AP FACT CHECK: Trump twists Cohen's words on collusion
Source: Associated Press
AP FACT CHECK: Trump twists Cohens words on collusion
By HOPE YEN and CALVIN WOODWARD
March 2, 2019
WASHINGTON (AP) Assailed by his ex-lawyer at every turn, President Donald Trump nevertheless claimed a measure of vindication from Michael Cohens statement that he possessed no direct evidence of collusion with Russia from his time serving the boss. But contrary to Trumps words, Cohen did not exonerate him on the matter in his testimony to lawmakers.
Trump also put the best face on his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, claiming he had a really productive time in Hanoi, Vietnam, despite the collapse of talks and cancellation of a planned signing agreement. More substantively, he claimed the talks broke down because North Korea insisted on the lifting of all sanctions an assertion contradicted by the State Department as well as by the North Koreans.
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COHEN TESTIMONY
TRUMP: He said no collusion. And I was, you know, a little impressed by that, frankly. Couldve he couldve gone all out. He only went about 95 percent instead of 100 percent. Hanoi news conference Thursday.
THE FACTS: He takes Cohens comment too far. Cohen did not clear his former boss on the question of whether his campaign colluded with Russia to influence the 2016 election. In the course of implicating Trump in other alleged criminal activity, Cohen said he did not witness or know directly of collusion but I have my suspicions. He didnt say no collusion.
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Read more: https://apnews.com/46c2f5072d1448929898c8af824b1097