Michael Cohen busted Donald Trump and his son Don Jr. for committing criminal financial fraud during his testimony before the House Oversight Committee.
Transcript:
Q: You told representative Kelly that the president was aware of this scheme, is that correct?
Cohen: That’s correct.
Q: I just want the American public to understand the explosive nature of your current testimony in this document. Are you telling us, Mr. Cohen, that the president directed transactions in conspiracy with Allen Weissberg and his son, Donald Trump Jr., as part of a civil — as part of a criminal conspiracy of financial fraud, is that your testimony today?
To get more stories like this, subscribe to our newsletter The Daily.
Cohen: Yes.
Q: Do you know if this criminal financial scheme that the president Allen Weisselberg and Donald Trump Jr. are involved in is being investigated by the southern district of New York?
Cohen: I would rather not discuss that question because it could be part of an investigation that’s currently ongoing.
Q: But I just want the American public to understand that totally apart if Bob Mueller’s investigation, there’s garden variety financial fraud in your allegation and explosive smoking gun document suggests the president, his son and CFO may be involved in a criminal conspiracy? And isn’t it true, Mr. Cohen, that this criminal conspiracy that involved four people, that there’s only one person so far who suffered the repercussions and that’s why you’re in jail?
Cohen: I will be going to jail, yes.
Q: Three other people, though, who were equally involved in this conspiracy, is that true?
Cohen: Yes, it is true.
Video:
#Cohen says Trump and Don Jr. committed criminal financial fraud. https://t.co/T18f7HT1cl pic.twitter.com/cxZUIdfX5b
— Sarah Reese Jones (@PoliticusSarah) February 27, 2019
The thing that scares Trump the most isn’t what Robert Mueller may reveal. Trump’s biggest legal jeopardy rests in the decades of financial crimes that he has committed. The most obvious financial crime was the fraud committed to hide the hush money payments to Stormy Daniels. Fraud is the tentpole of the Trump family business, and it is these acts of fraud that are capable of taking down Trump and his entire family.
For more discussion about this story join our Rachel Maddow and MSNBC group.
Follow Jason Easley on Facebook
Jason is the managing editor. He is also a White House Press Pool and a Congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science. His graduate work focused on public policy, with a specialization in social reform movements.
Awards and Professional Memberships
Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and The American Political Science Association
