Michael Cohen 2
In this Wednesday, February 27, 2019 file photo, Michael Cohen reads an opening statement as he testifies before the House Oversight and Reform Committee on Capitol Hill in Washington. Image Credit: AP

Washington: President Donald Trump said that his former lawyer Michael Cohen shopped a book to publishers that portrayed Trump in a favorable light, vastly at odds with Cohen’s damning testimony to Congress. In a tweet, Trump said that Cohen’s manuscript was a “love letter” to him and that Congress should demand the manuscript as evidence Cohen’s testimony this week was “fraudulent” and “dishonest.” Cohen told a House panel that Trump used his inner circle to cover up politically damaging allegations about extramarital sex and lied throughout the 2016 election campaign about his business interests in Russia. “Congress must demand the transcript of Michael Cohen’s new book, given to publishers a short time ago,” Trump tweeted. “Your heads will spin when you see the lies, misrepresentations and contradictions against his Thursday testimony. Like a different person! He is totally discredited!”

Cohen’s spokesman, Lanny Davis, said that Cohen was offered a “substantial advance” nearly a year ago “for a proposal regarding a book on understanding Donald Trump. Mr Cohen ultimately elected not to proceed.” Davis added that “POTUS has yet lied again.”