Michael Cohen Testifies That Donald Trump Was Involved in Hush Money Scheme, Provides Checks to Prove It

Michael Cohen Will Testify on Capitol Hill This WeekUPDATED 2019/02/27 2:00PM

Former Trump lawyer, Michael Cohen, is testifying on Capitol Hill today and attempting to support his claims that the president engaged in possible criminal conduct while in office. He has submitted copies of checks that Trump, his son Donald Jr. and the COO of the Trump Organization have signed as evidence.

Cohen provided a copy of a check that he says was personally signed by Trump in 2017 to reimburse him for payments that he made to adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, who alleged having an affair with Trump.

Cohen said at his House Committee on Oversight and Reform hearing, “I am providing a copy of a $35,000 check that President Trump personally signed from his personal bank account on Aug. 1 of 2017 — when he was President of the United States — pursuant to the cover-up, which was the basis of my guilty plea, to reimburse me — the word used by Mr. Trump’s TV lawyer — for the illegal hush money I paid on his behalf. This $35,000 check was one of 11 check installments that was paid throughout the year, while he was President.”

He continued on to say, “The President of the United States thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws. You can find the details of that scheme, directed by Mr. Trump, in the pleadings in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York.”

He also mentioned a second $35,000 check, dated March 17th, 2017 signed by Donald Trump Jr. and Trump Org. COO Allen Weisselberg. He alleges it was “to reimburse [him] for the hush money payments.” The check provides evidence that Trump Jr. may have been involved in the reimbursement scheme.

Cohen is still currently testifying.