Updated: Michael Cohen and House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Reform: Scope and Purpose of Hearing
Editor's Note: From the Chairman of the House Oversight Committee, Rep: Elijah Cummings (opening statement):
"The days of this Committee protecting this President at all costs are over. They're over."
To: Committee Members
Fr: Majority Staff
Re: Hearing with Michael Cohen On Wednesday, February 27, 2019, at 10:00 a.m., in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Committee will hold a hearing with President Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen.
Editor's Note: Michael Cohen's prepared statement:
I. BACKGROUND
The Committee originally invited Mr. Cohen to testify on February 7, 2019, but his attorney announced that Mr. Cohen wanted to postpone his appearance due to public statements made by the President and the President’s personal attorney, Rudy Giuliani, regarding members of Mr. Cohen’s family. Mr. Cohen’s attorney reported that Mr. Cohen was concerned about the safety of his family members and believed the statements were meant to intimidate him from testifying. Mr. Cohen is now willing to appear for a rescheduled hearing on February 27, 2019.
On August 21, 2018, Mr. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple crimes, including two campaign finance violations related to conduct during the 2016 presidential campaign. 1 On November 29, 2018, Mr. Cohen also pleaded guilty in the Special Counsel’s investigation to one count of lying to Congress.2 On December 12, 2018, he was sentenced to three years in prison, and he is scheduled to report for his sentence on May 6. 3
1 Michael Cohen Pleads Guilty in Manhattan Federal Court to Eight Counts, Including Criminal Tax Evasion and Campaign Finance Violations, U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York, Department of Justice (Aug. 21, 2018) (online at www.justice.gov/usao-sdny/pr/michael-cohen-pleads-guilty-manhattan-federal-court-eight-counts-including-criminal-tax).
2 Plea Agreement, Special Counsel’s Office, United States v. Michael Cohen (Nov. 29, 2018) (online at www.justice.gov/file/1115566/download).
3 Judge Agrees to Postpone Michael Cohen’s Prison Surrender Date, NBC News (Feb. 20, 2019) (online at www.nbcnews.com/politics/justice-department/judge-agrees-postpone-michael-cohen-s-prison-surrender-daten973661).
After consulting with the Department of Justice and with Rep. Adam Schiff, the Chairman of the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Chairman Cummings has set the scope for the Oversight Committee’s hearing with Mr. Cohen to address the following issues:
• the President’s debts and payments relating to efforts to influence the 2016 election;
• the President’s compliance with financial disclosure requirements;
• the President’s compliance with campaign finance laws;
• the President’s compliance with tax laws;
• the President’s potential and actual conflicts of interest;
• the President’s business practices;
• the Trump International Hotel in Washington, D.C.;
• the accuracy of the President’s public statements;
• potentially fraudulent or inappropriate practices by the Trump Foundation; and
• public efforts by the President and his attorney to intimidate Mr. Cohen or others not to testify.
Mr. Cohen has agreed to testify voluntarily and in public before the Oversight Committee. He will not be under subpoena. On February 28, 2019, the day after Mr. Cohen testifies before the Oversight Committee, he will appear in closed session before the Intelligence Committee. The scope of the Oversight Committee’s open public hearing will not include questions relating to the Intelligence Committee’s investigation of efforts by Russia and other foreign entities to influence the U.S. political process during and since the 2016 U.S. election, and the counterintelligence threat arising from any links or coordination between U.S. persons and the Russian government, including any financial or other compromise or leverage foreign actors may possess over Donald Trump, his family, his business interests, or his associates. Among other lines of inquiry within its jurisdiction and the investigative parameters it announced on February 6, 2019, the Intelligence Committee’s closed interview also will examine in depth Mr. Cohen’s prior false statements to the Intelligence Committee.
III. WITNESS Michael Cohen Former Executive Vice President, The Trump Organization
Above, the Car of History Clock which is positioned above the door in the National Statuary Hall leading into the Capitol Rotunda: Carved by Carlo Franzoni in 1819, the sculpture depicts Clio, the Greek Muse of history, in a winged chariot with a clock face on its wheel. The chariot rides through the heavens — indicated by the domed base, carved with signs of the zodiac — whilst Clio makes note of the historical events unfolding in the Chamber beneath her. A profile of George Washington appears on the front of the vehicle, facing out toward the room, to make clear the national origin of the Muse’s inspiration.
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