In a recent development, Representatives Elise Stefanik (R-NY) and Michael Turner (R-OH) have written a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, appointed by President Biden, urging the Department of Justice to consider a criminal investigation against Michael Cohen, former lawyer to ex-President Trump.
This comes in light of Cohen's recent testimony that contradicts his statements to Congress in 2017.
Stefanik and Turner contend that Cohen, who has a previous conviction for lying to Congress, "knowingly made false statements while testifying under oath during his deposition before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence" in 2019.
In the 2019 deposition, Cohen was questioned by Democrat Dan Goldman about the personal financial statement of Donald Trump. Specifically, Goldman asked if the then-president had requested Cohen or Mr. Weiselberg to "inflate the numbers." Cohen responded, "Not that I recall, no."
However, on October 25, while testifying in the New York County Supreme Court in the state's case against Trump, Cohen was confronted with his previous statements made at the Congressional hearing. He admitted to defense counsel Alina Habba that his previous testimony was false.
When asked by Habba, "Were you being honest in front of the Permanent Select Committee when you testified on February 28, 2019?" Cohen replied, "No." Further pressed by Habba, "So you lied under oath in February of 2019? Is that your testimony?" Cohen confirmed, "Yes."
Stefanik and Turner expressed their shock at Cohen's readiness to "openly and brazenly state at trial that he lied to Congress on this specific issue." They added, "His willingness to make such a statement alone should necessitate an investigation."
The representatives further argued, "Mr. Cohen's prior conviction for lying to Congress merits a heightened suspicion that he has yet again testified falsely before Congress." They requested the Department to investigate if any of Cohens testimony warrants another charge for the violation of 18 U.S.C. 1001 or 1621.
Cohen had previously pleaded guilty in 2018 for lying to Congress about his involvement in a failed project to construct a Trump Tower in Russia, based on statements he made in 2017 to the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence.
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