House Republicans accuse Michael Cohen of perjury in New York fraud trial testimony, prompting criminal referral

House Republicans accuse Michael Cohen of perjury in New York fraud trial testimony, prompting criminal referral

Two Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee have called on the Justice Department to investigate former Trump attorney Michael Cohen for giving contradictory testimony in former President Trump’s fraud trial. House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner and committee member Rep. Elise Stefanik accuse Cohen of committing perjury and making false statements before the congressional panel four years ago. The criminal referral letter emphasizes the need for an investigation based on Cohen’s willingness to openly admit to lying under oath. However, a criminal referral is merely symbolic and does not have legal weight. Cohen’s lawyer has not yet commented on the matter.

During cross-examination by Trump’s legal team last month, Cohen testified that he lied to the House Intelligence Committee in February 2019 when asked about Trump’s personal financial statements. He previously stated in his 2019 testimony that Trump did not ask him to inflate the numbers in the statements. However, in New York last month, Cohen claimed that Trump directed him and former Trump Organization CFO Allen Weisselberg to manipulate the numbers to match a specific target.

Alina Habba, one of Trump’s attorneys, confronted Cohen about this discrepancy during cross-examination. Cohen admitted to lying under oath in February 2019. Afterward, Cohen tried to clarify his comments by stating that Trump speaks like a mob boss and implies what needs to be done without explicitly stating it. He accused Trump’s legal team of selectively using his testimony to make him contradict himself.

Rep. Elise Stefanik released a statement demanding that the “Biden Justice Department” investigate Cohen. This is the second time Stefanik has come to Trump’s defense during his civil fraud trial in New York. Last week, she filed an ethics complaint against the trial’s judge, accusing him of bias. Trump is involved in a trial that includes the Trump Organization and several executives, including his adult sons. New York Attorney General Letitia James sued them last year, alleging that the business manipulated the value of its assets for financial gain.

Cohen, who was previously convicted on multiple charges including tax evasion and campaign finance violations, served three years in prison but was released early due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The trial has significant implications for Trump’s business licenses and properties, with a judge ruling in favor of the attorney general’s fraud claims. However, an appeals court has temporarily halted the cancellation of licenses until it reviews Trump’s case.