The Catch-up: Trump is a racist, conman and cheat says ex-lawyer
What is happening?
President Trump’s former personal lawyer has given explosive testimony to US Congress against his former boss. Michael Cohen branded the President a ‘racist, conman and a cheat’ in a stinging opening statement. Mr Cohen said Mr Trump claimed black people are ‘too stupid’ to vote for him and when the two men were driving through a ‘struggling neighbourhood’ in Chicago, Mr Trump said ‘only black people could live that way’. The former lawyer also alleged the President committed crimes while in office and knew in advance that WikiLeaks had emails damaging to Hillary Clinton’s presidential campaign.
How bad is this for Trump?
Michael Cohen’s allegations are serious and could be severely damaging for the President. The former lawyer is submitting evidence he claims will prove Mr Trump committed a crime while in office – the first time he has done so publicly. If true this could provide grounds for impeachment in the future. Mr Cohen says Trump asked him to pay off porn star Stormy Daniels after they allegedly had an affair, then asked him to lie to his wife Melania about it. Federal prosecutors say the payment would violate campaign finance laws.
Today is the first time the American public is officially hearing Mr Cohen’s claims against the President. Another potential problem for Mr Trump is that the testimony is gripping the country – and overshadowing his meeting with Kim Jong-un.
The evidence against Mr Trump is undoubtedly damning, but is potency is diluted by the fact the man who is giving it has been found to have lied to Congress before. Cohen was convicted over the payment to Stormy Daniels after it was classed as an illegal contribution to influence the election, and was found guilty of providing false testimony. He is due to start a three-year prison sentence in May for the charges. Mr Trump and his supporters allege Mr Cohen is lying again to try and get his sentence reduced.
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Follow the live updates from here (Yahoo News)
Cohen unloads on Trump in explosive testimony (Yahoo News)
Trump erupts over explosive Michael Cohen testimony (The Independent)
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