Home WebMail Friday, November 1, 2024, 12:22 PM | Calgary | -4.1°C | Regions Advertise Login | Our platform is in maintenance mode. Some URLs may not be available. |
Posted: 2019-01-14T11:48:59Z | Updated: 2019-01-18T14:51:16Z

President Donald Trump is continuing to bash Michael Cohen , but defense attorney Lanny Davis said thats because the former fixer is the greatest threat to his old boss.

Donald Trump sees Michael Cohen, and I would say justifiably, as the greatest threat to his presidency and what could be criminal and impeachable actions as president, Davis, who represents Cohen, told MSNBCs Kasie Hunt on Sunday.

Davis slammed Trump for Saturdays Fox News interview in which the president attacked Cohen and his father-in-law as Cohen prepares to publicly testify before Congress next month. Trump claimed Cohen, his longtime personal lawyer, is lying to get a sentence reduced and vaguely referenced possible wrongdoing by his father-in-law as the money in the family.

I and most Americans have no idea what President Trump is fantasizing about in demonizing the father-in-law of Michael Cohen the father of his wife and he wont even tell us, Davis said.

The presidents pattern of incessant attacks show he feels the walls are closing in, Davis added.

Trump told Fox News Jeanine Pirro that Cohen ought to stop trying to give up dirt on him and focus on his own father-in-law.

Hes in trouble on some loans and fraud and taxi cabs and stuff that I know nothing about, and in order to get a sentence reduced, he says, I have an idea. Ill give you some information on the president, Trump said of Cohen. Well, there is no information. But he should give information maybe on his father-in-law because thats the one that people want to look at because where does that money thats the money in the family.

Trump told Pirro he didnt know father-in-law Fima Shustermans name.

Shusterman gave at least $20 million worth of loans from 2017 to 2018 to Yasya Shtayner, a woman whose family runs Chicago Medallion Management Corp., the Chicago Sun-Times reported last year. The business operates 368 cabs, according to the report, including 22 owned by Cohen.

In 1993, just before Shustermans daughter married Cohen, Shusterman pleaded guilty to failing to abide by federal reporting rules for major cash transactions, according to The New York Times . He was sentenced to probation.

Cohen has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to tax fraud, making false statements to a bank, a campaign finance violation and lying to Congress about negotiations for a Trump Tower project in Moscow. He has said in court that Trump directed him to make hush money payments to two women who alleged affairs with Trump.

Despite Trumps personal remarks on Cohens family, Davis said Cohen is determined to testify before the House oversight committee, chaired by Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-Md.).

Your Support Has Never Been More Critical

Other news outlets have retreated behind paywalls. At HuffPost, we believe journalism should be free for everyone.

Would you help us provide essential information to our readers during this critical time? We can't do it without you.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give once or many more times, we appreciate your contribution to keeping our journalism free for all.

You've supported HuffPost before, and we'll be honest we could use your help again . We view our mission to provide free, fair news as critically important in this crucial moment, and we can't do it without you.

Whether you give just one more time or sign up again to contribute regularly, we appreciate you playing a part in keeping our journalism free for all.

Support HuffPost

Mr. Cohen has spoken the truth to date, and on Feb. 7 in front of Mr. Cummings, he will continue to speak the truth, Davis said.