Ex-federal prosecutor: Cohen’s talks with New York prosecutors ‘would send chills down my spine’

Former federal prosecutor Gene Rossi said Thursday that Michael Cohen’s comments claiming that the Southern District of New York is investigating a previously undisclosed crime related to President Trump “would send chills down” his spine.

“The biggest juicy burger would be … the Southern District of New York is still talking to Michael Cohen,” Rossi told Hill.TV’s Krystal Ball and Buck Sexton. “I have sat across the table from those four prosecutors in a matter I’m not going to tell you about but I have represented a client — still do— who is involved in that whole thing and I got to tell you those four prosecutors are tough, they’re brilliant and they’re relentless.”

“That the Southern District of New York is still talking with Michael Cohen would send chills down my spine and they are talking to Cohen about the whole financial stuff — the Trump Organization, the Trump Charity, the revocable trust,” he added.

During his first of three hearings on Wednesday, Cohen told lawmakers that he’s aware of additional illegal acts Trump committed that were not discussed at Wednesday’s hearing. However, he declined to elaborate because he said those crimes are part of an ongoing investigation by the Southern District of New York. 

 “What did he or his agent communicate to you?” asked Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.). 

“Unfortunately, this topic is actually something that’s being investigated right now by the Southern District of New York and I’ve been asked by them not to discuss and not to talk about these issues,” Cohen replied, adding that the last time he had contact with Trump was last summer.

When Krishnamoorthi pressed him further on whether there was “any other wrongdoing or illegal act” that he was aware of regarding Trump, Cohen said “yes,” but emphasized that those potential illegal acts were part of the same investigation.

The exchange is the latest reminder that Trump continues to face legal challenges beyond just special counsel Robert Mueller’s probe.

Cohen, who previously served as Trump’s personal attorney, entered a plea deal with federal prosecutors for the U.S. attorney’s office for the Southern District in New York last year after pleading guilty to eight counts of criminal charges. He is scheduled to report for a three-year prison sentence in May.

—Tess Bonn