‘Didn’t Make Any Sense’: Jonathan Turley Says Michael Cohen May Have Committed Perjury …
Former lawyer to President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, returned to the witness stand for a second consecutive day, faced with probing questions from prosecutors. Yet, amid the legal fireworks, one remark during Tuesday’s proceedings stood out starkly, suggesting possible perjury.
Jonathan Turley, the seasoned analyst closely monitoring the trial, relayed his skepticism to ‘America’s Newsroom’ co-host Dana Perino over his testimony, specifically Cohen’s rationale behind secretly recording Trump. Cohen claimed the recordings were intended to ensure that David Pecker, former publisher of the National Enquirer, remained honest and fulfilled his financial obligations. The explanation, however, seemed implausible to Turley and many others following the case.
“I thought that Michael Cohen may have committed perjury again. I mean, in my view, one of his answers just made no sense at all,” Turley said. “It just made no sense at all. He said that he taped his client, former President Trump, in order to keep David Pecker, the former publisher of the National Enquirer, honest and to make sure he paid.”
“The whole scenario of taping his client struck many as a breach of professional ethics, and it’s hard to see how it was done in the interest of keeping someone else honest,” Turley explained, questioning Cohen’s integrity and legal acumen.
Moreover, the trial has revealed recordings where Cohen discusses financial matters with Trump, which abruptly end due to incoming calls, adding another layer of mystery and intrigue to the ongoing legal drama. These snippets provide a rare glimpse into the confidential dealings that have long stirred legal debate.
Cohen’s past actions and statements have contrasted with his earlier commendations. He has publicly apologized for lying to Congress and suppressing information crucial for the public’s understanding of Trump when he was a presidential candidate. He reportedly apologized to Congress, the country, and his family for “acting in a way that suppressed information that the citizenry had a right to know in order to make an informed decision about an individual who was seeking the highest office in the land,” Cohen stated during his testimony.
Cohen, who has become a key witness in the criminal trial against Trump led by District Attorney Alvin Bragg, has faced legal consequences himself, including a 36-month prison sentence and subsequent supervised release for making false statements to Congress in 2017 related to the Russian probe.
“[He] is widely known as a witness who has trouble with the truth,” House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said on Tuesday. “He is someone who has a history of perjury and is well known for it. No one should believe a word he says today. He lied to Congress. He lied to the IRS. He lied to federal election officials. Even Cohen’s own lawyer testified to a grand jury that he is not reliable. So there’s nothing that he presents here. That should be given any weight at all by a jury.”
As the trial progresses, Trump’s legal team is poised to cross-examine the former lawyer challenging his credibility and the veracity of his statements.
