In a Friday appearance on CNN’s “New Day,” Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (D-NY) discussed former Donald Trump personal attorney Michael Cohen’s testimony on Capitol Hill.

Jeffries, a member of the Judiciary Committee, told host John Berman, “The American people deserve to know whether Donald Trump is functionally a president or an organized crime boss.”

Berman pointed out how other Democrats have used similar language in referring to Trump as having gone on a “crime spree” or having participated in crimes in office.

Jeffries backed away from his “crime boss” remark, saying “there is a lot of work to be done” before determining if Trump engaged in criminal activity.

“I phrased it as a question that I think the American people deserve answers,” Jeffries stated.

“You’re not willing to sit here on March 1 and say I have seen evidence of crimes?”

“There is … evidence that there was wrongdoing that has taken place,” he added. “Whether it rises to the level of criminal activity, there is a lot of work to be done.”

Follow Trent Baker on Twitter @MagnifiTrent