Link , Link , Link , see>>(Republicans failed to answer that question in any persuasive way. The result is that their arguments have stuck to painting Cohen as a sort of pathological liar who lies compulsively and can’t be trusted because he has committed crimes in the past. The logic of this position implies that the testimony of a mafioso who turned state’s evidence couldn’t be trusted because he was, in the past, a mafioso — a principle that, as Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) pointed out, would discredit some of the biggest criminal trials in US history. It’s an absurd argument. But since Republicans don’t want to engage on the specifics of Cohen’s testimony, the damning charges against the president, they have instead chosen to simply try to indict him in this roundabout kind of way. This isn’t just my opinion. Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, who initially ran Trump’s presidential transition team, said the same thing on ABC. “The interesting thing is there hasn’t been one Republican who’s tried to defend the president on the substance,” Christie said. “I think that’s something that should be concerning to the White House.” Indeed it should.)