Former Federal Prosecutor Testifies Michael Cohen Told Him He Had ‘Nothing Truthful’ Showing Trump’s Guilt

Former federal prosecutor Robert Costello testified before Congress Wednesday that Michael Cohen — the star witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case against former President Donald Trump — told him he had “nothing truthful” implicating Trump of a crime.

Costello, who advised Cohen when he became the subject of investigation by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of New York, told the House Judiciary Select Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government that Cohen is now on a “revenge tour” against Trump and lacks credibility. His testimony challenges claims Cohen made on the witness stand during Trump’s Manhattan trial.

Cohen testified Monday that Trump both directed him to pay for a nondisclosure agreement with porn star Stormy Daniels and approved of the plan to reimburse him for the payment, which underlies the falsifying business records charges at the center of Bragg’s case.

Cohen said on Tuesday that Costello told him he could set up “backchannel” communications with Trump through his friend, Rudy Giuliani, and the jury saw emails the two exchanged where Costello suggested he could relay messages to Trump. Cohen claimed that he never told Costello “the truth” about Trump’s involvement in the Daniels payment because he did not believe he could be trusted.

Michael Cohen’s former lawyer, Robert Costello, just revealed that Cohen has NOTHING on President Trump.

“I swear to God, Bob, I don’t have anything on Donald Trump.” pic.twitter.com/po8A7WWzGj

— Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) May 15, 2024