Former Trump lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen is facing another criminal referral to the Justice Department, this time for allegedly lying to Congress on at least six occasions in 2019. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan and Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer have urged the DOJ to investigate whether Cohen’s testimony warrants another charge. Republicans on the judiciary committee had requested the DOJ to investigate Cohen in 2019 as well, but the referral was declined at that time.
Cohen allegedly made false statements to Congress, including denying seeking a job in Donald Trump’s administration, claiming he hadn’t called for the creation of a social media account called “WomenForCohen,” and denying having any business with a foreign government that he was required to report. Additionally, he denied committing fraudulent acts he later pleaded guilty to and claimed to have “blind loyalty” to Trump, which prosecutors found evidence against. Cohen is expected to be a key witness in Trump’s hush money criminal trial in Manhattan.
In addition to the alleged lies to Congress, Cohen is also facing a separate allegation of lying to the House Intelligence Committee. Cohen testified in 2019 that he did not recall Trump requesting him to inflate the value of his estate holdings to secure a more favorable loan. However, during Trump’s New York civil fraud trial last year, Cohen admitted that he was tasked by Trump to increase the total assets based on an arbitrary number and had lied under oath to Congress. Trump was ordered to pay over $454 million in the case and has appealed the verdict.
House Republican Conference chair Elise Stefanik and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner have called on the DOJ to investigate Cohen for the apparent inconsistencies in his testimony. Comer and Jordan have also provided transcripts and other material to back up their request to the DOJ, emphasizing the importance of truthful testimony before Congress for its oversight function. Cohen had previously been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty in 2018 to various crimes, including violating US campaign finance laws during Trump’s 2016 presidential run.
Overall, the DOJ is being urged to investigate Michael Cohen for allegedly lying to Congress on multiple occasions in 2019. His false statements include denying seeking a job in the Trump administration, denying involvement with a social media account, denying business with a foreign government, and claiming “blind loyalty” to Trump. In addition, Cohen admitted during Trump’s civil fraud trial to lying under oath to Congress, prompting calls for further investigation into his testimony. The importance of truthful testimony before Congress for its oversight function is emphasized, and Cohen’s role as a key witness in Trump’s hush money criminal trial in Manhattan adds complexity to the situation.
