Michael Cohen from prison: ‘American people deserve more’ from Mueller

President Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen on Wednesday weighed in on former special counsel Robert Mueller’s congressional testimony, saying that “The American people deserve more” in a statement issued from the federal correctional institute where he is currently serving a three-year sentence.

“Mr. Mueller today had the world stage to answer questions regarding obstruction of justice and witness tampering. Sadly, his reluctance just continues to leave the debate open and those responsible free from prosecution … for the moment,” Cohen said in a statement to CNN from Otisville in Orange County, New York. “The American people deserve more!”

{mosads}In a nearly seven-hour marathon testimony Wednesday, Mueller answered questions from lawmakers on the House Judiciary and Intelligence committees about his 22-month investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

Some lawmakers expressed frustration that Mueller often referred to the report and resisted expanding on its conclusions that did not charge the president of a conspiracy with the Russian government and did not exonerate or dismiss allegations of obstruction of justice against Trump.

Mueller often answered lawmakers with one-word responses, and he refused to discuss the opposition document put together by Christopher Steele, known as the Steele dossier, that alleges a connection between the Trump campaign and Russia. Cohen said allegations made against him in the dossier were proven false Wednesday.

“The allegations raised against me in the Steele dossier were blatant lies,” Cohen said. “At least today’s hearings confirmed this. If our elected officials want more information or clarification they know where to find me.” 

Cohen testified before Congress in February, answering questions about payments he arranged to women who alleged to have had affairs with the president, as well as other financial crimes he said he committed at the urging of Trump. He also said the president encouraged him to lie to lawmakers. 

Cohen began a three-year prison sentence in May after he pleaded guilty last year to bank fraud, tax fraud and campaign finance law violations.