- Title: Cohen: Trump said 'Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the world'
- Date: 27th February 2019
- Summary: WASHINGTON, D.C., UNITED STATES (FEBRUARY 27, 2019) (UNRESTRICTED POOL) BACK VIEW OF U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN APPEARING BEFORE THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OVERSIGHT AND REFORM COMMITTEE (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN SAYING: "I remember being in the room with Mr. Trump, probably in early June 2016, when something peculiar happened. Don Jr. came into the room and walked behind his father's desk - which in itself was unusual. People didn't just walk behind Mr. Trump's desk to talk to him. I recalled Don Jr. leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which I could clearly hear, and saying: "The meeting is all set." I remember Mr. Trump saying, "Ok good…let me know." What struck me as I looked back and thought about that exchange between Don Jr. and his father was, first, that Mr. Trump had frequently told me and others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgement of anyone in the world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any significance alone - and certainly not without checking with his father. I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign, without Mr. Trump's knowledge and approval. So, I concluded that Don Jr. was referring to that June 2016 Trump Tower meeting about dirt on Hillary with the Russian representative when he walked behind his dad's desk that day -- and that Mr. Trump knew that was the meeting Don Jr. was talking about when he said, "That's good…let me know." SIDE VIEW OF COHEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN SAYING: "When I say conman, I'm talking about a man who declares himself 'brilliant' but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges, and the College Board to never release his grades or SAT scores. As I mentioned, I'm giving the Committee today copies of a letter I sent at Mr. Trump's direction threatening these schools with civil and criminal actions if Mr. Trump's grades or SAT scores were ever disclosed without his permission." BACK VIEW OF COHEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN DISCUSSING TRUMP'S EXPLANATION FOR HIS MEDICAL DEFERMENTS FOR THE DRAFT DURING THE VIETNAM WAR, SAYING: "Mr. Trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when I asked for medical records, he gave me none and said there was no surgery. He told me not to answer the specific questions by reporters but rather offer simply the fact that he received a medical deferment. He finished the conversation with the following comment. "You think I'm stupid, I wasn't going to Vietnam." I find it ironic, President Trump, that you are in Vietnam right now. And yet, I continued to work for him." SIDE VIEW OF COHEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN SAYING: For those who question my motives for being here today, I understand. I have lied, but I am not a liar. I have done bad things, but I am not a bad man. I have fixed things, but I am no longer your "fixer," Mr. Trump. I am going to prison and have shattered the safety and security that I tried so hard to provide for my family. My testimony certainly does not diminish the pain I caused my family and friends - nothing can do that. And I have never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from President Trump. And, by coming today, I have caused my family to be the target of personal, scurrilous attacks by the President and his lawyer - trying to intimidate me from appearing before this panel." SIDE VIEW OF COHEN (SOUNDBITE) (English) U.S. PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP'S FORMER BUSINESS ASSOCIATE AND ATTORNEY MICHAEL COHEN SAYING: "I have done things I am not proud of, and I will live with the consequences of my actions for the rest of my life. But today, I get to decide the example I set for my children and how I attempt to change how history will remember me. I may not be able to change the past, but I can do right by the American people here today. Thank you for your attention. I am happy to answer the Committee's questions." BACK VIEW OF COHEN
- Embargoed: 13th March 2019 16:42
- Keywords: Michael Cohen congress Russia Donald Trump college transcripts Vietnam draft deferment Donald Trump Jr. meeting
- Location: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- City: WASHINGTON D.C., UNITED STATES
- Country: USA
- Reuters ID: LVA001A3CZVWN
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text:President Donald Trump frequently questioned his eldest son Donald Trump Jr.'s judgement and was likely informed about each aspect of the meeting with a Russian attorney at Trump Tower, Michael Cohen told the U.S. Congress on Wednesday (February 27).
Cohen said in his statement he does not have direct evidence that Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia.
"I do not. I want to be clear. But I have my suspicions," Cohen said.
Cohen described an incident in which Trump's son, Donald Jr., walked behind his father's desk and told him in a low voice: "The meeting is all set." Cohen said Trump replied: "OK good ... let me know."
In hindsight, Cohen said he believed the son was referring to the June 2016 meeting at Trump Tower between a Russian lawyer promising "dirt" on Clinton and members of Trump's campaign.
Trump has denied having advance knowledge of the meeting, which has come under intense scrutiny in the Mueller probe.
"Mr. Trump had frequently told me and others that his son Don Jr. had the worst judgment of anyone in the world. And also, that Don Jr. would never set up any meeting of any significance alone - and certainly not without checking with his father. I also knew that nothing went on in Trump world, especially the campaign, without Mr. Trump's knowledge and approval," Cohen said.
Trump's onetime "fixer," said Trump directed negotiations for a real estate project in Moscow during the White House race even as Trump publicly said he had no business interests in Russia, according to Cohen's prepared testimony.
Cohen also said he would provide letters he wrote at Trump's behest that threatened his high school and colleges not to release his grades or test scores.
Cohen, 52, was one of Trump's closest aides and fiercest defenders, working with him on business and personal deals for a decade. But he turned against him last year and is cooperating with prosecutors after pleading guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud and campaign finance violations.
It is not clear whether Cohen's testimony will significantly alter public perception of Trump's business practices or put him in greater legal peril.
Cohen made no comment to reporters as he arrived on Capitol Hill early Wednesday morning. - Copyright Holder: POOL (CAN SELL)
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