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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"When I say conman I'm talking about a man who declares himself brilliant but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and his college board to never release his grades or his SAT scores," Cohen said.
Cohen says that Mr Trump once called the US government "stupid" for giving him a massive tax return, even as he cut employee salaries.
Cohen says that the president said that he did not receive a surgery for bone spurs, which says allowed him to stay out of the Vietnam War.
"I find it ironic Mr President that you are in Vietnam right now," he said.
Cohen says that "nothing went on in Trump world" or the campaign without the president being aware of it.
That means, he said, that Mr Trump was aware of meetings between Russians and the Trump campaign with regards to email hacks from the Hillary Clinton campaign.
Cohen says he has never asked for, and would not accept, a presidential pardon from Donald Trump. He also says that the president attempted to intimidate him from appearing before the panel.
Cohen says that Donald Trump encouraged someone to hurt him via tweets.
Cohen has thanked a long list of Democrats for defending Congress.
"I may not be able to change the past but I can do right by the American people here today," Cohen said, noting he would like to change the way history remembers him.
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