Statements made by President Donald Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen have been corroborated by other documents and evidence, and there should be no question about using him as a witness, his adviser Lanny Davis said Thursday, while pushing back on claims made by Rep. Trey Gowdy.
"I'm sure he knows lots of witnesses that he turned to testify on behalf of the government had previously lied," Davis told Fox News' "America's Newsroom." "I wonder what Trey Gowdy would have said about John Dean who admitted to obstruction of justice, lying, hush money."
Gowdy, as a former prosecutor, would say he had to have corroboration when a witness like Cohen has been flipped, said Davis, and there has been proof through special counsel Robert Mueller including documents, emails and more.
Trump insisted Thursday morning that he never directed Cohen to break the law, as he was an attorney and was supposed to "know the law."
"Mr. Trump, like a lot of people, can blame his lawyer," said Davis. "On Air Force One he looked at the media, which you are a member and said no, I know nothing about the Stormy Daniels payment. The next day Giuliani contradicted him."
Cohen did tell prosecutors that he knew payments were being made about the election, said Davis, but he doesn't know what he advised Trump to do.
However, he pointed out that a leaked tape "that I happened to be part of" captures Trump and Cohen talking about payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, and shows Trump knew "that the purpose was to keep her quiet."
"Mr. Trump discussed the payment, said the word cash, and knew it was about keeping Ms. McDougal quiet," said Davis. "It shows Mr. Trump that the purpose was to keep her quiet."
Davis added that Mueller and Cohen have spent 70 hours or so speaking about collusion, as "Mueller said in his sentencing memo," said Davis. "I doubt there is anything that was held back about those core issues or Mr. Mueller wouldn't have been as complimentary as he was."
Davis said he also found Cohen's statement in court quite moving, but added the former attorney is "doing pretty badly."
"His family is uppermost on his mind. This is a devastating experience," said Davis. "I have gotten to know John Dean for 20 years. People doubted his credibility, called him a liar and a lot of things...there is a lot here I find similar, when Michael Cohen tells the truth."
Sandy Fitzgerald ✉
Sandy Fitzgerald has more than three decades in journalism and serves as a general assignment writer for Newsmax covering news, media, and politics.
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