Former Wyoming Republican Rep. Liz Cheney and Michael Cohen would both qualify for John Kennedy’s list of “Profiles in Courage” for the same decision: to speak the truth about Donald Trump. And they share three things in common for doing so: They both paid a heavy price in personal threats and professional setbacks. Both paid that price for telling the truth based on documented facts. As a result, they both were personally attacked and demonized by the now-humiliated Rep. Jim Jordan, thrice rejected last week by his Republican caucus in his effort to become speaker of the House.
Certainly my client, Michael Cohen, has paid a steep price personally and professionally for telling the truth about Donald Trump. A principal witness to Trump’s financial dealings, Cohen is scheduled to testify on Tuesday in the civil fraud case brought against Trump by New York’s Attorney General Leticia James. As Michael wrote recently, he and his family were publicly attacked by Trump on Twitter, his family has been subjected to threats and have concerns for their safety, and he was targeted by Trump’s Justice Department and sent to prison largely for what federal prosecutors said in public filings were hush money payments to an adult film star – payments “directed and coordinated” by Donald Trump.
Liz Cheney lost her leadership position in the House Republican Caucus and her seat in Congress only because she chose to oppose Trump’s extensive maneuverings to reverse the outcome of the 2020 presidential election, and undermine the rule of law and the U.S. Constitution in the process. She was ready to do what a majority of House Republicans were not willing to do: Put principle above party. On Sunday, she warned in a compelling interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper that Trump’s election in 2024 would represent a serious threat to American democracy.
Michael Cohen also warned in his recent column that others who have come forward to speak the truth about Donald Trump face the same risks as he and his family did. He argues that such witnesses to the truth should be provided security to protect them from retaliation, and that they need legal support and financial assistance to defend themselves from Trump team legal attacks and threats. He also cautions the media to be careful about identifying witnesses (and I would add – based on the experience in Georgia – jury identities, too, whenever possible).
I have been inspired by Liz Cheney’s political and personal courage as she has suffered personal attacks and ostracism by her former colleagues in the House GOP. The irony, of course, is that the leader of the anti-Cheney attacks, not surprisingly using the most vicious and threatening language, was the same person who used a similar tactic of personal attacks on Michael Cohen during the House Oversight hearings in February 2019: Rep. Jim Jordan.
Naturally, Cohen and Cheney are also the targets of venom and personal attacks by the same pro-Trump, MAGA media eco-system in cable and social media. These media misinformation echo chambers rarely challenge either Trump critic on the facts. Cohen and Cheney rely on documents and eyewitness testimony to support their assertions. Trump and his minions use name-calling and threats.
During Michael’s February 27, 2019, public testimony before the House Oversight Committee, the Republicans on the dais used sophomoric insults to make their points. Or, rather, tactics that would embarrass a sophomore, such as the sign on the wall behind them during the 2019 public hearings – “Liar, liar pants on fire.”
Yet during the entire day of vicious attacks and questions by Jordan, former Trump chief of staff Mark Meadows (then a North Carolina congressman), and other Republican attackers, not a single member challenged the documents posted on television for Americans to see. So they sought to change the subject by personally attacking Michael. A similar tactic was directed at Liz Cheney.
Michael Cohen and Liz Cheney will be remembered and admired far into the future for standing on principle and facing the consequences. Going forward, all Americans, regardless of party affiliation, should at least try to agree on facts – and not deny them. And if they disagree, explain why – and avoid labels and personal attacks as surrogates for facts.