House committee believes it has evidence that Trump asked an ally responsible for Cohen's investigation: report

The Judiciary Committee of the House believes that it has evidence to support the report that President TrumpDonald John TrumpSpike Lee urges Oscars viewers to vote in 2020: "Let everyone be on the right side of the story" José Andrés pays tribute to immigrants, Oscar women's speech Javier Bardem hits "the walls" at of the Oscars speech in Spanish MORE asked former acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker to put his alley, US attorney Geoffrey Berman, in charge of an investigation into Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen. .

The Wall Street Journal, citing people close to the case, reported on developments Monday night, about a week after the New York Times published a report on Trump's alleged claim. .

The paper noted that nothing meant that Whitaker, who had been Acting Attorney General from November to February last year, had responded to such a request.

Berman, who had donated to Trump's presidential campaign in 2016, had objected to the survey conducted in the Southern District of New York on Cohen.

The newspaper, quoting a person familiar with the matter, said the judicial committee was investigating whether Whitaker committed perjury in his testimony in court earlier this month.

"At any time, the White House did not ask for or provide any promises or commitments regarding the Special Council investigation or any other investigation," Whitaker told the panel at the time.

Whitaker refused to comment to the newspaper. Justice spokeswoman Kerri Kupec also declined to comment on Whitaker's private talks with Trump, noting that Whitaker had confirmed his testimony.

"Under the oath of the Judiciary Committee of the House, the Attorney General of the day, Whitaker, said that" at no time did the White House ask nor make any promises or pledges regarding the special investigator's investigation or any other investigation, "Kupec told the New York Times last week. "Mr. Whitaker stands by his testimony."

The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from The Hill.

Trump criticized the New York Times last week after publishing a report on the various ways in which he would have tried to influence the investigations of him and his allies.

"The New York Times reports are wrong," tweeted Trump. "They are a real enemy of the people!"

Trump also said the report was "false news" when asked about the alleged request he had made to Whitaker.

Cohen, who pleaded guilty last year to bank fraud, tax evasion and campaign financing violations, is scheduled to testify this week before the House's oversight committee.