CNN’s Toobin short-circuits GOP attacks on Cohen: ‘If he’s so terrible’ why did Trump hire him?

CNN's Jeffrey Toobin on Tuesday shut down Republicans who are planning to attack former Trump "fixer" Michael Cohen's testimony by pointing out that President Donald Trump for years willingly employed an admitted liar and criminal.

Toobin said that the GOP would be well within its rights to point out that Cohen in the past has lied under oath to Congress, but he said that prosecutors often have to rely on witnesses who have poor personal character to convict criminals who are higher up in the food chain.

"Remember what prosecutors say when they call cooperating witnesses who are terrible, who are criminals," he explained. "Defense attorneys say, 'How can you believe him, he's a liar, he's a criminal.' The prosecutor always says, 'We didn't pick this witness -- the defendant picked this witness! He's the one who was best friends with this fellow for ten years! If he's so terrible, why was Donald Trump working with him so closely for ten years?"

CNN host Alisyn Camerota called Toobin's retort a "convincing, compelling argument," although he said that it's one that prosecutors have made when pursuing criminal charges against mobsters for decades.

CNN's David Gregory then said Republicans might succeed in convincing the public that Cohen is "out for himself," but he said that will be seen as unimportant if Cohen is able to substantively corroborate his claims.

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