House Majority Whip Tom Emmer recently sent a letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland demanding that the Justice Department prosecute ex-Trump attorney Michael Cohen for making false statements and stealing during the criminal trial of former President Trump. Emmer urged the DOJ to take immediate action on multiple criminal referrals related to alleged lies Cohen told Congress. He also raised concerns about top Manhattan prosecutor Matthew Colangelo, who was a senior Justice Department official in the Biden administration before joining Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s team.
Cohen has a history of lying, including pleading guilty to lying to the U.S. Senate in 2018. Republicans on various House committees have sent criminal referrals to the DOJ for Cohen’s perjury and false statements during congressional testimony and depositions. During the NY v. Trump trial, witnesses confirmed Cohen’s lies to Congress, including his claim that he did not seek employment in the Trump administration when evidence suggested otherwise. Cohen also admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization while on the stand.
Emmer emphasized the seriousness of Cohen’s admission to theft and highlighted the potential collusion between the Biden administration’s DOJ and the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. He questioned why the DOJ has not moved forward with indicting Cohen despite the criminal referrals. Emmer pointed to Colangelo, a top prosecutor on Bragg’s team, who worked in the Biden administration as acting associate attorney general before joining the Manhattan DA’s office.
Colangelo’s ties to the Democratic National Committee for political consulting in 2018 raised concerns for Emmer, who called for documents related to Colangelo’s employment and an explanation from Garland on the lack of action against Cohen. Emmer expressed frustration with the DOJ’s handling of the case against Cohen, accusing them of colluding with Bragg and protecting a star witness who is a “liar and a thief.” Emmer vowed to continue pressing the DOJ for accountability and justice in the case involving Cohen and others involved in the trial against Trump.
As the investigation into Cohen’s false statements and theft continues, Emmer and other House Republicans are determined to hold the Biden administration’s DOJ accountable for its handling of the case. Emmer’s letter to Garland highlights the concerns surrounding Cohen’s credibility as a witness in the criminal trial against Trump and raises questions about potential collusion between the DOJ and the Manhattan DA’s office. Emmer’s demands for action and transparency from the DOJ underscore the ongoing efforts to ensure that justice is served in this high-profile case.
The letter from Emmer to Garland underscores the growing concerns within the Republican Party regarding the handling of the criminal trial against Trump, particularly the credibility of key witnesses like Cohen. Emmer’s calls for immediate action on the criminal referrals and transparency regarding Colangelo’s involvement in the case reflect a broader effort to hold the DOJ accountable for its actions. As the investigation into Cohen’s false statements and theft unfolds, Emmer and other House Republicans are committed to ensuring that justice is served and that all parties involved are held accountable for their actions.
