First Thoughts by Josh Marshall

Editor’s Blog – Talking Points Memo / by Josh Marshall / 7h

A quick reaction to the first couple hours of testimony. I’d say that in general, there haven’t been big revelations beyond those included in the prepared remarks. The Democrats have gotten some more granular detail on key points like the Trump Moscow project and the Wikileaks drops. The Republicans in general have not done terribly well. They’ve triggered some defensiveness on Cohen’s part a few times with respect to his crimes.

Cohen has managed some low moments on his own: invoking Charlottesville and Helsinki as turning points in deciding to come clean. That sounds nice but not terribly credible.

They obviously have the basic fact that Cohen is a convicted liar and felon. He has credibility problems. At the end of the day though impugning Cohen’s character discredits the guy who brought him to public life, President Trump. This is a box there’s really no way out of. Beyond that I’d say the Republican members of the committee have accomplished more in spittle than light or even heat.

Cohen meanwhile has parried them fairly well, all things considered.

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