Tom Steyer says he's not paying Michael Cohen's legal bills after GOP mentions him in hearings

In this file photo, political activist Tom Steyer speaks during the "Need to Impeach" town hall event at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Friday, March 16, 2018. In this file photo, political activist Tom Steyer speaks during the "Need to Impeach" town hall event at the Clifton Cultural Arts Center, Friday, March 16, 2018. Photo: John Minchillo, STF / Associated Press Photo: John Minchillo, STF / Associated Press Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Tom Steyer says he's not paying Michael Cohen's legal bills after GOP mentions him in hearings 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

A San Francisco billionaire and vocal Donald Trump critic heard his name mentioned more than once in the congressional hearing of former Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen on Wednesday.

Hedge fund manager Tom Steyer, who has run a television advertising campaign urging impeachment of the 45th president, was brought up by more than one member of the committee grilling Cohen. Republicans have sought to cast Cohen as a jilted former employee prone to lies and motivated to discredit the president.

Ranking Republican committee member Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, raised Steyer's name, suggesting that the hearing was part of a larger movement by Democrats to impeach Trump at Steyer's direction.

Cohen was later asked directly about the funding of his legal team by Rep. Jody Hice, R-Ga.

“At the present moment, no one,” Michael Cohen says when asked by GOP Rep. Hice it anyone is paying Lanny Davis’ legal fees. GOP congressman asks if Tom Steyer is paying his fees. Cohen says Steyer isn’t — Manu Raju (@mkraju) February 27, 2019

Steyer then took to Twitter to publicly deny that he is funding Cohen's defense.

"For the record, I am not paying—nor have I paid—Mr. Cohen's legal bills," Steyer tweeted during the morning session of the hearings.

For the record, I am not paying—nor have I paid—Mr. Cohen’s legal bills. — Tom Steyer (@TomSteyer) February 27, 2019

Cohen, said Wednesday that he doesn't know whether Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 election, but he has "suspicions" about that.

Cohen told the House committee that he witnessed instances before the election in which Trump was informed about WikiLeaks' release of Democratic National Committee emails and about a Trump Tower meeting that included campaign advisers, Trump's oldest son and a Russian lawyer.

Cohen says Trump had told him that the younger Trump "had the worst judgment of anyone in the world."

Cohen also said Donald Trump, Jr. "would never set up any meeting of any significance alone — and certainly not without checking with his father."

Cohen has turned on his former boss and cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia investigation. Cohen begins a three-year prison sentence in May.

The Associated Press has contributed to this report.