Trump ‘ordered his lawyer to lie’

SENIOR Democrats vowed yesterday to investigate claims that Donald Trump ordered his former lawyer to lie to Congress about his business dealings in Russia.

According to the Buzzfeed news website, the US President and Michael Cohen hatched a plan to continue efforts to build a tower in Moscow during his 2016 presidential campaign.

After he won the election, Mr Trump allegedly told Cohen to lie to Congress about their negotiations, claiming they ended months earlier than they actually did.

Mr Trump also allegedly supported a plan, dreamt up by Cohen, to visit Russia during the presidential campaign to meet Vladimir Putin and kickstart the tower negotiations. ‘Make it happen,’ he allegedly told Cohen.

According to Buzzfeed, Mr Trump believed the 100-floor tower could bring his company profits of more than $300million. Buzzfeed cited as sources two unnamed law enforcement officials involved in investigating the Trump campaign’s links with Russia.

House intelligence committee chairman Adam Schiff, who is a Democrat, said the allegations were among the most serious to date. He added: ‘We will do what’s necessary to find out if it’s true.’

Democrat Jerry Nadler, chairman of the House judiciary committee, said it would also investigate. ‘Directing a subordinate to lie to Congress is a federal crime,’ he added.

Mr Trump’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, dismissed the report, saying: ‘If you believe Cohen I can get you a great deal on the Brooklyn Bridge.’

Cohen has already admitted lying to Congress and has been jailed for three years.