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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Cohen says that Donald Trump called him to coordinate public messaging surrounding the payments made to Stormy Daniels.
He says Mr Trump asked him to say that he was not aware of or involved in thee payments.
Cohen says he takes "no pleasure" in saying negative things about Donald Trump.
Cohen says that he had the idea to launch the website "ShouldTrumpRun.com" in 2011.
Cohen says that his goal was to "stay on message" when he lied to Congress. That message, as he has said previously today, was determined by Donald Trump.
"I towed the party line and I am now suffering and I am going to continue to suffer for a while," Cohen says.
Cohen is once again being asked about a television or book deal.
He suggested that he is not motivated by getting on television, and that he has been on television for Donald Trump for years.
He says he has been approached by "many people who are looking" to make a book or movie deal.
Cohen appears flustered by Representative Jim Jordan, who has repeatedly asked him today about not getting a job in the White House.
Cohen says he did not want a job in the White House: "There is no shame in being the personal attorney for the president of the United States."
Cohen says that he overheard a call between Donald Trump and Roger Stone regarding the Wikileaks email dump, even though the president has said that he did not know about the emails before they were released.
Cohen says that Donald Trump did not ever express a concern that the leaked DNC emails was wrong. He also said he is not aware of any effort by Mr Trump to notify American authorities about the emails.
Cohen says he does not think that Donald Trump knew what was in the emails before they were released.
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