Trump obstructed justice if he told Cohen to lie before Congress, Dem lawmaker says

© Alex Edelman/Getty Images Rep. David Cicilline is the chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee.

A leading Democrat and member of the House Judiciary Committee tweeted late Thursday that President Donald Trump would have obstructed justice if he instructed his former personal attorney to lie before Congress.

“If the President directed [Michael] Cohen to lie to Congress, that is obstruction of justice. Period. Full stop,” Rep. David Cicilline of Rhode Island wrote online.

Cicilline’s post came less than half an hour after the publication of a report by BuzzFeed News stating that the president ordered his longtime ex-fixer to lie to lawmakers about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow, citing two law enforcement officials involved in the investigation of the matter.

As chair of the House Democratic Policy and Communications Committee, Cicilline is charged with overseeing House Democrats' policy and messaging arm.

Cohen is scheduled to testify publicly to the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 7.