Democratic Rep. Ro Khanna of California decided to focus on what he called the “smoking gun document” that former Trump attorney Michael Cohen gave the House Oversight Committee for today’s hearings. That document is a check signed by Donald Trump Jr. for “services rendered,” that is likely proof of campaign finance violations and criminal conspiracy, and possibly many other charges.
Khanna: Today you testified that the check was signed by Donald Trump Jr. and the Trump organization CFO Allen Weisselberg, is that correct?
Cohen: That is correct.
Khanna: According to the criminal charges against you, you sent monthly invoices containing false information to an individual identified as “executive one.” Weisselberg is executive one, correct?
Cohen: Yes.
Khanna: The criminal charge against you then states that executive one forwarded your invoice to someone referred to as “executive two”, presumably Donald Trump jr., who is signing this check as executive two. Correct?
Cohen: I believe so.
Khanna: As federal prosecutors laid out in their criminal charges, payments like this check resulted in numerous false statements in the books and records of the trump organization. And it's important for the American public to understand this. Nothing to do with collusion. This is financial fraud. Garden variety financial fraud. It was disguised as a payment for legal services to you. But this was not a payment for legal services, was it, Mr. Cohen?
Cohen: No, sir.
Rep. Khanna accentuated the point, driving it home.
Khanna: I just want the American people to fully understand the explosive nature of your testimony and this document. Are you telling us, Mr. Cohen,. that the president directed transactions, in conspiracy with Allen Weisselberg, and his son, as part of a criminal conspiracy of financial fraud . Is that your testimony today?
Cohen: Yes.
Khanna: And do you know if this criminal financial scheme by the president, Allen Weisselberg, and Donald Trump Jr are involved in, is being investigated by the Southern District of New York?
Cohen: I’d rather not discuss that question because it could be a part of an investigation that is currently on-going.
Oh yeah. It’s not new news but it’s one more nail that Donald Trump can feel, even as he hides across the Earth in Vietnam.
