Michael Cohen to call Donald Trump a ‘racist’ and ‘cheat’
President’s former lawyer expected to make explosive testimony
Michael Cohen will call Donald Trump “a racist”, a “conman” and a “cheat” in his testimony later today, according to a copy of his opening statement leaked to The New York Times.
The president’s former lawyer is expected to tell the House committee of his “regret” over his support for Trump, adding: “Never in a million years did I imagine, when I accepted a job in 2007 to work for Donald Trump, that he would one day run for president, launch a campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance, and actually win.”
He is also set to claim that, while a presidential candidate, Trump knew long-time adviser Roger Stone was talking to Julian Assange about a WikiLeaks drop of Democratic National Committee emails.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
It is quite a turnaround for Cohen, who once said he would “take a bullet” for Trump. He is making three congressional appearances this week, during which NBC News says he plans to “provide evidence of alleged criminal conduct by Trump since he became president”.
As tensions and the stakes rise, Florida lawmaker and Trump ally Matt Gaetz has apparently threatened Cohen on Twitter. Gaetz wrote: “Hey @MichaelCohen212 - Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends? Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot…”
Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny J. Davis, said his client would not respond to what he called “Mr Gaetz’s despicable lies and personal smears”. Amid what The New York Times describes as “an atmosphere of high drama and low tactics”, CNN pointed out that “few - if any - Republican members of Congress have more fully embraced Trump's go-for-the-jugular approach to politics than Gaetz”.
White House spokeswoman Sarah Sanders says Cohen is “going to prison for lying to Congress and making other false statements”. Cohen was sentenced to 36 months in prison in December for offences including lying to Congress about Trump’s business dealings with Moscow.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
Is Daylight Saving Time good for the climate?
Under the Radar Scientists are split over the potential environmental benefits of the hotly contested time change
By Abby Wilson Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
Magazine printables - November 8, 2024
Puzzles and Quizzes Issue - November 8, 2024
By The Week US Published
-
Life in the post-truth era
Opinion The mainstream media can't hold back a tsunami of misinformation
By Theunis Bates Published
-
'Shale is crucial to the US economy'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What is the next Tory leader up against?
Today's Big Question Kemi Badenoch or Robert Jenrick will have to unify warring factions and win back disillusioned voters – without alienating the centre ground
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Donald Trump sees himself as 'protector' of Israel
The Explainer What does that mean for the war in Gaza?
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
'Empowered' Steve Bannon released from prison
Speed Read Bannon was set free a week before Election Day and quickly returned to his right-wing podcast to promote Trump
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump promises a rollback of the green energy revolution
The Explainer A pro-fossil fuel agenda dominates the GOP nominee's climate change policies
By David Faris Published
-
'We might need to fiddle with our technology more than we think'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
'I am not a Nazi,' Trump says amid MSG rally fallout
Speed Read Trump and his campaign are attempting to stem the fallout from comments made by speakers at Sunday's rally
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published