The fresco ceilings are part of Trump’s apartment in New York city, Newsweek reports. Three sources supposedly knowledgeable on Cohen’s testimony told the Washington Post one of the frescoes had been damaged by steam. Cohen reportedly told the committee Trump submitted a fake insurance claim for the damaged fresco.
The allegations do not have any obvious evidence to back them up and the date of the alleged insurance claim is not known.
A spokeswoman for Melania Trump and the White House did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Newsweek on Thursday.
But White House deputy spokesman Hogan Gidley told The Washington Post: “Mr Cohen lied to Congress, defrauded the federal government out of millions of dollars, and is going to prison—no one should believe a word he says.”
If the disgraced attorney’s incendiary claims turn out to be true it would not the first time Trump has been found guilty of insurance fraud, according to Newsweek.
READ MORE: Melania Trump shares RARE photo to celebrate son Barron’s birthday
Cohen testified Trump had overstated his riches in documents filed to insurance companies and banks, the publication said.
Melania Trump moved from Trump Tower to the White House almost five months after her husband was inaugurated amid rumours the newly-minted First Lady was not initially best pleased with her husband’s victory in the 2016 presidential election.
Now the First Lady works tirelessly on her Be Best initiative, which aims to eradicate bullying among children with an anti-drug focus.
Melania this month embarked on a three-state tour to promote the scheme where she addressed its three core pillars, the well-being of children, social media and online safety and opioid abuse.
Her high-profile trip saw her visit Oklahoma, Washington and Nevada to raise the profile of the project.
As part of the tour Melania spoke out against the dangers of drugs at a Las Vegas press conference.
Warning of the dangers of substance abuse and the way she approaches the subject with her 12-year-old son Barron, the First Lady said: “I teach him.
“I try to explain how drugs are dangerous.
“It will mess up your head, it will mess up your body.
“Nothing comes positive out of it.”
During her appearance Melania also attacked the media.
She challenged outlets to focus more on the opioid crisis rather than writing about what she termed “gossip”.
She said: “I wish the media would talk about more, and educate more.
“They do it already, but I think not enough.”