Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen's credibility is under scrutiny as Republicans renew calls for a Justice Department investigation into his alleged lies to Congress. Cohen's testimony has become a cornerstone of the Manhattan District Attorney's case against former President Trump.
In a bombshell move, two Republican congressional committee chairmen have once again referred former Trump attorney Michael Cohen to the Justice Department for lying to Congress. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer had previously referred Cohen to the Justice Department in February 2019 after he allegedly lied during a congressional hearing.
Cohen, who pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations, making false statements to Congress, and tax evasion in 2018, is now facing renewed scrutiny over his testimony in the ongoing New York trial against former President Donald Trump. Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg's case heavily relies on Cohen's testimony, prompting Jordan and Comer to demand an investigation into whether Cohen's false statements warrant additional charges.
In a letter sent to Attorney General Merrick Garland, Jordan and Comer allege that Cohen's testimony in the February 2019 hearing was rife with lies. They cite six specific instances where Cohen's statements contradicted the record established by the Justice Department and firsthand accounts from witnesses. These lies include denying fraudulent acts to which Cohen had pleaded guilty, concealing his pursuit of a White House role, and misrepresenting his involvement in the creation of a Twitter account.
Cohen has since admitted to lying in his testimony in the Letitia James case against Trump, further undermining his credibility. This revelation prompted House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik to refer Cohen to the DOJ for perjury.
Jordan and Comer argue that the reliance on Cohen's testimony in the New York trial against Trump is deeply problematic. They assert that Bragg, a partisan prosecutor, is using a "known and convicted liar" to pursue a politically motivated prosecution against a former president.
The ongoing trial poses unprecedented challenges for Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records related to alleged hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels during the 2016 presidential election. The outcome of the trial hinges not only on whether Trump falsified business records but also on whether he did so with the intent to influence the election.
As the trial continues, the scrutiny surrounding Michael Cohen's testimony intensifies, raising questions about the reliability of evidence and the motivations behind the prosecution of former President Donald Trump.
