Rep. Harriet Hageman (R-WY) criticized Rep. Dan Goldman (D-NY) for his alleged connections to Judge Juan Merchan and former Trump attorney Michael Cohen. The controversy arose when Goldman stated on MSNBC that he had prepared Cohen for testimony, leading to confusion about whether it was related to the ongoing trial against Trump. However, Goldman’s office clarified that he was referring to a previous deposition in 2019 when he oversaw an investigation into Trump’s financial ties to Russia.
Furthermore, Goldman’s ties to a political consulting firm that employs Judge Merchan’s daughter raised more questions about potential conflicts of interest. Hageman pointed out during a committee hearing that Goldman’s involvement with the Cohen case and his financial dealings with Judge Merchan’s daughter’s firm raised concerns about his objectivity.
During the hearing, Democrat Del. Stacey Plaskett requested that Hageman’s statements be stricken from the record, alleging a violation of House rules against personal attacks. However, House Judiciary Committee’s Special Subcommittee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government Chair Jim Jordan rejected Plaskett’s request.
This controversy highlights the complexities and conflicts of interest that can arise in political investigations and trials.
