Michael Cohen's Congressional testimony

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I feel like this should probably have its own thread.

First, here is his opening written statement in full.

And here is the TL/DR version, thanks to the Failing New York Times.

It's worth bearing in mind that there is claimed documentary support for much of what Cohen is going to say, and that he's already said much, if not all, of what he's going to say to Mueller - in other words, if he contradicts what he's already testified to, then he's in serious legal trouble beyond the trouble he's already in.

 

[The Great Zaganza]

I see the Cohen testimony as a resource for current and future investigative committees: it doesn't exactly matter if Cohen speaking only the truth and nothing but, or if he has evidence to prove it;
what matters is that future investigators, can use his testimony as the reason for questioning people of interest or even for issuing subpoenas.

I see him as the 2nd stage of the Mueller Grand Opening, with McCabe have laid the initial foundation, and Cohen explaining where all the rooms are going to be.
It will be up to Mueller and prosecutors following his investigations to actually build and fill the house.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Well, in all honesty I don't think we're going to learn anything new. I certainly don't think Mueller will. This will just be corroborative evidence for the public, and additional evidence for investigations other than Mueller's.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

I just hope that Congress treads carefully. Congress compelled Oliver North to testify and it resulted in him escaping criminal liability for Iran Contra on the grounds that he was forced to testify against himself. His convictions were overturned on appeal.

We need to balance priorities here, which is tough when we are totally in the dark in regards to the Mueller probe.

 

[Crossbow]

Well, in all honesty I don't think we're going to learn anything new. I certainly don't think Mueller will. This will just be corroborative evidence for the public, and additional evidence for investigations other than Mueller's.

I expect that you are quite correct.

After all, so much of what Cohen did for himself and for Trump is already public knowledge.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I just hope that Congress treads carefully. Congress compelled Oliver North to testify and it resulted in him escaping criminal liability for Iran Contra on the grounds that he was forced to testify against himself. His convictions were overturned on appeal.

The charges against North were overturned because it was found that his earlier Congressional testimony may have prejudiced the jury of his later trial. Cohen has already been charged, plead guilty, and been sentenced.

 

[TurkeysGhost]

The charges against North were overturned because it was found that his earlier Congressional testimony may have prejudiced the jury of his later trial. Cohen has already been charged, plead guilty, and been sentenced.

Thanks for the correction, not sure how I came to that misunderstanding.

My concern still stands that congressional inquiries could make criminal conviction difficult or impossible. North's highly public testimony made it impossible for him to have a fair trial, despite being guilty as sin.

I want as many of these crooks going to jail for as long a possible, not just Cohen. I hope Congress doesn't do anything to endanger that goal. Cohen's testimony today could lead to further inquiry of so-far unindicted participants.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

Emptywheel article discussing some of what Cohen's written statement may say about Mueller

 

[Thermal]

'He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat.'

Ouch.

 

[Squeegee Beckenheim]

I want as many of these crooks going to jail for as long a possible, not just Cohen. I hope Congress doesn't do anything to endanger that goal. Cohen's testimony today could lead to further inquiry of so-far unindicted participants.

It's an interesting question as to whether Trump could possibly have an unprejudiced trial. But I don't think Cohen's testimony is going to reveal anything groundbreaking. There's so much in the public domain already.

 

[Mojo]

Well, in all honesty I don't think we're going to learn anything new. I certainly don't think Mueller will. This will just be corroborative evidence for the public, and additional evidence for investigations other than Mueller's more stuff for the trumpettes to pretend hasn’t happened.

FTFY.

 

[Stacko]

CNN has the exhibits Cohen is going to present to back up his testimony.

 

[Stacko]

Cohen confirms the campaign was the dog that caught the car.

Michael Cohen: "To be clear: Mr. Trump knew of and directed the Trump Moscow negotiations throughout the campaign and lied about it. He lied about it because he never expected to win the election. He also lied about it because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars."​

 

[Stacko]

Watching this from Vietnam is Trump's Vietnam. #CohenTestimony​

Bone spurs finally made it.

 

[The Big Dog]

We got the receipts

what a sniveling rat.

 

[Matthew Best]

what a sniveling rat.

Was he one of the "best people" we were promised?

 

[BobTheCoward]

We got the receipts

what a sniveling rat.

When I think of every mob movie where they call someone a rat, the problem is the person is telling the truth.

 

[ponderingturtle]

'He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat.'

Ouch.

Yes but tell us something we don't know and that didn't make the republicans love him in 2016? I want to hear something new out of this, everyone knew all of that well before he was elected.

 

[Thermal]

Yes but tell us something we don't know and that didn't make the republicans love him in 2016? I want to hear something new out of this, everyone knew all of that well before he was elected.

But seeing his own start to turn on him might be a harbinger of things to come? Usually the fall guy stays quiet, and gets his pardon/reward on the tail end.

 

[ponderingturtle]

But seeing his own start to turn on him might be a harbinger of things to come? Usually the fall guy stays quiet, and gets his pardon/reward on the tail end.

Yea but why would any republican legislators care about such old news? They all knew this before he became president so why would it be an issue now?