody at home anybody in

06:19

MSNBC or the media afterwards to clearly

06:23

State what exactly is the crime that

06:26

Donald Trump committed oh wait we have

06:30

not heard a good answer to that question

06:32

it has been vague until today you heard

06:35

Michael Cohen's testimony after which I

06:37

would say it is less clear than ever

06:40

what that crime actually was they'll say

06:42

falsifying business records well let's

06:44

look at who did we learn falsified

06:46

business records today get what hour two

06:48

hours felt like it could have been seven

06:49

hours of Michael Cohen talking about how

06:52

he falsified business records okay so

06:54

you have a guy who has been a perjurer

06:57

in the past that is now saying he

06:58

falsified business records what is the

07:00

crime that Donald Trump committed now it

07:02

appears to be what they might allege is

07:04

some sort of bookkeeping error or

07:06

whatever the real bookkeeping that we

07:07

need accounting of is Judge Merchant's

07:10

own family member collecting millions of

07:12

dollars as a democratic operative using

07:15

the existence of this trial as a

07:18

fundraising Ploy for Democrats this is

07:19

unconscionable imagine if the same shoe

07:21

fit the other foot imagine if it was Joe

07:24

Biden that was on trial you had a

07:26

republican judge whose son was

07:28

collecting millions of dollars as a

07:31

republican operative what would you all

07:33

be saying this would not be Justice this

07:35

is Injustice at its worst so let's let's

07:38

go even a layer deeper right because

07:40

well let's go let's go even a layer

07:42

deeper actually the alleged crime here

07:45

is supposedly they try to point to this

07:47

every day that he does not actually use

07:50

campaign funds that he used personal

07:52

funds well let's get this straight

07:54

suppose Donald Trump had used campaign

07:57

funds to make a personal expense they'd

07:59

be going after him for that so if

08:02

they're going to get him going or

08:03

they're going to get him coming that is

08:04

the best proof that this is a

08:06

politicized sham let's go through it

08:08

piece by piece if you tell somebody to

08:10

go buy you a suit and you want to look

08:12

good on television because that'll

08:13

affect the voters the way voters vote

08:15

for you you know what they prosecute

08:17

politicians if they use campaign funds

08:19

to buy a suit campaign funds to get a

08:21

haircut because you want to look good to

08:22

the voters they will actually prosecute

08:24

you for using campaign funds for a

08:26

personal expense yet the entire legal

08:28

theory of this in case the whole case

08:30

that Alvin Bragg has brought depends on

08:32

one premise for them to charge this as a

08:33

felony is that Donald Trump somehow

08:35

should have used campaign funds to make

08:38

an allegedly personal payment yet if he

08:40

had done that their case against him

08:42

would be even stronger this is garbage

08:45

that is the best proof that you have

08:47

that if they're going to get him coing

08:48

or get him coming it's damned if you do

08:50

damned if you don't this is a sham this

08:52

is not the United States of America this

08:54

is some Third Rate Banana Republic If

08:56

This Were happening in another country

08:58

we would be laughing at them as a sham

09:00

democracy I am ashamed as an American

09:03

citizen to sit here in a courtroom

09:04

watching the former leader of the Free

09:06

World and let's be honest likely next

09:08

leader of the Free World sitting with

09:10

the indignity in this dingy Third Rate

09:12

courtroom with four rate fourth rate

09:14

prosecutors and a fifth rate lawyer on

09:16

the stand as a witness who actually is

09:19

violating attorney client privilege left

09:21

and right nobody's even talking about

09:22

that so this is a shame shame on the

09:25

perod in our country's history but we

09:26

will get through it and be stronger

09:28

because you know who ultimately actually

09:29

cast the vote on this case it's not just

09:32

the jurors in that jury box it's every

09:34

one of you at home it's every American

09:36

who votes this November to say no to the

09:39

weaponization of justice and if you're

09:40

at home you may say you know what I

09:41

don't agree with everything Donald

09:42

Trump's ever said you know what I may

09:44

not agree with some of his policies even

09:45

even though they were great policies for

09:46

four years but you do agree whether you

09:48

are democrat or republican or black or

09:51

white or gay or straight or man or woman

09:54

that our justice system should be blind

09:56

to politics that regardless of whether

09:58

you're last name is Biden or Trump

10:01

regardless of whether you've been a

10:02

politician or not you get a fair Shake

10:04

in our own legal system and when you

10:06

have a prosecutor who campaign on the

10:08

pledge of going after Trump and then

10:10

keeps his campaign pledge when you have

10:12

a judge whose kids are collecting money

10:14

from democratic operatives by

10:16

fundraising off the very trial that that

10:18

judge is presiding over and then telling

10:20

the US president that he's subject to a

10:21

gag order that he can't talk about it

10:24

that is not Justice that is a

10:25

bastardization of what this country was

10:27

founded on and I'm here and all of of us

10:29

are here as friends of Donald Trump

10:31

supporting him in our personal capacity

10:34

sharing our opinions that's why we're

10:35

here today but I hope every American at

10:37

home who isn't able to be in that

10:39

courtroom is able to see what's actually

10:41

happening there and when you do we will

10:44

have a landslide of historic proportion

10:46

this November if every American

10:48

understands the Injustice that's playing

10:50

out in that courtroom today so may God

10:52

bless our country I pray for our future

10:54

and let's pray for our country being

10:56

stronger on the other side of this

10:58

disgusting shamp politician prosecution

11:01

Doug CL out thank you thank you thank

11:04

you V thank you Congressman I in closing

11:08

I just want to double down on that we're

11:10

all here today because of the uh the

11:12

circus of this trial but I want to say a

11:15

word to those Americans out there that

11:17

are dealing with the Biden's inflation

11:19

when their paychecks aren't helping them

11:21

get to the end of the month because

11:22

they're paying more for their gas and

11:23

their food they're paying more for their

11:25

electricity uh I want them to know that

11:28

well this trial is going on on there's

11:29

many of us around the country that are

11:31

out helping campaign for president Trump

11:33

to make sure that the message gets

11:35

through and that's why it's showing up

11:36

in the polls because president Trump is

11:39

is stronger On the Border he is stronger

11:41

on crime he is stronger on China he is

11:43

stronger on the economy he's stronger on

11:46

everything that matters to our citizens

11:48

today in this country where Biden is

11:50

weak this fall it's going to be about

11:52

strength versus weakness the

11:53

politization of the legal system is not

11:56

working it's actually failing it and I

11:58

again want to say again everything that

12:00

these gentlemen said here today about

12:02

the trial is absolutely true but it's it

12:04

is sad that we're here today and not out

12:07

talking to the American people about the

12:08

issues that matter them the most and

12:10

with that thank you all for being

12:14

[Music]

12:18

here

12:20

[Music]

12:23

yes billion