Democrats in the House See New Information in Cohen's Testimony

Democrats in the House have scheduled Thursday to focus more on President Trump's affairs and charity, using the testimony of Trump's former lawyer, Michael Cohen, as a roadmap for calling new witnesses and seeking new internal documents.

The House Intelligence Committee said it planned to interview Allen Weisselberg, chief financial officer of the Trump Organization. He also plans to interview Felix Sater, a former Trump business associate, who helped Trump develop a hotel in Manhattan.

The House Financial Services Committee said it would look at the Donald J. Trump Foundation, Trump's charity. The Intelligence Committee has expressed interest in Cohen's comments on Russia. And members of the Ways and Means Committee again discussed the best way to get Trump's tax returns.

"All you have to do is follow the transcript," said Representative Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), Chair of the House Oversight and Reform Committee, who interviewed Cohen Wednesday. "If there were names that were mentioned, or documents that were mentioned at the hearing, we want to look at all that."

The new lines of inquiry follow the expansive remarks of Cohen, who has spent a decade as Trump's personal advocate and "fix" himself. More than seven hours of public testimony on Wednesday, Cohen left a trail of crumbs to Democrats to follow. as they investigate many aspects of Trump's life.

Cohen, who testified in camera on Thursday before the House Intelligence Committee, suggested that the Congress interview seven other staff members and associates of the Trump Organization – including Weisselberg and Sater – and also seek income tax and other returns. Trump's financial documents.

Weisselberg's name was quoted at least 30 times on Wednesday, when Cohen accused him of participating in schemes to pay back thanksgiving money, misleading Trump investors and lenders, and circumventing the laws. campaign financing.

"He put a very rich table," said Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (D-Va.) Of Cohen. "We are now considering a 10-course meal."

The Trump organization did not respond to a request for comment on Thursday. Trump himself had attacked Cohen in a tweet on WednesdayMr. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison, in part for lying to Congress.

Cohen's claims could raise legal concerns for the Trump organization that go beyond Congress.

In New York, for example, Cohen said he was cooperating with the US Attorney's Office in Manhattan on "several other investigative issues." The US Attorney's Office did not want to comment.

In addition, New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) is reviewing Cohen's testimony "to determine whether this will impact the ongoing proceedings or investigations that the office is undertaking," a spokeswoman said. . James is already suing Trump for what his office has described as "persistent illegal conduct" at the Trump Foundation, which Trump led for 30 years.

His complaint includes two allegations that Trump would have used the charity's money to buy portraits, in violation of the laws against the "misdemeanors" of charity leaders. . But on Wednesday, Cohen described a third incident of this type – involving a third portrait of Trump.

Cohen said that in 2013, Trump had asked a friend, Stewart Rahr, to buy a Trump portrait of a height of 9 feet, for about $ 60,000, before paying it back with money from the Trump Foundation.

The foundation has already agreed to close, but James' suit against Trump will continue. Trump Foundation lawyer Alan Futerfas declined to comment on Thursday. Rahr did not respond to a request for comment.

On Capitol Hill, at least six committees are investigating an element of Trump's life before the presidency. Their staff members meet at least three times a week to share information and projects.

On Thursday, they were all planning next steps based on Cohen's testimony.

After Cohen's appearance on Wednesday, senior Democrats from the Oversight and Reform Committee met to discuss, among other things, Cohen's checks on the panel which, according to Cohen, represented his repayments after paying the movie star for adults Stormy Daniels with claims of a sexual encounter with the future president.

Both checks were paid after Trump's entry into office. One, dated March 17, 2017, came from a trust account created by Trump. It was signed by Weisselberg and the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who help manage Trump's business while he is at the White House. The following check, dated August 2017, came from the President's personal account and was signed by him.

Cohen has already pleaded guilty to campaigning offenses related to these secret payments. On Wednesday, he testified that Trump, Trump Jr. and Weisselberg all participated in an attempt to repay Cohen, on the pretext that his tenure was non-existent.

"We have to bring in Weisselberg and Donald Trump Jr. – the people who signed this check – and tell them," Have you prepared the books for the Trump Organization? Did you know that it was not a legal representative, it was a hidden money refund? The representative of the Monitoring Committee, Ro Khanna (D-Calif.), Said in an interview.

Another big priority for Democrats: talk to Trump's personal secretary, Rhona Graff. On Wednesday, Cohen testified that Graff sent a patch to political agent Roger Stone through a call to Trump shortly before WikiLeaks sent 20,000 pirated Democrat emails in July. 2016.

Cohen said Stone informed Trump about this call for the next e-mail. Stone and Trump have both denied knowing about the e-mails in advance.

For the moment, the Democrats seemed divided on whether they should seek to question Trump's daughter, Ivanka – who is now a White House aide – and Trump Jr. Cohen said the two men were kept informed of their father's efforts to build a Trump tower in Moscow. lasted a long time in the 2016 campaign.

In her testimony, Cohen agreed when Representative Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.) Asked, "Is it possible for the entire family to be in conflict or compromised with a foreign opponent in the months leading up to the elections?

But several Democrats have said they want to proceed slowly so as not to give the impression of harassing the president's family.

"I think there's just a sense of decency not to do that unless it's really necessary. We are not here to cause family problems, "said Representative Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass.), Member of the Oversight Committee. "But … if we have to get the information, we have to get it."

House Financial Services Representative Brad Sherman (D-Calif.) Said Democrats would follow up on Cohen's allegations that Trump would have exaggerated his estate to receive bank loans and reduce his premiums d & # 39; insurance.

"I am a former tax collector and a former accountant, and it seems that [Trump] was trying to tell the banks that he had a lot of income and wealth, and to tax collectors that he had a minimum income and wealth, "Sherman said. "We will have to check if he told the truth in either case."

Committee Chair Maxine Waters (D-Calif.) Said she also wanted to investigate another allegation by Cohen: Trump reportedly paid $ 150,000 to his foundation.

It would be legal, but the tax experts say Trump probably should have paid taxes on that money. Even if the money went to his charity, the experts say that this money would be considered an "income" for Trump because he was directing where he was going.

"There is one thing that, in my opinion, should not be missed and that came out of the hearing. . . and it's like that [Trump] payments directed to the foundation for not paying taxes, "said Waters. "I think it's an area that should be examined because I think the foundation was used by him to avoid paying taxes on the money he's earned."

Karoun Demirjian, Tom Hamburger and Matt Zapotosky contributed to this report.

Learn more about PowerPost