Michael Cohen, former attorney and fixer for President Donald Trump, testifies before the House Oversight Committee on Capitol Hill February 27, 2019 in Washington, D.C. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images The concern expressed by some members of the media and Donald Trump’s Republicans on about whether someone who has lied can ever be believed is bogus. Their fretfulness arises from whether or not they can accept Michael Cohen’s testimony before the House Oversight and Reform Committee. Cohen, Trump’s former personal attorney, is a convicted perjurer whose credibility can indeed be questioned.
But Cohen’s testimony does not directly pit Cohen against Trump in he said/she said contest. We do not have to weigh Cohen’s credibility against Trump’s, although Cohen convicted of five felonies including one lie might do well against Trump’s documented 8,000 lies.
Cohen’s testimony, even if not credible on its own, provides a roadmap for investigators to follow. In his statement to the committee, Cohen says that in July 2016, he was in Trump’s office when his secretary announced a call from Roger Stone. On speakerphone, Cohen heard Stone say that he had just spoken to WikiLeaks head, Julian Assange. Stone said Assange told him to expect a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Stone’s cell phone records can be examined for calls from Assange and to Trump. Trump’s secretary can be questioned; she may have overheard the call. And because Assange has been confined to the Ecuadoran embassy in London, there may be recordings of his phone calls.
Some of what Cohen has to say about Trump has been either documented or proven by Trump’s own behavior. Cohen has provided checks that show Trump’s involvement in financial fraud. Cohen has also said that Trump is a racist who called countries governed by blacks “shithole countries.” In a meeting of the cabinet about immigration, it was reported that Trump called countries with non-white majorities and from which he did not want more immigrants, “shithole countries.”
Cohen presented proof of Trump’s criminal behavior to the committee. Questions about Cohen’s credibility should not be allowed to distract from proven crimes. Cohen’s testimony is essential despite his illegal behavior because it reveals some of Trump’s crimes, points out investigatory paths and provides a narrative for the public.
But Cohen’s testimony does not directly pit Cohen against Trump in he said/she said contest. We do not have to weigh Cohen’s credibility against Trump’s, although Cohen convicted of five felonies including one lie might do well against Trump’s documented 8,000 lies.
Cohen’s testimony, even if not credible on its own, provides a roadmap for investigators to follow. In his statement to the committee, Cohen says that in July 2016, he was in Trump’s office when his secretary announced a call from Roger Stone. On speakerphone, Cohen heard Stone say that he had just spoken to WikiLeaks head, Julian Assange. Stone said Assange told him to expect a massive dump of emails that would damage Hillary Clinton’s campaign. Stone’s cell phone records can be examined for calls from Assange and to Trump. Trump’s secretary can be questioned; she may have overheard the call. And because Assange has been confined to the Ecuadoran embassy in London, there may be recordings of his phone calls.
Some of what Cohen has to say about Trump has been either documented or proven by Trump’s own behavior. Cohen has provided checks that show Trump’s involvement in financial fraud. Cohen has also said that Trump is a racist who called countries governed by blacks “shithole countries.” In a meeting of the cabinet about immigration, it was reported that Trump called countries with non-white majorities and from which he did not want more immigrants, “shithole countries.”
Cohen presented proof of Trump’s criminal behavior to the committee. Questions about Cohen’s credibility should not be allowed to distract from proven crimes. Cohen’s testimony is essential despite his illegal behavior because it reveals some of Trump’s crimes, points out investigatory paths and provides a narrative for the public.
 https://www.politico.com/f/?id=00000169-2d31-dc75-affd-bfb99a790001 |
