House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairman Elijah Cummings Elijah Eugene CummingsBlack GOP candidate accuses Behar of wearing black face in heated interview Overnight Health Care: US won't join global coronavirus vaccine initiative | Federal panel lays out initial priorities for COVID-19 vaccine distribution | NIH panel: 'Insufficient data' to show treatment touted by Trump works House Oversight Democrats to subpoena AbbVie in drug pricing probe MORE (D-Md.) said Thursday that he needs to take a closer look at Michael Cohen Michael Dean CohenA huge deal for campaign disclosure: Trump's tax records for Biden's medical records Our Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Eric Trump says he will comply with New York AG's subpoena only after Election Day MORE’s remarks under oath and a statement that appears to contradict his testimony before deciding whether to refer him to the Justice Department for possible prosecution.

During his testimony before Cummings's committee last week, the president's former lawyer said he “never” sought a pardon from President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE. But a statement issued by Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis appears to contradict his testimony, raising questions about whether Cohen made another false statement to Congress, and if he did so knowingly.

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Cummings, who said at the start of Cohen’s public hearing that he “would be the first” to refer Cohen to the Justice Department if he lied again, said Thursday that he needed more time to look at Cohen’s testimony before deciding whether he would make such a referral.

“I’ve got to make sure they are true inconsistencies and not outright lies,” the Democratic chair told CNN.

Cummings also said that he had told Cohen that he would “nail you to the cross” if Trump’s former fixer lied under oath again.

“And I meant that,” he added.

Davis said in a statement Thursday that Cohen had initially directed his former lawyer, Stephen Ryan, to see if he could obtain a presidential pardon following the FBI raids on his home and office last year. The Wall Street Journal first reported Wednesday about Cohen seeking a pardon.

But during his testimony before Cummings's panel, Cohen said he "never asked for, nor would I accept, a pardon from Mr. Trump."

Cohen has been dogged with questions about his credibility surrounding his testimony. He has pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress and will report to federal prison in May to serve three years on those charges and other federal crimes.

Some Republicans have seized on Cohen’s past false statements to suggest that he can't be trusted, even under oath. Davis's statement, which maintains that Cohen did not lie during the testimony, is likely to fuel their arguments.

A pair of Trump allies on Capitol Hill — House Oversight and Reform Committee ranking member Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus Republicans call for Judiciary hearing into unrest in cities run by Democrats MORE (R-Ohio) and Rep. Mark Meadows Mark Randall MeadowsHouse moves toward spending vote after bipartisan talks House Democrats mull delay on spending bill vote Southwest Airlines, unions call for six-month extension of government aid MORE (R-N.C.), the chairman of the Freedom Caucus, requested the day after Cohen's hearing that the Justice Department investigate Cohen for perjury.

Jordan again raised that point on Thursday, tweeting that he believed Cohen lied and noting Cummings’ pledge to not tolerate future false statements from Trump’s ex-lawyer.

“What do you plan to do to hold him accountable?” Jordan tweeted at Cummings.

Last week, @RepCummings said that he would not tolerate new lies from Michael Cohen.



Mr. Chairman, Michael Cohen lied to the Oversight Committee at least 7 times. What do you plan to do to hold him accountable? — Rep. Jim Jordan (@Jim_Jordan) March 7, 2019

Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani also called for action against Cohen, tweeting Thursday that he is waiting for Democrats “to demand a perjury prosecution for the man who made fools out of them by lying under oath.”

“Do they care about the truth? Or is it get Trump at any cost, even to their own integrity?” Giuliani continued.

The defense now to Cohen saying under oath he NEVER asked for a pardon is a familiar one; What’s The Meaning of Never. Serial liars often try the same deception too often. Let’s hope Congress and DOJ are outraged at Cohen’s disrespecting them by perjuring himself repeatedly. — Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) March 7, 2019

I’m still waiting for the House Dems to demand a perjury prosecution for the man who made fools out of them by lying under oath. Do they care about the truth? Or is it get Trump at any cost, even to their own integrity? — Rudy Giuliani (@RudyGiuliani) March 7, 2019

But Democrats aren’t necessarily rushing to judgement on Cohen’s statement.

Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi Subramanian (Raja) Raja KrishnamoorthiCDC causes new storm by pulling coronavirus guidance Democratic chairman says White House blocked Navarro from testifying Democrats urge CDC to update guidance to encourage colleges, universities go tobacco-free MORE (D-Ill.), a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee as well as the Intelligence Committee, said Thursday that Cummings is a very “careful person” who likely will want to look at all of the facts before deciding whether Cohen perjured himself. Cohen also testified behind closed doors for two days with the House Intelligence Committee.

“I think, knowing him, he’s going to want to look at everything before making a decision,” Krishnamoorthi said of Cummings.