Michael Cohen Disbarred In New York, Blasts Trump In Senate Testimony

On the eve of his blockbuster testimony before both houses of the U.S. Congress that will likely strengthen the case for the impeachment of president Donald Trump, Michael Cohen calmly took in the news he had been disbarred from practicing law in New York State.

New York State canceled his license to practice law following his felony convictions for lying under oath. Under state law, lawyers face automatic disbarment for a felony conviction. Cohen, Trump’s ex-lawyer and confidant, pleaded guilty in December 2018 to eight felony counts, including bank fraud, tax evasion and campaign violations.

But in admitting his guilt, Cohen also transformed Trump into an unindicted co-conspirator. Trump’s status will likely change for the worse after Cohen testifies from Tuesday to Thursday before the Senate and the House.

Sources said Cohen did not contest the notice to disbar him after he received the disbarment motion. Cohen, however, can file for reinstatement in seven years or sooner but only if he’s pardoned by the governor of New York. That pardon won’t be forthcoming if Cohen is convicted of any crime in the interim.

Trump’s “keeper of secrets” testified before the Senate at closed door hearing today and will do so again on Thursday. He will testify at a public hearing before the House on Wednesday.

Cohen is said to have presented senators at the closed-door hearing with a document he claims proves Trump in criminal conduct around the hush-money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels. The document will refute a claim by Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani that Cohen used a $35,000 monthly retainer from the president as reimbursement for paying-off Daniels.

The documents also show Trump signed the checks to Cohen, according to media sources. Cohen will also discuss a media report Trump ordered him to lie to Congress.

Cohen also revealed information about Trump's financial statements, said an anonymous source. Cohen is also said to have witnessed Trump’s “lies, racism and cheating,” He also accused Truump of using racist language, and said Trump questioned the “intelligence” and criticized the “lifestyle choices” of African-Americans.

On Wednesday, Cohen will testify in public before the House Oversight committee on Trump's business dealings. The investigation into Russia's role in the 2016 election won’t be discussed in the public hearing but in closed doors sessions.

Thursday will see a second private session before the House Intelligence Committee. House Oversight panel chairman Elijah Cummings and his counterpart on the House Intelligence Committee, Adam Schiff, agreed Russian collusion will take place discussed behind closed doors at the intelligence session. They also agreed that Trump's business dealings, especially the Moscow Tower project, will be the focus of the public hearing.