Cummings refuses to join GOP's criminal referral of Cohen over perjury concerns
By Olivia Beavers - 03/13/19 02:04 PM EDT
The head of the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Wednesday rejected the request of two GOP committee members to join them in making a criminal referral of Michael Cohen to the Justice Department for possible perjury charges over his testimony.
Cohen, President Trump's former personal attorney, told the Oversight and Reform Committee in sworn testimony last month that he had never solicited a pardon from the president, though his own lawyer has since sought to clarify those comments.
“Our practice on this Committee is to give witnesses an opportunity to clarify their testimony, and that is what Mr. Cohen has done. I do not see the need for further action — at least at this time," Chairman Elijah Cummings (D-Md.) said in a statement on Wednesday.
Cummings, however, noted that he will review the transcript of Cohen's closed-door testimony with the House Intelligence Committee, and lawmakers on the panel can then "determine whether any additional steps are required.â€
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https://thehill.com/policy/national-security/433888-cummings-rejects-gop-request-to-join-them-in-making-criminal
