When Trump’s former lawyer and “fixer” Michael Cohen entered the prison where he will spend three years for an assortment of crimes, he did so knowing that he committed at least some of them on behalf of Donald Trump, who still lounges at Mar-a-Lago and yells “fake news!” when confronted with his own actions. The testimony that Cohen gave in front of Congress, however, remains largely unsettled, and the Senate Intelligence Committee is working to correct that wrong.
Breaking: The House Intelligence Committee opens a new front with an investigation into whether lawyers in the Trump family orbit obstructed justice by shaping Michael Cohen's false testimony to Congress. https://t.co/icEsMJ3TLO
— (((JonathanWeisman))) (@jonathanweisman) May 14, 2019
One of the more startling moments of Cohen’s testimony included accusations against four of the Trump family’s attorneys, a position Cohen has 13 years experience with. Cohen alleges that Donald Trump’s lawyer, Jay Sekulow, Trump, Jr.’s lawyer, Alan S. Futerfas, the Trump Organization’s lawyer, Alan Garten, and Ivanka’s lawyer, Abbe D. Lowell, crafted the false testimony that Cohen gave to Congress, for which he was convicted and sentenced. Additionally, Cohen says they offered him a pardon to lie in court.
The New York Times reports that:
‘The line of inquiry stems from claims made by the president’s former personal lawyer and fixer, Michael D. Cohen, who told Congress earlier this year that the lawyers in question helped edit false testimony that he provided to Congress in 2017 about a Trump Tower project in Moscow. Mr. Cohen said they also dangled a potential pardon to try to ensure his loyalty.’
NBC #Breaking News Alert: Donald Trump Jr. agrees to be interviewed by Senate Intel Committee as House panel ramps up probe of Trump family lawyers Via @NBCNews @jonallendc @RebeccaShabad @AlexNBCNews https://t.co/QBFWq5Y1vI
— David Thomas Sutton (@DTSutton) May 14, 2019
The four lawyers were subpoenaed for documents related to the inquiry into their possible obstruction of justice. If it is determined that they instructed Cohen to lie, sanctions could be extensive. In addition to the crime of obstruction and any recommended sentence that carries, all four could have their law licenses revoked.
‘In recent weeks, the committee sent lengthy document requests to four lawyers — Jay Sekulow, who represents the president; Alan S. Futerfas, who represents Donald Trump Jr.; Alan Garten, the top lawyer at the Trump Organization; and Abbe D. Lowell, who represents Ivanka Trump. The lawyers all took part in a joint defense agreement by the president’s allies to coordinate responses to inquiries by Congress and the Justice Department.’
NEW: The House Intelligence Committee is investigating whether 4 Trump family lawyers obstructed justice by helping Michael Cohen shape his false testimony to Congress, according to letters obtained by the New York Times. https://t.co/dgw987PVyH
— Axios (@axios) May 14, 2019
The New York Times reported this story based on letters sent to the lawyers by the committee. Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff wrote in a letter to the lawyers for the Trump family attorneys that:
‘Among other things, it appears that your clients may have reviewed, shaped and edited the false statement that Cohen submitted to the committee, including causing the omission of material facts.’
Here’s @RepAdamSchiff letter asking Trump/Trump family lawyers for documents and interviews in probe of whether they misled committee’s Russia investigation. Panel could issue subpoenas.
First reported by @npfandos/@maggieNYT pic.twitter.com/aKbinER0V6
— Ben Siegel (@benyc) May 14, 2019
Featured image via Flickr by Gage Skidmore under a Creative Commons license
