Congressman Mike Turner (OH-10) today requested that Michael Cohen publicly answer the following questions:
1. In his statements before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR), Cohen acknowledged that prior to his appearances last week before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), COR, and HPSCI, Cohen had contact with Chairman Adam Schiff. The full extent of his contacts with Schiff and/or Democratic House staff have not been publicly discussed. Turner asked for confirmation of Cohen’s contacts, if any, with Democratic Members or Democratic staff of SSCI, COR, or HPSCI prior to his appearances before House and Senate committees last week. Specifically, Turner requested a list of:
- The date of each contact;
- The Committee involved;
- Whether the contact was with Members, staff, or both;
- The location of each contact; and
- The length of each contact.
2. Were any such meetings helpful to Cohen in the preparation of his statements?
3. If these meetings occurred, did Democratic Members or staff assist Cohen in preparation of his statements?
“In my opinion, the answers to these questions will be shocking to the American public,” said Turner.
The full text of the letter sent to Cohen’s attorney’s office this morning is below:
Dear Mr. Cohen,
Today you are appearing before the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) in what has been designated by Chairman Adam Schiff as an “interview.” This “interview” is not a deposition or a hearing. However, the Chairman has chosen to host this “interview” in a closed setting, preventing Members of Congress from discussing the content of your statements during this “interview.” Although we are prohibited from discussing the content of the “interview,” since the subject matter of your appearance is not classified, we are not restricted in any way from publicly asking questions outside of the construct of the “interview.”
Although Chairman Schiff has indicated that he intends to make the transcript of the “interview” public, he has not yet chosen to do so.
Therefore, by this correspondence, I am hereby requesting today that you publicly answer the following questions, which I believe will help the public more fully understand your recent congressional testimony:
1. In your statements before the House Committee on Oversight and Reform (COR), you acknowledged that prior to your appearances last week before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence (SSCI), COR, and HPSCI, you had contact with Chairman Schiff. The full extent of your contacts with Chairman Schiff and/or Democratic House staff have not been publicly discussed. Please confirm your contacts, if any, with Democratic Members or Democratic staff of SSCI, COR, or HPSCI prior to your appearances before House and Senate committees last week.
• Please list:
(a) The date of each contact;
(b) The Committee involved;
(c) Whether the contact was with Members, staff, or both;
(d) The location of each contact; and
(e) The length of each contact.
2. Were any such meetings helpful to you in the preparation of your statements?
3. If these meetings occurred, did Democratic Members or staff assist you in preparation of your statements?
Mr. Cohen, the answers to these questions are important for the public to understand whether or not they were watching witness testimony, a public hearing, or well-rehearsed theater. Obviously, the Senate would be very shocked to hear if the answers to these questions acknowledge extensive meetings, discussions, preparation, and/or coordination between you and Democratic Members and Democratic staff of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Clearly, there will be questions as to whether or not such contacts, if they occurred, constitute witness tampering, obstruction of justice, or collusion, collaboration, and cooperation between the House Democratic majority, their staff, and you.
Since you are not subject to a gag order on questions that are posed to you in public, I am posing these questions to you outside of the “interview” at HPSCI and request your immediate response.
Sincerely,
Michael R. Turner
Cc: The Honorable Adam B. Schiff, Chairman, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
The Honorable Devin Nunes, Ranking Member, Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
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