KEY POINTS

  • Cohen says Trump inflated and deflated his assets and submitted false valuations to potential lenders
  • The former attorney suggested that prosecutors could investigate Trump's children next
  • New York prosecutors recently issued subpoenas for records about Trump's properties

A former personal attorney for Donald Trump on Sunday suggested that the former president is “guilty” of the crimes currently under investigation by New York law enforcement, adding that prosecutors could also come after Trump’s eldest children.

During an appearance on NBC’s Meet the Press, Michael Cohen said New York prosecutors could indict Trump “tomorrow if they really wanted” as officials investigate whether the former president intentionally submitted false valuations to potential lenders as part of a fraud scheme.

“I can assure you that Donald Trump is guilty of his own crimes. Was I involved in much of the inflation and deflation of his assets? The answer to that is yes,” added Cohen.

Cohen also suggested that prosecutors are not stopping the investigation after indicting Trump Organization’s longtime CFO Allen Weisselberg for financial crimes, adding that they could indict Trump’s children next.

“They are going after Donald, they’re going after Don Jr, Eric, Ivanka, a whole slew of individuals. Family, you know, family as well,” he added.

Cohan had pled guilty to nine federal crimes, including tax fraud and campaign finance violations, in December 2018. During his trial, he accused Trump of asking him to make hush-money payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal who alleged they had extramarital affairs with the former president.

Cohen, who was released from house arrest last week after pleading guilty to financial crimes and serving three years in prison, said he gave investigators “thousands and thousands” of documents.

Cohen’s remarks come days after prosecutors for Cyrus Vance Jr, the prosecutor overseeing the inquiry, issued new subpoenas for records Wednesday about Trump’s properties, including office buildings, hotels and golf courses. At least one subpoena issued requested for information about how the Trump Organization valued its assets.

Prosecutors also questioned an employee of Deutsche Bank. Trump received a loan amounting to hundreds of millions of dollars over the past years from the bank. The loans were provided for several of Trump’s hotels in Chicago and Washington and a golf resort in Florida, people with knowledge of the matter told The New York Times.

Vance’s prosecutors are currently working with New York State attorney general Letitia James in the inquiry.

A federal judge ruled that White House records that could implicate former President Donald Trump in the January 6 attack on the US Capitol can be released to a congressional committee investigating the violence
Former president Donald Trump endorsed Rep. Paul Gosar of Arizona one day after the House moved to censure him and strip him of his committee assignments. AFP / MANDEL NGAN