Top House Democrats are warning President Trump against any attempts to meddle in the chamber’s ongoing investigation into the White House ahead of a highly anticipated and public testimony from former Trump attorney Michael Cohen.
Trump on Saturday suggested that Democrats should examine Cohen’s father-in-law, Fima Shusterman, alluding to possible nefarious activity. “Where does that money — that’s the money in the family. And I guess he didn’t want to talk about his father — he’s trying to get his sentence reduced,” the president told Fox News.
The comments prompted House Oversight Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings of Maryland, Intelligence Chairman Adam Schiff of California, and Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler of New York on Sunday to warn Trump against any “efforts to discourage, intimidate, or otherwise pressure a witness not to provide testimony to Congress.”
Cohen — who served as Trump’s personal attorney and recently pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and eight counts of campaign violations and tax fraud — will testify in front of the Oversight panel on Feb. 7.
“The President should make no statement or take any action to obstruct Congress’ independent oversight and investigative efforts, including by seeking to discourage any witness from testifying in response to a duly authorized request from Congress,” the lawmakers wrote in a joint statement.
Federal agents cited a Chicago cab company owner who received millions of dollars in loans from Shusterman — who previously pleaded guilty to tax fraud — in the warrants used to search Cohen’s home and office last year.
