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Prosecute Michael Cohen: House Majority Whip Urges DOJ Action for Lies Against Donald Trump

Published

7 months ago

May 22, 2024

Donald Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, concluded his testimony in the NY v. Trump trial. (Getty Images)

House Majority Whip Tom Emmer is calling for immediate action from the Justice Department (DOJ) to prosecute former Trump attorney Michael Cohen for making false statements and admitting to theft during the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump.

Fox News Digital exclusively obtained Emmer’s letter to Attorney General Merrick Garland, urging the DOJ to act on multiple criminal referrals from congressional committees concerning Cohen’s alleged lies to Congress.

Cohen, who served as the “star witness” for Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s prosecution against Trump, has been a focal point of controversy. Emmer’s letter emphasizes Cohen’s history of falsehoods, stating, “Cohen has proven to be a pathological liar, particularly to Congress.”

Emmer noted that Cohen pleaded guilty in November 2018 to lying to the U.S. Senate Select Committee on Intelligence. Since then, Republicans on several House committees have referred Cohen to the DOJ multiple times for perjury and making false statements.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Mike Turner and House Republican Conference Chair Elise Stefanik sent a criminal referral to the DOJ this fall, citing evidence of Cohen’s perjury during a 2019 deposition. House Oversight Committee Chairman James Comer and Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan also submitted a criminal referral for Cohen’s false statements during a separate 2019 deposition.

During his 2019 testimony before the House Oversight Committee, Cohen claimed he did not seek employment in Trump’s White House. However, evidence from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York suggested otherwise, showing Cohen expected a prominent role in the administration.

Emmer pointed out that Cohen’s lies were further confirmed during the NY v. Trump trial. A witness recounted Cohen’s anger in December 2016 about not receiving a job in the Trump administration, contradicting his earlier testimony.

On the stand, Cohen admitted to discussing potential White House positions with various people and expressed a desire to be considered for chief of staff “for ego purposes.” Cohen also admitted to stealing tens of thousands of dollars from the Trump Organization during the trial.

Emmer’s letter to Garland underscores the seriousness of Cohen’s actions, stating, “The prosecution’s star witness admitted to a more significant felony than what the prosecution has charged former President Trump with.”

Emmer demanded that the DOJ act on the criminal referrals, accusing the Biden administration’s DOJ of colluding with Bragg’s office. He highlighted the involvement of Matthew Colangelo, a former senior DOJ official who joined Bragg’s team.

Emmer wrote, “The Biden administration’s DOJ already appears to be colluding with the Manhattan District Attorney in the case against former President Trump, considering that Matthew Colangelo left his position as a senior Justice Department official to prosecute his former boss’ political rival.”

Colangelo, now a top prosecutor on Bragg’s team, previously served as acting associate attorney general in the Biden administration. Emmer demanded that Arland provide documents related to Colangelo’s employment and explain why Cohen was not not indicted despite multiple criminal referrals.

After sending the letter to Garland, Emmer told Fox News Digital that Cohen “is not only a liar and a thief, he’s the only person guilty of a crime in Alvin Bragg’s witch hunt against President Trump.”

Emmer vowed to use every available resource to hold the DOJ accountable, stating, “We’re going to use every resource at our disposal to hold Joe Biden’s corrupt Justice Department’s feet to the fire until Convict Cohen is behind bars where he belongs and Americans get the answers they deserve about the shady cast of characters who’re attempting to pull off the greatest sham in American history.”

Emmer’s demands highlight the ongoing tensions and political divisions surrounding the prosecution of Trump and the credibility of witnesses like Cohen. The letter represents a significant push from congressional Republicans to address what they see as a biased judicial process.

Emmer’s push for action against Cohen comes during heightened scrutiny and political polarisation in the United States.

The demands for accountability reflect a broader effort by House Republicans to challenge what they perceive as a two-tiered system of justice, where political allies are protected and opponents are targeted.

This narrative has been a cornerstone of Republican critiques of the Biden administration and the DOJ.

In response to Emmer’s letter, legal experts and political analysts debate the implications of prosecuting Cohen and its potential impact on the ongoing legal battles involving Trump.

Some argue that a renewed focus on Cohen’s past lies and criminal behaviour could undermine the credibility of the case against Trump.

Others, in contrast, believe it could further entrench partisan divides. The outcome of this push could have significant ramifications for Cohen and the broader political landscape as the 2024 elections approach.