Page 4 - aruba-today-20190119

A4 U.S. NEWS
Saturday 19 January 2019
Congress to probe whether Trump told lawyer Cohen to lie

By MARY CLARE JALONICK consequences over similar
and ERIC TUCKER allegations.
Associated Press One of the articles of im-
WASHINGTON (AP) — Dem- peachment against Bill
ocrats are vowing to inves- Clinton, for instance, ac-
tigate whether President cused him of coaching a
Donald Trump directed his witness to give false testi-
personal attorney Michael mony. Richard Nixon faced
Cohen to lie to Congress similar allegations before ul-
about a Moscow real es- timately leaving the White
tate project, calling that House.
possibility a "concern of Though Congress could use
the greatest magnitude." the allegation as a basis for
Trump's current lawyer said impeachment proceed-
the allegations sparking the ings, Justice Department
inquiry are "categorically legal opinions do not al-
false." low for criminal charges
Any evidence that Trump against a sitting president.
directed a witness to lie to Barr said this week that he
investigators would place saw no reason to change
him in the greatest political that policy.
and legal jeopardy yet and Cohen is scheduled to tes-
confront him with allega- tify before the House Over-
tions of the sort that led to sight and Reform Commit-
the departure of one presi- tee Feb. 7, where he will
dent and the impeach- probably be questioned
ment of another. Michael Cohen arrives at his home in New York with his left arm in a sling supported by a pillow about the report.
At issue is a report by Friday, Jan. 18, 2019. Though House Speaker
BuzzFeed News that Trump Associated Press Nancy Pelosi has discour-
told Cohen to lie about ne- aged any talk of impeach-
gotiations over the Moscow directed Cohen to lie to "Today's claims are just Cohen pleaded guilty in ment in the early days of
project that extended into Congress and that Cohen more made-up lies born November to lying to Con- her new majority, some
the 2016 campaign. The regularly briefed Trump of Michael Cohen's malice gress to cover up that he senior Democrats said that
Associated Press has not and his family on the Trump and desperation," Giuliani was negotiating the Trump if the BuzzFeed report is
independently confirmed Tower project in Moscow — said. Tower project in Moscow confirmed, Trump's actions
the report. even as Trump said he had Though Republicans stayed on Trump's behalf during could rise to that level.
Trump lawyer Rudy Giu- no business dealings with mostly silent on the report, the heat of his presiden- "If the @BuzzFeed story is
liani said in a statement Russia. BuzzFeed said Co- two Democratic commit- tial campaign. The charge true, President Trump must
Friday that "any suggestion hen told Mueller that Trump tee chairmen in the House was brought by Mueller resign or be impeached,"
— from any source — that personally instructed him to said they will open inquiries. and was the result of Co- tweeted Texas Rep. Joa-
the President counseled lie about the timing of the The House Intelligence hen's cooperation with that quin Castro, a member
Michael Cohen to lie is project in order to obscure Committee chairman, probe. of the House intelligence
categorically false." White Trump's involvement. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., said He was sentenced to three panel.
House spokeswoman Sarah BuzzFeed said Mueller's in- "we will do what's neces- years in prison for crimes California Rep. Ted Lieu, a
Huckabee Sanders called vestigators learned about sary to find out" if the report that included arranging member of the Judiciary
the allegation "absolutely Trump's directive "through was true. He said the alle- the payment of hush mon- committee, tweeted that
ridiculous." interviews with multiple gation that Trump directed ey to conceal his boss' al- it's time for that panel "to
The report comes as House witnesses from the Trump Cohen to lie in his 2017 testi- leged sexual affairs, telling start holding hearings to es-
Democrats have prom- Organization and internal mony to Congress "in an ef- a judge that he agreed tablish a record of whether
ised a thorough look into company emails, text mes- fort to curtail the investiga- time and again to cover up @POTUS committed high
Trump's ties to Russia, and sages, and a cache of oth- tion and cover up his busi- Trump's "dirty deeds" out of crimes."
as special counsel Robert er documents." The report ness dealings with Russia is "blind loyalty." Rhode Island Rep. David
Mueller is investigating Rus- says Cohen then acknowl- among the most serious to White House spokesman Cicilline, also a member of
sia's meddling in the 2016 edged Trump's instructions date." Hogan Gidley told Fox the Judiciary committee,
election and contacts with when he was interviewed Calling the allegations a News Channel that taking tweeted that if Trump di-
the Trump campaign. by the Mueller team. "counterintelligence con- the BuzzFeed story seriously rected Cohen to lie, "that
Though his supporters have On Twitter, Trump charged cern of the greatest mag- was "absolutely ludicrous," is obstruction of justice. Pe-
said Trump cannot be in- that Cohen is "Lying to re- nitude," Schiff said his com- but he repeatedly refused riod. Full stop."
vestigated for actions the duce his jail time!" even mittee had already been to deny the central allega- A Senate Democrat, Chris
Constitution permits him to though Cohen has already working to secure witness tion that Trump directed Murphy of Connecticut,
take, even the president's been sentenced. testimony and documents Cohen to lie. tweeted that "we need to
nominee for attorney gen- Giuliani noted that Cohen related to the Moscow An adviser to Cohen, Lan- know this ASAP" if Mueller
eral, William Barr, said at his had pleaded guilty to lying Trump Tower deal. ny Davis, declined to com- does have multiple sources
confirmation hearing this and quoted federal pros- The chairman of the House ment on the substance of confirming that Trump di-
week that a president or ecutors in New York who Judiciary Committee, Rep. the article, saying that he rected Cohen to lie to Con-
anyone else who instructs a chastised him for a "pat- Jerrold Nadler of New and Cohen wouldn't an- gress.
witness to lie or change his tern of lies and dishonesty York, said directing a sub- swer questions out of re- "Mueller shouldn't end his
testimony commits illegal over an extended period ordinate to lie to Congress spect for Mueller. inquiry, but it's about time
obstruction of justice. of time." would be a federal crime. Though some limits of exec- for him to show Congress
BuzzFeed, citing two un- Mueller's team, however, He said his committee's job utive power are untested, his cards before it's too
identified law enforce- has called him a credible "is to get to the bottom of it, there is historical prece- late for us to act," Murphy
ment officials, said Trump witness. and we will do that work." dent for a president to face tweeted.q