The House Intelligence Committee is investigating whether Trump lawyers shaped Michael Cohen's false testimony
Four lawyers connected to President Trump are being investigated by the House Intelligence Committee over allegations they helped the president's former attorney, Michael Cohen, lie to Congress, The New York Times reports.
The House panel, according to the report, has requested documents from Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow, Donald Trump Jr. lawyer Alan S. Futerfas, the Trump Organization lawyer Alan Garten; and Ivanka Trump lawyer Abbe Lowell.
This comes as the committee is looking into Michael Cohen's claim from when he testified before Congress that Trump lawyers helped edit his false testimony, in which he said that Trump's discussions to build a Trump Tower in Moscow ended months before they really did. Their edits, he said, included suggested "additions." Cohen is currently serving a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to lying to Congress and to campaign finance violations.
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.
In a letter to attorneys representing the four individuals in question, House Intelligence Committee Chair Rep. Adam Schiff (D-Calif.) writes that "it appears that your clients may have reviewed, shaped and edited the false statement that Cohen submitted to the committee," per the Times. Schiff also raises the question of whether the lawyers dangled a pardon before Cohen to prevent him from cooperating.
The lawyers reportedly haven't provided any of the documents the committee has requested, with an attorney for Sekulow saying Schiff is seeking a "truly needless dispute" and that this probe is "far afield from any proper legislative purpose." But Schiff is reportedly ready to issue a subpoena if they don't cooperate. Read the full report at The New York Times.
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
Brendan worked as a culture writer at The Week from 2018 to 2023, covering the entertainment industry, including film reviews, television recaps, awards season, the box office, major movie franchises and Hollywood gossip. He has written about film and television for outlets including Bloody Disgusting, Showbiz Cheat Sheet, Heavy and The Celebrity Cafe.
-
The best homes of the year
Feature Featuring a grand turret entrance in New York and built-in glass elevator in Arizona
By The Week Staff Published
-
Nordstrom family, investor to take retail chain private
Speed Read The business will be acquired by members of the family and El Puerto de Liverpool, a Mexican real estate company
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden commutes most federal death sentences
Speed Read The president downgraded the punishment of 37 of 40 prisoners on death row to life in prison without parole
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ABC News to pay $15M in Trump defamation suit
Speed Read The lawsuit stemmed from George Stephanopoulos' on-air assertion that Trump was found liable for raping writer E. Jean Carroll
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Judge blocks Louisiana 10 Commandments law
Speed Read U.S. District Judge John deGravelles ruled that a law ordering schools to display the Ten Commandments in classrooms was unconstitutional
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
ATF finalizes rule to close 'gun show loophole'
Speed Read Biden moves to expand background checks for gun buyers
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Hong Kong passes tough new security law
Speed Read It will allow the government to further suppress all forms of dissent
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
France enshrines abortion rights in constitution
speed read It became the first country to make abortion a constitutional right
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Texas executes man despite contested evidence
Speed Read Texas rejected calls for a rehearing of Ivan Cantu's case amid recanted testimony and allegations of suppressed exculpatory evidence
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Supreme Court wary of state social media regulations
Speed Read A majority of justices appeared skeptical that Texas and Florida were lawfully protecting the free speech rights of users
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Greece legalizes same-sex marriage
Speed Read Greece becomes the first Orthodox Christian country to enshrine marriage equality in law
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published