Cohen's lawyer calls for criminal investigation into Giuliani over 'witness tampering'
By Justin Wise - 01/24/19 11:11 AM EST
Michael Cohen's attorney Lanny Davis on Thursday called for a criminal investigation into Rudy Giuliani, a member of President Trump Donald John TrumpTrump's newest Russia adviser, Andrew Peek, leaves post: report Hawley expects McConnell's final impeachment resolution to give White House defense ability to motion to dismiss Trump rips New York City sea wall: 'Costly, foolish' and 'environmentally unfriendly idea' MORE's legal team, for alleged witness tampering.
"Let me be very clear, the House of Representatives now has an obligation," Davis, who is representing Trump's former personal lawyer and "fixer," said on ABC's "Good Morning America."
"A resolution of censure when the president of the United States indisputably intimidates and obstructs justice to prevent a witness from testifying is in order. So is a federal criminal investigation of Rudy Giuliani for witness tampering."
Michael Cohen's lawyer blasts Rudy Giuliani, accuses him of "witness tampering."
"Calling out a man's father-in-law and wife in order to intimidate the witness is not fair game," Lanny Davis tells @GStephanopoulos. https://t.co/TsHvv4Xnl6 pic.twitter.com/KJcuFNmCic
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Davis said in a statement earlier this week that Cohen would postpone testimony before Congress because of "ongoing threats" his family has received from Trump and Giuliani.
"Due to ongoing threats against his family from President Trump and Mr. Giuliani, as recently as this weekend, as well as Mr. Cohen's continued cooperation with ongoing investigations, by advice of counsel, Mr. Cohen's appearance will be postponed to a later date," Davis said, referring to testimony Cohen was prepared to give to the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Feb. 7.
Cohen was sentenced late last year to three years in prison after he pleaded guilty to charges related to bank and tax fraud and campaign finance violations. He also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the timing of negotiations surrounding a Trump Tower development in Moscow.
Cohen said Trump directed him to commit the campaign finance violations.
The president, however, has repeatedly denounced Cohen, going so far as to call him a "rat." He said earlier this month that Cohen was cooperating with investigators in order to get a reduced sentence.
"Well, there is no information," Trump said on Fox News. "But he should give information maybe on his father-in-law, because that's the one that people want to look at."
Giuliani on Sunday said that Trump was "defending" himself by calling out Cohen's father-in-law, adding that "he may have ties to something called organized crime."
Davis, an opinion contributor to The Hill, condemned the two on Thursday, saying that "calling out a man's father-in-law and wife in order to intimidate the witness is not fair game."
Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) on Wednesday declined to comment on that possibility on Wednesday that Cohen would be subpoenaed.
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