Trump ally threatens Cohen
A top ally of US President Donald Trump appeared to threaten a witness on the eve of a highprofile congressional hearing, suggesting yesterday that he would expose the president’s former lawyer Michael Cohen as a womaniser should he testify against Trump.
‘‘Hey @Michael Cohen 212 – Do your wife & father-in-law know about your girlfriends?’’ Florida Republican Congressman Matt Gaetz, a fierce defender of the president, wrote on Twitter. ‘‘Maybe tonight would be a good time for that chat. I wonder if she’ll remain faithful when you’re in prison. She’s about to learn a lot.’’
The comment elicited instant pushback from House Democrats, who accused Gaetz of trying to intimidate their star witness.
Cohen, Trump’s former fixer and longtime associate, was set to testify publicly before the House oversight and reform committee today. He would accuse the president of ‘‘lies, racism and cheating’’, according to a person familiar with the matter who spoke on condition of anonymity. Cohen is also expected to detail Trump’s role in hush money payments to two women who alleged during the 2016 election campaign that they had had sexual relationships with Trump.
The White House and Trump’s Capitol Hill allies have been trying to discredit Cohen, casting him as a liar who cannot be trusted. Cohen pleaded guilty to several crimes last year, including lying to Congress about a Trump Organisation project in Moscow and orchestrating the hush money payments.
Gaetz gave no proof or details about what he meant in his tweet.
‘‘I look forward to tomorrow, to be able to in my voice to tell the American people my story,’’ Cohen told reporters yesterday after meeting with the Senate intelligence committee for more than nine hours behind closed doors.
It was the first of three consecutive days of congressional appearances for Cohen. After the public hearing today, he will appear before the House intelligence panel tomorrow, again in private.
Trump has said publicly that he is not concerned about Cohen’s testimony, but privately his advisers have said they are preparing for the president’s former personal attorney to delve into a number of issues that would be uncomfortable for Trump, including his hush money payments to women.