# Cohen Testimony Thread **URL:** \ **Category:** Politics & Elections\ **Created:** [February 27, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296 "2019-02-27T15:15:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/21 "2019-02-27T19:40:07Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he should be believed, because he has been lying all his life and has nothing to lose by lying now. > > But I think you are mistaken about his having nothing to gain. Trump is done with him, and if Cohen gives the Dems something they think they can use to bring down Trump, they will make a hero out of him. Heck, maybe if they can bring down Trump and Pence, Pelosi will give him a pardon and some Democrat will set him up with a book deal. > > Regards, > Shodan Seems that everyone that has been involved with Trump as that. No pardon needed. As for believed, Cohen was found in the past to be lying about Trump being innocent. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/22 "2019-02-27T19:41:15Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he should be believed, because he has been lying all his life and has nothing to lose by lying now. > > But I think you are mistaken about his having nothing to gain. Trump is done with him, and if Cohen gives the Dems something they think they can use to bring down Trump, they will make a hero out of him. Heck, maybe if they can bring down Trump and Pence, Pelosi will give him a pardon and some Democrat will set him up with a book deal. > > Regards, > Shodan Maybe he is still lying. So far today, he’s claimed 1. That he believes rumors of a videotape that show Trump hitting Melania are false and he does not believe the tape exists. He does not believe Mr. Trump would ever hit his wife. 2. To his knowledge, Trump has never urged any woman to get an abortion, or pay for any medical procedure for any woman. 3. Rumors of Trump having a love child are false 4. That he never went to Prague and while he made a trip to Europe in 2016 he did not meet with any Russians or conduct any Trump business. He’s not sounding like a guy that’s lying his ass off to “get” Trump. He missed too many opportunities. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 7:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/23 "2019-02-27T19:54:04Z")
The Pit thread is more fun that this one, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/24 "2019-02-27T20:29:17Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > “I was a liar, but I’m not anymore” isn’t much better. > > Regards, > Shodan The funny part? Cohen lied about Trump being innocent. And you think that’s a great point to bring up again and again. ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/25 "2019-02-27T20:46:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > As for believed, Cohen was found in the past to be lying about Trump being innocent. What has Trump been found guilty of, that Cohen lied about? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Shodan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9f8e36/32.png) [@Shodan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shodan)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/26 "2019-02-27T20:50:58Z")
> [@Ann\_Hedonia](#): > > Maybe he is still lying. So far today, he’s claimed > > 1. That he believes rumors of a videotape that show Trump hitting Melania are false and he does not believe the tape exists. He does not believe Mr. Trump would ever hit his wife. > > 2. To his knowledge, Trump has never urged any woman to get an abortion, or pay for any medical procedure for any woman. > > 3. Rumors of Trump having a love child are false > > 4. That he never went to Prague and while he made a trip to Europe in 2016 he did not meet with any Russians or conduct any Trump business. Do you believe Cohen in any or all of the above? Regards, Shodan ---
**Author:** ![Typo\_Negative](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/typo_negative/32/484_2.png) [@Typo\_Negative](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Typo_Negative)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/27 "2019-02-27T21:01:51Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he should be believed, because he has been lying all his life and has nothing to lose by lying now. > > Regards, > Shodan I think it’s a fair point. Since he has lied under oath before, it is _reasonable_ to believe he’s lying now, at least in part. I would take everything he says with a grain of salt and give more weight to any documents he can produce. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/28 "2019-02-27T22:00:04Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What has Trump been found guilty of, that Cohen lied about? > > Regards, > Shodan Logic says that Trump has it for breaking the law about campaign donations. [https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/stormy-daniels-trump-payment-illegal-donation-357250](https://www.politico.com/story/2018/01/22/stormy-daniels-trump-payment-illegal-donation-357250) But of course, you already know that to get to the big fish we have to go first for the small one so this question is really silly. ---
**Author:** ![Ann\_Hedonia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ann_hedonia/32/319_2.png) [@Ann\_Hedonia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ann_Hedonia)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 10:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/29 "2019-02-27T22:02:10Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > Do you believe Cohen in any or all of the above? > > Regards, > Shodan I believe his entire testimony today is credible. Part of what makes it credible is that he’s not trying to gratuitously smear Trump. ---
**Author:** ![Bijou\_Drains](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bijou_drains/32/2814_2.png) [@Bijou\_Drains](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bijou_Drains)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 10:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/30 "2019-02-27T22:25:20Z")
there are many people in prison based on the testimony of people who lied or committed felonies. For example John Gotti went to prison based on testimony of Sammy Gravano who admitted to killing around 19 people. Gotti died in prison, Gravano did his time but is now free. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 10:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/31 "2019-02-27T22:27:26Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > What has Trump been found guilty of, that Cohen lied about? > > Regards, > Shodan FOUND guilty of? or IS guilty of? As for the first - nothing yet, as we’re in the early stages As for the second - quite a lot, actually in my opinion. Some things criminal offences, some moral offences, and some offences against nature. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 10:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/32 "2019-02-27T22:32:00Z")
> [@Shodan](#): > > So he should be believed, because he has been lying all his life and has nothing to lose by lying now. > > But I think you are mistaken about his having nothing to gain. Trump is done with him, and if Cohen gives the Dems something they think they can use to bring down Trump, they will make a hero out of him. Heck, maybe if they can bring down Trump and Pence, Pelosi will give him a pardon and some Democrat will set him up with a book deal. > > Regards, > Shodan 1. The man is going to prison for 3 years. Being able to make some Democrats happy is a pretty small award compared to shooting for a new case of perjury and additional charges that could extend the 3 years out longer. 2. Cohen gets a book deal no matter what. Ain’t nothing about taking this action that changes it. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2019, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/33 "2019-02-27T23:14:00Z")
> [@Sage\_Rat](#): > > 1. Cohen gets a book deal no matter what. Ain’t nothing about taking this action that changes it. In fact, Cohen was quite clear several times that he would not automatically rule out a future book or TV commentator deal. He’s not at all coy about it. ---
**Author:** ![bobot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bobot/32/21622_2.png) [@bobot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bobot)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/34 "2019-02-28T00:18:02Z")
Those idiot fucking Republican congress people kept coming back to a book deal. As though that’s what this was all about. Fuck me. Republicans: look yourselves in the mirror and ask yourselves if you really believe that this was about a book deal. Holy fuck. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/35 "2019-02-28T01:10:24Z")
> [@bobot](#): > > Those idiot fucking Republican congress people kept coming back to a book deal. As though that’s what this was all about. Fuck me. Republicans: look yourselves in the mirror and ask yourselves if you really believe that this was about a book deal. Holy fuck. What else do they have to talk about? It’s very dangerous territory–almost anything other than ‘YOU SEEK A BOOK DEAL YOU AWFUL PERSON!’ leads back to the quicksand of ‘you are a liar’ which inexorably leads to ‘you worked for Trump who required you to lie to cover up his multifarious misconduct and even actual crimes.’ That said: these Republicans seem remarkably short of both ‘good faith’ and ‘integrity.’ The only one who didn’t come off as a complete tool was Michigan’s Amash. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/36 "2019-02-28T01:34:29Z")
Those clowns in Congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Sherrerd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sherrerd/32/8_2.png) [@Sherrerd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sherrerd)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 1:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/37 "2019-02-28T01:54:04Z")
> [@snfaulkner](#): > > Those clowns in Congress did it again. What a bunch of clowns. That metaphor is incredibly insulting to clowns. ---
**Author:** ![Dinsdale](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/97f17d/32.png) [@Dinsdale](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dinsdale)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/38 "2019-02-28T14:45:45Z")
From what I read in the papers, few real bombshells, and the sort of posturing on both sides that makes most congressional hearings unwatchable and useless. The line I liked best - that I hope has legs - was purported to be a response to Repub questioners, [paraphrase] “You are covering up for Trump, the same thing I did for years.” One would like to think that being called a liar, cheat, bigot, etc by one of one’s closest longtime allies would have some effect, but Trump and his supporters seem to pretty clearly be beyond that. ---
**Author:** ![Icarus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/icarus/32/72_2.png) [@Icarus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Icarus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/39 "2019-02-28T15:15:08Z")
> [@Dinsdale](#): > > but Trump and his supporters seem to pretty clearly be beyond that. “A guy walks into a psychiatrist’s office and says, hey doc, my brother’s crazy! He thinks he’s a chicken. Then the doc says, why don’t you turn him in? Then the guy says, I would but I need the eggs.” ---
**Author:** ![wolfpup](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wolfpup/32/10618_2.png) [@wolfpup](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfpup)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296/40 "2019-02-28T15:22:15Z")
The Cohen hearing, coming on the heels of the Ford/Kavanaugh hearing, has got me thinking along the following lines: America needs a conservative and a liberal party, opposing parties that represent competing ideologies, to get the best overall outcome for its citizens. At this point, the only rational way to do this is to split the Democratic Party into a conservative and a liberal faction. The Republicans? I’m sure there’s an insane asylum somewhere that will admit them. They are really and truly disconnected from reality. The best thing one might say about them is that at least some of them don’t really believe their own bullshit, but I don’t see that as being very constructive for anyone. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cohen-testimony-thread/830296.md?page=3)