
Prior to President Donald Trump’s disgraced former attorney Michael Cohen testifying to the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday about the president’s alleged crimes, Trump speculated that Cohen was just trying “to reduce his prison time” by telling tall tales to Congress.
Michael Cohen was one of many lawyers who represented me (unfortunately). He had other clients also. He was just disbarred by the State Supreme Court for lying & fraud. He did bad things unrelated to Trump. He is lying in order to reduce his prison time. Using Crooked’s lawyer!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) February 27, 2019
While it’s still unclear whether that thesis is right, what’s notable is that Cohen’s no-holds-barred testimony may have in reality just landed him in even deeper water with the criminal justice system (not to mention mobsters and criminals, but that’s another story altogether).
Following his testimony, several Republican members of the committee submitted a letter to Attorney General William Barr accusing Cohen of committing perjury by knowingly making false statements during his testimony Wednesday to the Oversight Committee.
“While testifying under oath, Mr. Cohen made what appear to be numerous willfully and intentionally false statements of material fact contradicted by the record established by the Justice Department in United States v. Cohen,” committee members Reps. Jim Jordan and Mark Meadows wrote.
“Mr. Cohen’s testimony before the Committee at times was in direct contradiction to assertions contained in pleadings authored by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York (SDNY.) There are other instances in which Mr. Cohen’s statements to the Committee were immediately contradicted by witnesses with firsthand knowledge of the subject matter.”
Rep. Jordan ans Rep. Meadows are referring Michael Cohen to the Justice Department on allegations he lied during his testimony yesterday. They wrote a 30-page letter to AG Barr outlining several statements they say were false https://t.co/XGAPP9Lryw pic.twitter.com/IrFaOubRRk
— Christal Hayes (@Journo_Christal) February 28, 2019
They listed numerous examples as evidence:
Lie one: Though some of the charges Cohen reportedly pleaded guilty to were described by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York as “bank fraud,” Cohen explicitly said Wednesday, “I never defrauded any bank.”
Lie two: Though Cohen repeatedly claimed Wednesday that he never once sought employment within Trump’s White House, a mountain of evidence shows otherwise.
Michael was lobbying EVERYONE to be “Chief of Staff.” It was the biggest joke in the campaign and around the office. Did he just perjure himself again?
— Eric Trump (@EricTrump) February 27, 2019
Nailed it. It really was the biggest joke of the entire transition. The beginning of his bitterness was when he realized that was never going to happen. #Delusional. https://t.co/ddizWugguU
— Donald Trump Jr. (@DonaldJTrumpJr) February 27, 2019
Lie three: During his testimony, Cohen suggested that someone else set up a fake “WomenForCohen” Twitter account on his behalf. But according to the evidence, that someone else set up the account at his request. There’s a subtle difference.
Lie four: Prior to his testimony Wednesday, Cohen filled out a “True in Testimony” disclosure form. In the form he stated “he did not have any reportable contracts with foreign government entities,” Jordan and Meadows wrote.
“We believe this to be false. Mr. Cohen testified during the hearing that he had entered into contractual agreements during 2017 with at least two foreign entities owned in part by foreign government,” they added.
Lie five: Cohen’s verbal testimony Wednesday did not match with the written statement he submitted prior to the hearing.
Lie six: In his testimony, Cohen attributed his crimes to “blind loyalty” to the president. That too was a lie. SDNY prosecutors and District Judge William H. Pauley III both previously concluded that his crimes were motivated by personal greed and ambition.
“In sum, Mr. Cohen’s testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform on February 27, 2019, was a spectacular and brazen attempt to knowing (sic) and willfully testify falsely and fictitiously to numerous material facts,” Jordan and Meadows wrote in conclusion of their letter.
“His testimony included intentionally false statements designed to make himself look better on a national stage. Mr. Cohen’s prior conviction for lying to Congress merits a heightened suspicion that he has yet again testified falsely before Congress.”
As Michael Cohen speaks, think about how remarkable it is: a man convicted of LYING to Congress is now appearing before Congress again… just weeks later. Invited by the Democrats as their star ‘witness.’
And all the while, the left hails his every word as gospel.
— Mark Meadows (@RepMarkMeadows) February 27, 2019
Jordan and Meadows have both been heralded by conservatives on social media as veritable heroes for taking such a “bold” stand against Cohen’s continued lies both during and after the hearing.
Look:
This is the level of accountability that the American people deserve!
Thank you Rep. @Jim_Jordan & @RepMarkMeadows! https://t.co/MqMbSNyibA— Kari Light (@Skarikari365) February 28, 2019
Hopefully this is the start…seems some others lied to Congress too. I hope Cohen spills if he was coached by Shiff et al. Thank-you @Jim_Jordan & @RepMarkMeadows
— Truth Warrior (@truthwarrior70) February 28, 2019
You and Jim Jordan were outstanding today! Extremely well prepared, guns blazing.
— Babs (@TidePride8) February 27, 2019
Jim, you were fabulous yesterday! We need more outspoken, strong Republicans just like yourself; otherwise, the Dems are going to continue to run all over us! Thank You!
— HRHPrincessPR (@HRHPrincessPR) February 28, 2019
Thank you Rep. Jordan for your great questions today. This is a great example of why we need Rep. with backbone.
— BooBoo and Krista (@BooBoo_Krista) February 27, 2019
GOP reps refer Michael Cohen to DOJ for alleged perjury. Thank you for working for the American ppl. @Jim_Jordan @RepMarkMeadowshttps://t.co/sthopxfv7l
— CharlervoixRider (@CharlevoixRider) February 28, 2019
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