Three Thoughts on Michael Cohen's Testimony to Congress

As of this writing former personal attorney to President Trump, Michael Cohen is wrapping up his testimony to the House Oversight Committee. Here are three quick thoughts.


First, Cohen's testimony demonstrates how working for a man like Trump eats away at your soul and one's ability to discern from right and wrong, truth and lies and looking the other way at immoral, unethical and illegal conduct. Of course, Cohen is no angel. He wanted to work for Trump, was well paid for it and thought he was untouchable. That is until Trump touched Stormy Daniels and other women and Cohen paid them hush money. Now he is paying the price for his life's work. At this point, all Cohen can try to do is redeem himself and make amends with others. Whether this comes to pass very much remains to be seen.

Second, most of the House Republican caucus seems to aspire to be the Michael Cohen of old. With the exception of Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, the GOP contingent made every effort to rationalize Trump's behavior and worship at his altar. As Cohen told Ohio Republican Jim Jordan who was leading the charge against him:

I'm responsible for your silliness because I did the same thing that you're doing now for ten years. I protected Mr. Trump...I can only warn people the more people that follow Mr. Trump as I did blindly are going to suffer the same consequences that I'm suffering.

As Peter Daou put it, "You know the GOP is morally bankrupt when #JimJordan makes #MichaelCohen look like a model of ethics and integrity."


Third, and most importantly, I doubt Cohen's testimony will change anything even if it made for good TV and social media activity. The people who think Trump a fool will still think he is a fool and those who think he is a god will still think he is a god. Despite Cohen's firsthand knowledge of the Trump Tower in Moscow deal, he did not produce any further evidence of collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 election. The Mueller Report will be damning, but probably not damning enough to indict Trump, his family or anyone else currently in his inner circle. All of which means that those who wish to see Trump out of the White House would best direct their efforts towards the 2020 election and picking a viable candidate to unseat him.