For all the courtroom drama last week, Michael Cohen’s testimony did relatively little to alter previously-formed opinions on either side of this political farce ~
A few astute observations from Sharyl Attkisson, writing at The Hill ~
Biggest headline if you’re anti-Trump:
Trump is a tax cheat, womanizer, liar and racist. He’s also “filthy” with Russia contacts.
Biggest headline if you’re pro-Trump:Cohen actually may have assisted Trump in the Russia investigation when he said he knew of no evidence of Russia collusion. And he further discredited the Democratic-funded anti-Trump “dossier.”
Biggest elephant in the room:At the start of the hearing, Cohen — an admitted perjurer and liar who pleaded guilty to a variety of charges — took an oath to tell the truth.
Six degrees of separation:While Cohen criticized Trump for his Russia business ties, which apparently are not illegal, Cohen himself allegedly failed to properly disclose his own work for foreigners — all while Cohen attorney Davis had signed a contract for $60,000 to $80,000 a month for work as a foreign agent representing a pro-Russian Ukrainian oligarch.
How Cohen helped Trump:On Russia: Cohen wouldn’t even venture to say that Trump “colluded” with Russia and said he was unaware of evidence that would prove such a thing occurred. Cohen claimed that Trump didn’t want to win the presidency, and didn’t think he would win. That undercuts the notion that Trump would have also conspired with Russian President Vladimir Putin to win.
On salacious matters: Cohen said he knows of no video recording of Trump hitting his wife Melania, which had been rumored, and said Trump would never do such a thing. He said he knows of no salacious Russian videos of Trump, as discussed in the Steele dossier. He said he knows nothing of a supposed, rumored “love child” of Trump’s.
Most unnecessary statement by Cohen:
“I am no longer your fixer, Mr. Trump.”
Runner-up statement: “I am not a perfect man.”
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Related:
6 Takeaways From Cohen’s Hill Testimony About Trump
