House Intelligence Committee Issues Criminal Referral for Michael Cohen

The drama that is Michael Cohen is not quite over.

Two Republicans on the House Intelligence Committee are referring Michael Cohen to the Department of Justice for criminal charges.

The referral claims that the former Trump fixer gave contradictory testimony during Donald Trump’s fraud trial in New York, perjuring himself in the process.

Lock Him Up

House Intelligence Chair Mike Turner (R-OH) and committee member Rep. Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) have accused Cohen of “knowingly made false statements” before a House panel during his testimony that took place four years ago.

The referral stated, “That Mr. Cohen was willing to openly and brazenly state at trial that he lied to Congress on this specific issue is startling.

“His willingness to make such a statement alone should necessitate an investigation.”

Ultimately, Congress has no authority to bring charges, as this is literally just a recommendation to the Department of Justice.

With Merrick Garland running the show, that referral is likely to wind up at the bottom of a cat litter box or in a shredder.

BUT, it does give both Turner and Stefanik something to boost their campaigns, and that is what this group of Republicans seems more interested in doing than anything.

To that point, social media erupted as though this referral was some type of real victory for Trump, but it literally means nothing.

I think this may have been serving an even higher purpose, however, which is elevating Stefanik in the lottery to be Donald Trump’s VP if he wins the nomination.

She will put this down as one of her accomplishments in support of Trump even though criminal charges will never actually be filed.

It is one of the best strategies in Congress, where members tout something they passed or wrote regardless of whether it actually becomes a law or comes to fruition. It is one of the things about our elected officials on both sides of the aisle that both frustrates and sickens me.

They all do far more to help their campaigns as well as likes and retweets than they ever do for the American people.