The chair and vice chair of the Senate Intelligence Committee announced Tuesday that, despite unspecified recent press reports, Michael Cohen had stood by his earlier testimony to the committee that he was unaware in advance of a campaign-era meeting in Trump Tower between Trump campaign officials and Russians promising dirt on Hillary Clinton.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chair Richard Burr (R-NC) and Vice Chair Mark Warner (D-VA) said in a joint statement:
“We have obviously followed today’s reporting about Michael Cohen with great interest. He appears to be pleading guilty to very serious charges, however, we have no insight into any agreements he and his legal team have allegedly reached with prosecutors in New York.
“What we can say is that we recently reengaged with Mr. Cohen and his team following press reports that suggested he had advance knowledge of the June 2016 meeting between campaign officials and Russian lawyers at Trump Tower. Mr. Cohen had testified before the Committee that he was not aware of the meeting prior to its disclosure in the press last summer. As such, the Committee inquired of Mr. Cohen’s legal team as to whether Mr. Cohen stood by his testimony. They responded that he did stand by his testimony.
“We hope that today’s developments and Mr. Cohen’s plea agreement will not preclude his appearance before our Committee as needed for our ongoing investigation.”
MSNBC captured video of some of the statement, read by Burr. Watch below:
Senate Intelligence Committee leaders make statement on Cohen: pic.twitter.com/W8NyLoaZvJ
— TPM Livewire (@TPMLiveWire) August 21, 2018
This post has been updated.
If Cohen didn’t stand by his testimony, he would add a lying to Congress count to his rap sheet, so not really a surprise.
Also — Hey Nunes, pay attention. This is how an Intel Committee is supposed to work.
Why come out to make this nothingburger announcement? I guarantee you this is Burr coming out to gloat and Warner just tagging along for some spotlight. Faux News will be running around with this in no time claiming that it proves that Cohen has nothing for Mueller on “collusion” and explains why there’s no cooperation agreement and why he’s getting a sweetheart deal on his many financial and election financing crimes.
I’ll tell you what…if Mueller comes out exonerating Trump before November, IT’S ALL FUCKING OVER for the next 6 years at least and probably for the foreseeable future following that after they’ve rigged our elections systems so tightly Dems can never win majorities in Congress.
I completely agree. This serves no important purpose except to give the right-wing noise machine something to replay relentlessly.
There’s no crime heinous enough, no lie big enough, no scam dirty enough to make republicans do the right thing and call for prosecution of one of their tribe members. 24/7, it’s always PARTY BEFORE COUNTRY.
Rupert Murdoch called over and told Burr to come up with something, anything, to feed and distract the MAGAts today.