Trump's ex-fixer Cohen to offer new Russia details to Congress: source

[webfact]

Trump's ex-fixer Cohen to offer new Russia details to Congress: source

By Nathan Layne, Ginger Gibson and Mark Hosenball

 

FILE PHOTO: Michael Cohen, U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, exits the United States Courthouse after sentencing at the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., Dec. 12, 2018. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen will tell lawmakers on Wednesday that Trump asked him several times about a proposed skyscraper project in Moscow long after he secured the Republican presidential nomination, a person familiar with the matter told Reuters.

 

As Special Counsel Robert Mueller appears to near the end of his probe into whether Russia meddled in the 2016 presidential election in collusion with Trump's campaign, Cohen's assertion that Trump was inquiring about the skyscraper project as late as June 2016, if true, would show Trump remained personally engaged in the venture well into his candidacy.

 

Cohen was set to offer lawmakers new information about Trump's private affairs over three consecutive days of in-depth discussion with congressional committees that began on Tuesday with a closed hearing before the Senate Intelligence Committee.

 

The focus of the session, which lasted for roughly 9 hours, was mainly on what Cohen knows about Trump's dealings with Russia, as well as about Cohen's previous lies, two congressional sources said. Cohen apologised to the committee for lying to it in 2017, according to CNN.

 

In brief comments to the media after the Senate session ended, Cohen said he was looking forward to Wednesday's open hearing in the House where he plans to make his case for why people should believe him over Trump.

 

"I'm going to let the American people decide exactly who is telling the truth," Cohen said.

 

Senator Mark Warner, the top Democrat on the Senate committee, suggested Cohen's testimony was important to its probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 election.

 

"Two years ago when this investigation started, I said it may be the most important thing I'm involved in in my public life in the Senate and nothing I have heard today dissuades me from that view," Warner told reporters outside the hearing room.

 

As Cohen testified, Republican U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz, a Trump ally, suggested in a tweet that there was compromising information about Cohen's private life.

 

Gaetz later told the Daily Beast that he was not engaging in witness intimidation. "It is challenging the veracity and character of a witness. We do it everyday," he said.

 

The lawmaker does not sit on the House Oversight Committee, which will be conducting Wednesday's hearing with Cohen, and therefore will not be allowed to ask him questions.

 

Lanny Davis, an attorney for Cohen, said: "We will not respond to Mr. Gaetz's despicable lies and personal smears, except to say we trust that his colleagues in the House, both Republicans and Democrats, will repudiate his words and his conduct."

 

Cohen was one of Trump's closest aides and once said he would "take a bullet" for him. But he turned against his former boss last year and is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.

 

Cohen has said Trump directed him to make hush-money payments to two women who said they had sexual relationships with Trump, in violation of campaign finance laws before the 2016 election.

 

Trump called Cohen a "rat" after he turned on him, and the White House again attacked Cohen's credibility on Tuesday.

 

"It's laughable that anyone would take a convicted liar like Cohen at his word, and pathetic to see him given yet another opportunity to spread his lies," White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said.

 

Trump has denied any collusion between his campaign and Moscow. Russia denies U.S. intelligence agencies' assertions that it interfered in the election.

 

Cohen has been disbarred, according to a decision by a New York state appeals court in Manhattan made public on Tuesday. Disbarment is automatic in New York for lawyers convicted of felonies.

 

Michael Monico, a lawyer for Cohen, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

 

'GRANULAR DETAILS'

On Wednesday, in a public session before the House Oversight Committee, Cohen intends to give lawmakers "granular details" about a hush-money payment to adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, known as Stormy Daniels, and information about a "money trail" after Trump became president, said the person familiar with the matter, who asked not to be identified.

 

Cohen will also offer new information on Trump's financial statements that "have never been produced before" relating to how Trump represented the values of his assets in financial transactions and other matters, that person said.

 

Cohen will also offer first-hand anecdotes to illustrate Trump's "lies, racism and cheating" during the decade Cohen worked for the real estate mogul and provide "evidence of criminal conduct" since he became president, the source said.

 

Like Tuesday's hearing, his testimony on Thursday with the House Intelligence Committee will also be behind closed doors.

 

Democrats on the House Oversight Committee plan to question Cohen publicly about Trump's personal finances, including the payments to women, as well as alleged efforts by Trump and his lawyers to intimidate Cohen to try to keep him from testifying.

 

Last November, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress by telling lawmakers in 2017 that all efforts relating to the Moscow project had ceased by January 2016. In fact, Cohen said, those efforts continued until June 2016.

 

(Reporting by By Nathan Layne, Ginger Gibson and Mark Hosenball; Additional reporting by Susan Heavey, Eric Beech and Timonthy Ahmann in Washington and Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Tomasz Janowski, Alistair Bell, Peter Cooney and Richard Chang)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2019-02-27

[Tug]

No wonder Donald is on the other side of the planet lol oh well you reap what you sow

[lannarebirth]

37 minutes ago, Tug said:

No wonder Donald is on the other side of the planet lol oh well you reap what you sow

It's network sweeps week, so you get Kim, Cohen and the NFL Combine all in the same week.

[Chomper Higgot]

Gaetz is in serious trouble, his ‘tweet’ was textbook witness tampering.

 

Pelosi has already given the heads up

she will not tolerate such behaviour.

 

Gaetz’s crass threat right before Cohen speaks to the House Oversight committee.

 

He need to find a large rock to hide under.

[Berkshire]

10 minutes ago, Chomper Higgot said:

Gaetz is in serious trouble, his ‘tweet’ was textbook witness tampering.

 

Pelosi has already given the heads up

she will not tolerate such behaviour.

 

Gaetz’s crass threat right before Cohen speaks to the House Oversight committee.

 

He need to find a large rock to hide under.

Gaetz is a real sleazeball.  Just like Nunes.  Trump's most loyal supporters almost all seem to be lying, conniving scumbags.  Funny that.

[ballpoint]

1 hour ago, Tug said:

No wonder Donald is on the other side of the planet lol oh well you reap what you sow

Maybe we'll see Donald defect, and go back to North Korea with Kim.

[Thailand]

Oops!

[Morch]

In 2008, Gaetz was arrested for DUI. The case went away - chalk it up to connections and money. But Gaetz mugshot in an orange outfit remained. Gaetz had issues with that over the years, as he claims it hurts his good name, or creates false impressions.

 

Apparently not that much of a problem when the need to discredit Cohen rose: "We do it everyday", he said. Obviously a totally different matter when the tables are turned.

[keemapoot]

39 minutes ago, Berkshire said:

Gaetz is a real sleazeball.  Just like Nunes.  Trump's most loyal supporters almost all seem to be lying, conniving scumbags.  Funny that.

It really is amazing. We've never seen such a sleazy President with such sleazy close associates and friends as Trump. Even Nixon had mostly upstanding friends and associates compared to this. What is even more amazing is watching evangelicals and other normal Republicans contort themselves in every direction stretching to justify that this is their Republican leader.

 

It's kind of like watching the normal GOP going through a period in purgatory with this rogue President long enough to get rid of him and return to normal. Unfortunately, that base of his is the new definition of Republicans and that will be hard to manage going forward with a normal upstanding GOP President.

[Boon Mee]

Cohen has zero credibility. 

Democrats and Never-Trumpers are grasping at straws. 

[roobaa01]

cohen the hoaxter tells hoax as in fairy tales for no russian collusion is given.

and what a business project in russia is a crime.

 

wbr

roobaa01

[Berkshire]

16 minutes ago, Boon Mee said:

Cohen has zero credibility. 

Democrats and Never-Trumpers are grasping at straws. 

Yes, Cohen has been caught out lying.  But now he's coming clean.  Regardless, he does have more credibility than one particular person: D. Trump.

[Emdog]

Hearings will start at 10 pm Thai time. Get your popcorn and beverage of choice ready.

[keemapoot]

Cohen has released a 20 page statement ahead of his testimony. 

Quote

In short, Cohen calls Trump a "racist," a "conman" and a "cheat."

I don't think we are going to hear anything new and surprising about Trump, I mean we all knew all of these things anyway, but it will be yet another confirmation of what a trash bucket we have in the oval office, from his long time close personal lawyer.

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/27/politics/michael-cohen-testimony/index.html

[lannarebirth]

I think a lot of relavatory things could be learned from Cohen. It is my fervent wish that would be candidates for higher office do not overly grandstand for the cameras turning what could be a very important hearing into a circus atmosphere throwing the whole merits of the hearing into question. 

[ballpoint]

Washington Post already has a story out:

 

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer, will tell Congress on Wednesday that Trump knew his longtime adviser Roger Stone was communicating with WikiLeaks about publishing stolen emails from the Democratic National Committee, according to the text of his prepared opening statement.

In the prepared remarks, Cohen calls Trump a “racist,” a “conman” and a “cheat” and also levels accusations that the president personally signed a check to cover “hush money payments” to keep quiet an affair with adult-film actress Stormy Daniels.

 

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2019/02/27/i-am-ashamed-because-i-know-what-mr-trump-is-michael-cohen-reportedly-testify-that-trump-knew-wikileaks-plot/?utm_term=.1613920a58ec

Edited February 27, 2019 by ballpoint

[lannarebirth]

Quote

"You think I'm stupid, I wasn't going to Vietnam," Cohen recalls Trump as saying.

 

Beautiful!

[keemapoot]

1 hour ago, lannarebirth said:

 

Beautiful!

Yeah, that statement is a thing of beauty isn't it?  haha. Oh, boy is the Sh!t gonna hit the fan now. Everyone enjoy!

 

https://edition.cnn.com/2019/02/27/politics/cohen-testimony-read/index.html

Edited February 27, 2019 by keemapoot

[Opl]

3 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Cohen has zero credibility. 

Democrats and Never-Trumpers are grasping at straws. 

yes, it's a pain to realize how Trump has been cheated and conned by Cohen 

[Pedrogaz]

It seems that today's trip to Congress will not include any questions about Russian collusion, to avoid intruding into other investigations. Cohen will answer Russian questions when he is in front of a different committee on Thursday. 

 

In any event what he has already said in his written statement is very damaging to Trump and I think entirely believable. 

Trump looks much less presidential today than he did yesterday, and he didn't look very presidential then. Trump is, and always was, a brand. That is how he sold himself and how he tried to monetise the brand with new ventures, all of which went belly up....like his Trump clothing line for businessmen, like his Trump University, like his Trump airline. Cohen is very believable when he says that Trump only entered the presidential primaries as a way to extend his brand.

 

If Cohen is correct and he has included some exhibits in his statement including a check written in Trump's handwriting, while Trump was president, for $35,000 as an installement payment for hush money in the illegal scheme run through the National Enquirer. This is flat out illegal and could be grounds for impeachment. I am not sure that both houses have to agree to impeachment proceedings, as the senate is GOP controlled and they will be unlikely to get the Senate to agree to impeachment proceedings.

 

Exciting stuff.

[Chomper Higgot]

Those who wish to watch the hearing live can do so via the official House Committee on Oversight and Regorm website.

 

Here: https://oversight.house.gov/

 

 

 

No sleep for Chomper tonight!

 

 

Edited February 27, 2019 by Chomper Higgot

[joecoolfrog]

5 hours ago, Boon Mee said:

Cohen has zero credibility. 

Democrats and Never-Trumpers are grasping at straws. 

Trump dreams of getting his own credibility up to zero.

[Sir Swagman]

Huckersanders claims ‘how can you believe a convicted liar?’ How can you believe (and promote and defend, in her case) a proven one?

[WeekendRaider]

we have never stopped swallowing all kinds of nonsense talk.  it's endless, and it is today even more so about our emotions than in the past, even say the 1970's.  but it has always been that we limit our shared narratives to what seems like nonsense to others.  CNN is just now saying that Trump's comments to Cohen about "not being stupid" to not go to Vietnam... show he has a bad character.  what if you think of it as I do?  We were told to kill communists.  and we were always told either that "we will easily win" or "we are winning" and after Tet "now we really are winning".  That Trump did not buy that crap does not show to me he has bad character.  of course, emotionally there are many folks who will be upset with what I just wrote.  then let me assert this too, if you know who Hal Moore Jr. was... Moore said many good things about leadership, but one of them was to 'always go with your gut'... not your feelings.  the prefrontal cortex.  and from what I have seen, Trump is that kind of man.  he's not 100% bad at all.  he doesn't easily buy b.s., and yeah, he spins his own b.s. but it works!  that it works like a charm and got him elected is not a reflection on his character but that of our country. 

Edited February 27, 2019 by WeekendRaider

[elmrfudd]

Nothing will come from it, other than the vacuous opinions and assumptions.

 

But go for it. 

[Paul Henry]

May I humbly say there is none so blind as he who "WILL NOT SEE"

TRUMP LIES TEN TIMES A DAY Goverment records show he misuses the FACTS. Tries to greate a biase

that he's illeterate RED NECKS choose to believe. When they feel the financial pinch that already hit the farming community they may be a "LITTLE MORE OPEN MINDED.

MAY GOD SAVE AMERICA BECAUSE TRUMP WILL NOT"

[Cryingdick]

I heard they are scheduling three days for this? Seems like a 15 minute recap before he gets on the prison bus would suffice. Anyway nothing will result of this. Cohen is damaged goods in this is an exercise in futility that could actually backfire on the dems. 

[attrayant]

So far we’ve heard Cohen say a Trump is a racist, liar and a cheat. I’m wondering if he’ll tell us something we don’t already know.

[Prissana Pescud]

One thing for sure. After Trump goes back into his room tonight after blabbing away to little rocket man,

he will spend the night watching his credentials shredded by Cohen.

[Prissana Pescud]

7 hours ago, WeekendRaider said:

we have never stopped swallowing all kinds of nonsense talk.  it's endless, and it is today even more so about our emotions than in the past, even say the 1970's.  but it has always been that we limit our shared narratives to what seems like nonsense to others.  CNN is just now saying that Trump's comments to Cohen about "not being stupid" to not go to Vietnam... show he has a bad character.  what if you think of it as I do?  We were told to kill communists.  and we were always told either that "we will easily win" or "we are winning" and after Tet "now we really are winning".  That Trump did not buy that crap does not show to me he has bad character.  of course, emotionally there are many folks who will be upset with what I just wrote.  then let me assert this too, if you know who Hal Moore Jr. was... Moore said many good things about leadership, but one of them was to 'always go with your gut'... not your feelings.  the prefrontal cortex.  and from what I have seen, Trump is that kind of man.  he's not 100% bad at all.  he doesn't easily buy b.s., and yeah, he spins his own b.s. but it works!  that it works like a charm and got him elected is not a reflection on his character but that of our country. 

Well you wandered all over your post, but eventually made plain that you are a total follower of Trump. 

Your first few lines were nonsense to me. 

Cohen will be judged on factual evidence.

Then you go on about what the Vietnamese call the American war.

Because they have fought the Chinese, Japanese, French and the US to defend their land as any patriot would do.

(As a footnote, the US won the Tet offensive. But US country were so disillusioned with the war that US pulled out)

Incidentally, since US did pull out, Vietnam has thrived.

The rest of your post about prefrontal cortex and so on is incomprehensible.

PS. Spinning bs is a lame excuse. You can fool some people all the time....and so on

Spinning bs does not make any country great again. It makes your president and US a huge laughing stock.

And you should respect the 55,000 US service men who died in Vietnam with a little more compassion.