RadioOnFire.com - Shaking off criticism from House Republicans, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer declared under oath Wednesday that Trump knew ahead of time and embraced the news when told that WikiLeaks had emails damaging to Hillary Clinton's presidential campaign. Michael Cohen also testified that Trump is a "racist," a "conman" and a "cheat."
Cohen, called to testify by Democrats over the objections of Republicans, suggested that Trump also implicitly told him to lie about a Moscow real estate project. Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the project, which he says Trump knew about as Cohen was negotiating with Russia during the 2016 election campaign.
The hearing was producing the most damning depiction to date of Trump's campaign and business operations from a onetime member of his inner circle. It was the latest step in Cohen's evolution from legal fixer for the president — he once boasted he'd "take a bullet" for Trump — to a foe who has implicated him in federal campaign finance violations.
"I am ashamed of my weakness and misplaced loyalty, of the things I did for Mr. Trump in an effort to protect and promote him," Cohen said. "I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump's illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is."
Democrats asked Cohen about details of his accusations against Trump, while Republicans on the House Oversight and Reform Committee focused on assailing him and his credibility.
Accused at length by one GOP lawmaker of being a pathological liar, Cohen responded, "Sir, are you referring to me or the president?"
A "racist," a "con man," and a "cheat" — those are just a few of the accusations Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former longtime attorney, leveled against his old boss during his highly anticipated public appearance before Congress on Wednesday.
Cohen delivered a damning account of the president's business and campaign practices just hours after Trump opened the second nuclear summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi, Vietnam. Cohen is being grilled by members of the House Oversight Committee. Republicans, including Trump, have argued Cohen is an opportunistic liar whose word cannot be trusted.
Source WBAL
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