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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Representative Mark Meadows, a Republican, is now questioning Cohen.
He is asking about Lynne Patton, a black woman who Donald Trump assigned to a post in the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
He wants to know about comments from Cohen that Mr Trump is racist, and why Ms Patton would accept a job from a racist.
Mr Meadows and Cohen have quibbled a bit over whether Cohen is a nice guy.
"Well I am a nice guy," Cohen said when asked if he was paid millions for being one.
"Well the record reflects that you are not a nice guy," he said.
Mr Meadows is trying to say that Cohen has acted previously as an unregistered lobbyist.
Representative William Lacy Clay is now up to question Cohen.
Mr Clay has noted that the American people have been repeatedly lied to. He wants to know about the president's federal financial disclosures.
Cohen says that the president inflated his assets or revenues, to his knowledge.
Cohen says that Donald Trump wanted his wealth to rise each year on the Forbes list of richest people.
He says that Mr Trump's employees were instructed to inflate the worth of his assets in order to do so.
Representative Jody Hice is now questioning Cohen.
He is asking how Cohen was persuaded to come before the committee today. Cohen says he is testifying voluntarily, and that he and his associates spoke with the committee in order for him to appear.
Mr Hice says he believes Cohen is only testifying "to bring the president down".
Mr Hice notes that Cohen lied before Congress previously. He calls Cohen a "convicted liar", and says that Cohen is "incompatible" to testifying before the committee.
"We have brought this committee to its knees in terms of losing its credibility," he said.
Democratic Representative Stephen Lynch is now speaking. He has hit back at Mr Hice for claiming Cohen is present to fulfill an agenda, noting that there are other witnesses who Republicans refused to bring in for testimony when they controlled the House.
"Your side ran away from the truth, and we're trying to bring it to the American people," he said.
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