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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Your support makes all the difference.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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Donald Trump's campaign has responded to the Cohen testimony, questioning the testimony of a man who has already lid to Congress before.
A spokesperson said the following:
"As noted by the Southern District of New York, Cohen’s wide array of crimes were ‘marked by a pattern of deception that permeated his professional life’ and his ‘instinct to blame others is strong.’ Prosecutors said his actions were to ensure that he would ‘profit personally, build his own power, and enhance his level of influence.’ This is the same Michael Cohen who has admitted that he lied to Congress previously. Why did they even bother to swear him in this time?"
We are expecting the hearing to begin again any moment. Here's a quick recap of what we have been told so far:
- Cohen said that Donald Trump told him to lie, but without using his words. He said that he was simply towing the party line when he lied to Congress about hush money paid to Stormy Daniels. He said he was seeking to follow the president's lead. He also lied to Melania Trump during a car ride with Mr Trump — and says now that he regrets having lied to the first lady.
- There's an ongoing criminal investigation into Mr Trump, according to Cohen. That probe is in the Southern District of New York. Cohen declined to say what exactly that is about.
- Republicans have repeatedly criticised the Democratic majority for inviting Cohen to testify before the panel. They have asked why anyone should trust his testimony today, since he has been so comfortable lying previously.
- Representative Matt Gaetz, a Republican who appeared to threaten Cohen last night, has apologised for the tweet in question. He is also reportedly under investigation by Florida's lawyer licensing programme, according to the Daily Beast.
- Cohen warned current members of the Trump administration that if they follow the president like he did, then they could find themselves in a similar circumstance.
Here's what Donald Trump's adult sons have to say about today's testimony:
Here's what the House was voting on that interrupted Cohen's testimony: Passing a universal background check bill that would make it harder for criminals and those with violent histories to get their hands on a gun.
The bill would be the most significant gun control measure to be put into law in a long time, but Donald Trump and the Republican controlled Senate have already signaled their opposition.
“27 February 2019 will go down in the chronicles of history as a turning point for what has become the fiasco of the Trump presidency,” writes Brian Krasserman in an op-ed breaking down the first half of the Cohen testimony.
“Cohen’s opening statement could best be described as a slow yet deadly injection of polonium into the White House’s main artery”, she writes
But, Republicans, refusing to be “adults in the room, ... appeared to focus on anything but Cohen’s story as it relates to the president.”
Read the full article here:
The president, his son, and the chief financial officer of the Trump organisation are involved in a potentially criminal conspiracy, Cohen said.
Cohen says he does not have any special insight into Donald Trump's tax returns.
"What he didn't want is to have an entire group of think tanks tanks are tax experts run through his tax return and start ripping it to pieces and then he'll end up in an audit and then ultimately" have fines, he said, describing his understanding of why Mr Trump did not release those returns.
"I presume he is not under audit," Cohen said.
Cohen says Mr Trump's tax returns are "quite long". He has seen them, but not gone through them thoroughly.
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