Democrats vow to probe BuzzFeed report Trump directed Michael Cohen to lie to Congress
Ruh-roh!
Unless I'm misreading this, this could be the revelation we've been waiting for all along that could sink Trump...right?
https://www.yahoo.com/news/democrats-vow-probe-buzzfeed-report-113502970.html
A pair of House Democratic committee chairmen vowed Friday to investigate allegations in a published report that President Donald Trump personally ordered his former attorney and fixer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress about a potential real-estate development in Moscow.share
"We know that the President has engaged in a long pattern of obstruction," tweeted Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., chairman of the House Judiciary Committee. "Directing a subordinate to lie to Congress is a federal crime. The @HouseJudiciary Committee’s job is to get to the bottom of it, and we will do that work."
Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., who chairs the House Intelligence Committee, also vowed to "do what’s necessary to find out if it’s true." He tweeted, "the allegation that the President of the United States may have suborned perjury before our committee in an effort to curtail the investigation and cover up his business dealings with Russia is among the most serious to date."
The report, published by BuzzFeed News, claimed Trump directed Cohen to mislead Congress about when negotiations to launch a condo project in Russia's capital ended, as well as the extent of Trump's involvement in the deal. It later fell apart.
Trump has not commented, though his attorney Rudy Giuliani has repeatedly questioned Cohen's credibility.
USA TODAY has not independently confirmed the BuzzFeed report as of Friday morning.
BuzzFeed, which cited two unnamed law enforcement officials for its report, further claimed that the office of special counsel Robert Mueller investigating Trump's Russia ties has additional evidence about the alleged deception backed up by "interviews with multiple witnesses from the Trump Organization and internal company emails, text messages, and a cache of other documents."
Cohen previously testified he falsely told Congress that Trump’s attempt to get the Moscow project off the ground concluded in January 2016 when he actually continued to pursue the project through June 2016. Cohen pleaded guilty in November to lying to Congress on this matter.
He is now cooperating with Mueller's probe and agreed to appear before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 7 before he begins a three-year prison term in March for crimes that include arranging for payments during the 2016 U.S. presidential campaign to silence women who claimed they had affairs with Trump.
BuzzFeed's story, if true, is significant because Trump consistently denied on the campaign trail having had any financial links to Russia. In fact, since 2016, Trump has publicly repeated more than two dozens times that he has "nothing to do with Russia."
"There was no talking to Russia. There was no phone calls. I didn’t make phone calls to Russia. I didn’t receive phone calls. I didn’t have meetings. I didn’t have texts. I didn’t have anything," he said aboard Air Force One in September.
USA TODAY reached out to the White House and the special counsel's office at the Department of Justice for comment but received no immediate response.
Democratic leaders reacted with anger and concern but also caution, pledging to investigate and establish the accuracy of the BuzzFeed report.
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"If Mueller does have multiple sources confirming Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, then we need to know this ASAP," wrote Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, on Twitter.
"I mean everything feels like a bombshell and we are all numb but I’m pretty sure if this story is true it’s – I’m going to be careful with my words here – something that Congress must investigate thoroughly," said Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii.
At least one lawmaker called for Trump's impeachment if the report's accuracy is proved.
"If the @Buzzfeed story is true, President Trump must resign or be impeached," said Rep. Joaquin Castro, D-Texas, a member of the House Intelligence Committee.
There was little reaction from Republican lawmakers.
Lanny Davis, Cohen’s legal and communications advisor, issued the following statement after the BuzzFeed report.
"Out of respect for Mr. Mueller’s and the Office of Special Counsel’s investigation, Mr. Cohen declined to respond to the questions asked by the reporters and so do I," Davis told USA TODAY.
Giuliani shot down the report Thursday night, saying in a statement, according to a tweet from Washington Post reporter Philip Rucker: "If you believe Cohen I can get you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge."