Cohen testimony: Trump’s ex-lawyer claims ‘criminal conspiracy’ and gives dire warning to Congress in public testimony
Cohen said he is worried that there will 'never be another peaceful transfer of power' if Mr Trump loses re-election in 2020
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Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s ex-lawyer, has given dramatic testimony before the House Oversight Committee, were he discussed a criminal conspiracy involving the president, his oldest son Donald Trump Jr, and the chief financial officer of the Trump Organisation, Allen Weisselberg — and then cast the president as an existential threat to American democracy.
During one particularly notable exchange, Cohen was asked by Democratic Representative Ro Khanna about a cheque making a payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, which he called a "smoking gun" that proves several individuals were involved in the conspiracy.
"Are you telling us, Mr Cohen, that the president directed transactions in conspiracy with Allen Weisselberg and his son, Donald Trump Jr, as part of a criminal conspiracy of financial fraud?" Mr Khanna asked in relation to the cheque. "Is that your testimony today?"
"Yes," Cohen said.
Cohen, who will serve a three year prison sentence starting in May, said during his testimony that he believes the US is at a critical juncture in its history. Mr Trump, a man who Cohen once said he would take a bullet for, is a threat to American democracy, he said.
"If he loses the [2020] election, I worry there would never be a peaceful transition of power," he said.
Throughout his hours-long testimony on Wednesday, Cohen said that he is remorseful for ever allowing himself to end up in Mr Trump's inner circle. Cohen, who worked as the president's private attorney for a decade said that he had caused considerable damage to his family and reputation — and repeatedly apologised even as Republicans questioned why they should believe his testimony given he pleaded guilty to lying to Congress once before already.
“I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr Trump’s illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience,” Cohen said.
Cohen also suggested that the president was aware that political consultant Roger Stone was in discussion with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about the site’s access to stolen Democratic National Committee emails.
The president's former personal attorney said that he was in a room when Mr Stone told Mr Trump about the leaks, and that nobody made an effort to contact the FBI regarding those leaks.
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Cohen says that Donald Trump's personal financial disclosures have been amended. But, he says that the amendment is a "footnote, somewhere", and that it is "buried".
Cohen is now describing "catch and kill", saying that it is the process of purchasing the rights for a story in order to hold onto it.
Representative James Comer is now questioning Cohen.
He asks if it was Donald Trump's fault that Cohen obtained a personal loan fraudulently. Cohen says: "no it is not".
Mr Comer is now, like other Republicans before him, questioning Cohen about his personal fraud. Republicans have repeatedly asked Cohen if he committed personal fraud for the president, attempting to undermine his entire testimony through the questioning.
Donald Trump is in Vietnam, but is clearly aware that his former personal lawyer is dragging him through the mud back in Washington:
Cohen has gotten a bit fiery with Representative Jim Jordan for misrepresenting his testimony.
"Shame on you Mr Jordan," Cohen said.
Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton is now questioning Cohen.
She has asked about Donald Trump's reaction to the Access Hollywood tape.
Cohen said Mr Trump's former spokesperson Hope Hicks called him while he was in London, and asked him to call news outlets to try and cast the conversation as "locker room talk".
Cohen notes that the Access Hollywood case came out right before Karen MacDougal and Stormy Daniels became issues for the campaign.
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