Cohen calls Trump a 鈥榗on man鈥� 鈥� but seems unlikely to change many minds
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Liz Marlantes Politics Editor
| Washington
So many things about Donald Trump鈥檚 presidency have been unprecedented, atypical, norm-busting 鈥� it sometimes feels like we鈥檝e run out of adjectives to describe it.
Yet watching the president鈥檚 former 鈥渇ixer鈥� Michael Cohen testify before Congress today sent many of us reaching for the thesaurus again.
In a surreal piece of political drama (still ongoing, as of this writing), Mr. Cohen produced checks that he said the president gave him as reimbursement for hush money payments he鈥檇 funneled to women alleging extramarital affairs. He testified that he heard Roger Stone tell Mr. Trump via speakerphone that he鈥檇 spoken directly with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about the coming release of stolen Democratic emails during the 2016 campaign.
Why We Wrote This
In dramatic and emotional testimony 鈥� slammed by Republicans as a farce 鈥� the president鈥檚 former lawyer offered new details about Trump鈥檚 business dealings and character.
Cohen also called Trump a racist 鈥� relating an anecdote about driving through a poor Chicago neighborhood and hearing Trump comment, 鈥渙nly black people could live that way.鈥�
He said Trump routinely inflated his assets. He called Trump a 鈥渃on man鈥� and a 鈥渃heat.鈥�
Of course, as Cohen himself acknowledged, he has real credibility issues. He鈥檚 been disbarred and will soon go to jail for lying to Congress, among other crimes.
鈥淗ow on earth is this witness credible?鈥� asked GOP Rep. Mark Green of Tennessee. 鈥淗e will say whatever he wants to accomplish his own personal goals. He鈥檚 a fake witness, and his presence here is a travesty.鈥�
Arizona Rep. Paul Gosar (R) 鈥� who drew national attention during the 2018 campaign after six of his siblings endorsed his Democratic opponent 鈥� reminded Cohen of 鈥渢he old adage that our moms taught us: 鈥楲iar Liar Pants on Fire鈥� 鈥� (that same line was also displayed on a giant poster featuring Cohen鈥檚 face).
Several Republicans asked Cohen if he was actively seeking a movie or book deal,聽and he admitted to discussions with producers and publishers.
All of which is to say, while the proceedings may have been high drama, they also appeared unlikely to change anyone鈥檚 mind on either side of the aisle.
One of the most memorable moments came in the form of a warning from Cohen to Republicans. Cohen noted at one point that he found it 鈥渋nteresting鈥� that the GOP members were not asking him any questions about the president, but focusing only on attacking his credibility.
鈥淚 did the same thing that you鈥檙e doing now, for 10 years,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 protected Mr. Trump.鈥澛�
Let us know what you鈥檙e thinking at csmpolitics@csmonitor.com.
