The Latest: Trump claims Cohen 'threatened by the truth'
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Latest on the decision by President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to postpone public testimony to Congress (all times local):
3:25 p.m.
President Donald Trump claims his former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, is postponing public testimony to Congress because Cohen has been — in Trump’s words — “threatened by the truth.”
An adviser to Cohen says Cohen is delaying his Feb. 7 appearance before a House committee because Cohen continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation. The adviser also says Cohen has received threats.
The committee is investigating 2016 campaign-season payments to women who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.
Prosecutors say Trump directed Cohen to pay the women to hide potential scandals during the campaign.
Asked to respond to Cohen, Trump said: “I would say he’s been threatened by the truth. He’s only been threatened by the truth.”
Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about a Trump business proposal in Russia during the campaign.
Trump has said Cohen changed his story to get a lighter prison sentence.
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2:45 p.m.
The Democratic chairmen of two House committees say they still expect President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to appear before Congress.
Cohen is postponing his scheduled Feb. 7 appearance before one committee.
Maryland Rep. Elijah Cummings leads the House Oversight and Reform Committee. California Rep. Adam Schiff is chairman of the House Intelligence Committee.
They say they believe Cohen has “legitimate concerns” for his safety and security in light of threats from the president and Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.
Cohen cited the threats against his family as well as his “ongoing” cooperation with special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation as the reasons he was postponing his testimony.
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2:05 p.m.
President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer is postponing his public testimony to Congress.
Michael Cohen won’t appear as scheduled before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Feb. 7.
Cohen’s adviser Lanny Davis says the delay is on the advice of Cohen’s lawyers because Cohen’s still cooperating in special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia investigation.
Davis also says Cohen has received threats.
The Democratic-led committee is investigating hush-money payments during the 2016 campaign to silence women who claimed to have had sex with Trump. Prosecutors say Trump directed Cohen to make the payments as a way to quash potential scandals during the campaign.
Trump’s denied having an affair.
Cohen has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about his role in a Trump business proposal in Russia considered during the campaign.
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