Where Guilt Lies : on Manafort Conviction: The Hindu Editorial
Donald Trump may brazen¹ through his close aides’ convictions, but he is definitely shaken
The long-term survivability of the Donald Trump administration fell into doubt this week after two of the U.S. President’s former associates came under the shadow of guilt for eight separate felonies (crimes regarded as more serious than a minor wrongdoing) each, all serious political and financial crimes. First, Mr. Trump’s former attorney and self-declared “fix-it guy”, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, admitting that “at the direction of a candidate” of the 2016 presidential campaign he made $130,000 in “hush money (bribe)” payments to stop porn star Stormy Daniels from going public about an alleged extramarital affair. Second, Mr. Trump’s former campaign manager Paul Manafort was found guilty on charges of bank and tax fraud relating to his role as a political consultant for pro-Russian entities in Ukraine. While he faces a separate criminal trial in the investigation led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller on possible Russian collusion(secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy in order to deceive others) in the 2016 election, his conviction pertained to undisclosed income and bank accounts, and illegal borrowings associated with his Ukrainian operations. Mr. Trump appeared to shrug off (to ignore or treat something as if it is not really important or serious) the impact that these high-profile convictions could have on his administration, even tweeting that unlike Mr. Cohen, Mr. Manafort “refused to break” under prosecutorial (relating to the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge) pressure and that he had “such respect for a brave man!”
While it may be the case that Mr. Trump’s proximity to these events makes him an “unindicted co-conspirator (a person that is alleged in an indictment to have engaged in conspiracy but not charged)”, experts believe the President is immune from routine criminal prosecution while he holds office. The second potential course of action for the prosecution is to rely on Congress to impeach (call into question the integrity or validity of a practice) him if there is evidence of wrongdoing. Whether Congress would do so is unclear. Even if the House of Representatives comes under the control of Democrats after the November mid-term elections, there is little doubt that a Republican-controlled Senate (the smaller upper assembly in the US), where a two-thirds “super majority” is required to convict a person being impeached, would expediently (done quickly or efficiently) nix (put an end to) any such proceedings or acquit (free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty) Mr. Trump.
IMPORTANT WORDS FOR ARTICLE & THEIR MEANING
1. Brazen (Verb) – To endure an embarrassing or difficult situation by behaving with apparent confidence and lack of shame (निर्लज्जतापुर्वक व्यवहार करना)
Synonyms – Brash, Unashamed, Audacious, Blatant, Bold, Impudent, Shameless, Unabashed
Antonyms – Humble, Meek, Modest, Quiet, Retiring, Shy, Timid, Shamed, Shamefaced
2. Felony (Noun) – A crime regarded as more serious than a minor wrongdoing (घोर अपराध)
Synonyms – Arson, Assault, Burglary, Offense, Violation, Foul play
Antonyms – Obedience
3. Hush money (Noun) – Bribe (घूस)
4. Collusion (Noun) – Secret or illegal cooperation or conspiracy in order to deceive others (मिलीà¤à¤—त)
Synonyms – Complicity, Deceit, Graft, Scam, Bunco, Cahoots, Connivance, Craft, Flimflam, Intrigue, Skunk, Trick
Antonyms – Honesty
5. Shrug off (Phrase) – To ignore or treat something as if it is not really important or serious
6. Prosecutorial (Adjective) – Relating to the institution and conducting of legal proceedings against someone in respect of a criminal charge
7. Unindicted co-conspirator – A person that is alleged in an indictment to have engaged in conspiracy but not charged
8. Impeach (Verb) – To call into question the integrity or validity of a practice (अà¤ियोग लगाना)
Synonyms – Accuse, Arraign, Criticize, Discredit, Indict, Reprimand, Disparage, Impugn, Inculpate, Reprehend, Reprobate
Antonyms – Absolve, Exonerate, Praise, Commend, Exculpate, Flatter, Elect
9. Senate (Noun) – The smaller upper assembly in the US (प्रबंधकारिणी समितिV)
10. Expediently (Adverb) – Done quickly or efficiently
Synonyms – Apparently, Doubtless, Perhaps, Possibly, Presumably, Seemingly, Believably, Plausibly
Antonyms – Improbably, Uncertain, Unlikely
11. Nix (Verb) – Put an end to (रद्द करना)
Synonyms – Forbidding, Refusal
Antonyms – Approval, Sanction
12. Acquit (Verb) – To free someone from a criminal charge by a verdict of not guilty (अपराधमुक्त करना)
Synonyms – Absolve, Clear, Discharge, Exonerate, Free, Let go, Vindicate
Antonyms – Accuse, Blame, Charge, Condemn, Convict, Incarcerate, incriminate, Punish
