Another Michael Cohen in the cards?
Giuliani associate claims he has goods on Ukraine
A true believer who claimed he was carrying out Donald Trump’s instructions.
A loyal fixer who regularly attacked Trump’s enemies.
And a federal defendant, who, after a dramatic and public change of heart, blamed his actions on Trump.
Lev Parnas, meet Michael Cohen. Parnas, an associate of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Rudy Giuliani, has a lot in common with Cohen, Trump’s former attorney and problem-fixer.
Both have been involved in political cases as they faced separate criminal charges. Both have tried to cooperate with prosecutors to get leniency in their cases. And both have expressed regret for having trusted Trump.
The Soviet-born businessman helped Giuliani pressure Ukrainian officials to announce investigations into the family of former Vice President Joe Biden, a potential Democratic opponent in this year’s presidential race.
Now, facing federal charges that could land him in prison, Parnas has turned over documents that could prove critical in the Senate impeachment trial set to begin Tuesday. Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif., lead manager for the House, said Thursday that his team would consider whether to press the Senate to let Parnas testify.
Parnas has said in media interviews that it’s time to tell the truth about Trump’s involvement in the effort to get the Ukrainian government to announce an investigation into the Bidens. Trump is accused of withholding a White House visit and nearly $400 million in military funding un
less Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that investigation.
But Parnas’ Road-to-Damascus moment also appears aimed at winning leniency in the criminal case accusing him of scheming to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to U.S. political campaigns and candidates. Parnas has pleaded not guilty.
If Cohen’s experience is any guide, federal prosecutors in New York, where Parnas has been charged, won’t necessarily agree to designate Parnas a cooperating witness.
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to orchestrating payments to silence adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed to have had affairs with Trump before he became president. Cohen told Congress and prosecutors he did so at Trump’s direction.
Cohen also admitted he had lied to Congress, deceived banks from which he sought loans, violated campaign finance laws and lied to the government to avoid paying taxes.
He offered to cooperate with prosecutors, and in early 2019, he turned over documents that appeared to implicate Trump in the hush money scheme. In congressional testimony, Cohen painted a damning portrait of his former boss, calling Trump a “racist,” a “con man” and a “cheat.” But none of it persuaded prosecutors to recommend a lesser punishment.
Parnas gave Congress thousands of pages of records of his and Giuliani’s efforts to pressure Ukrainian officials. He also said Trump knew “exactly” what he and Giuliani were doing.
White House press secretary Stephanie Grisham called Parnas “a man who is currently out on bail for federal crimes and is desperate to reduce his exposure to prison.”
But Bruce Udolf, a former federal prosecutor and associate independent counsel in the Clinton Whitewater investigation, said Parnas is “no different” from any other witness to wrongdoing.
“There is an old saying among prosecutors: ‘Swans don’t swim in the sewers,’ ” he said. “That applies here. Usually, these are the kind of people you need to prove your case.”