'New Day' Exclusive: Odd Twist in Tweeting Congressman & Model Relationship
Tennessee congressman Steve Cohen was caught tweeting during the State of the Union Address with a swimsuit model. He then revealed that Victoria Brink was really his long-lost daughter.
But then the family reunion took a surprising turn, CNN's Miguel Marquez reports.
"Overwhelming, crazy, stressful, emotional, a roller coaster," says Victoria Brink.
That is how she describes her life the last few months. She is the woman who had a Twitter conversation with Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen during this year's State of the Union speech. It was this conversation that forced the congressman to admit this was no "tawdry tete-a-tete," reports Marquez. "Victoria Brink – aspiring model – was in fact… his daughter."
The Congressman had already taken her to high profile events like the White House Christmas party where she was introduced as a friend of the family. But in a single Tweet during the State of the Union the then 23 year-old's life turned inside out.
"What was out on the internet was that me and Steve Cohen could have been lovers or we had some kind of relationship and he really wanted to come out and tell everyone that I was his daughter but I said I had to tell my dad first," says Victoria Brink.
Enter Houston oilman John Brink… who always assumed Victoria was his daughter.
"How tough has this been for you?" asks Marquez.
"Holy (BLEEP). Excuse me. Honestly the most difficult thing I've done," says John Brink.
Victoria and the Congressman had kept their secret from everyone for three years. Until State of the Union Tweet-gate forced her to come clean. But amazingly enough Congressman Cohen had only ever deduced the relationship.
"I knew her mother a long time ago," says Cohen. "I Googled her one night, and saw that she had given birth to a beautiful young lady, and I kind of went back to nine months before, and that was a time when we were involved."
CNN obtained DNA from Victoria, and John Brink- the man who raised her- and from Congressman Steve Cohen who didn't want to appear on camera for the story.
The result?
"The results show that Steve Cohen is not my father, biological father and this is just some crazy thing that happened to me," says Victoria Brink.
In a statement the congressman said "I was stunned and dismayed" at the result when DNA tests disproved what Victoria and I believed about our relationship. I still love Victoria, hold dear the time I have shared with her and hope to continue to be part of her life.
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Tell it to Maury!!!! people
Steve Cohen was my congressman for years and he is one of the most honest people out there. He's also a heck of a nice guy.
...OR one more time...Bill, I need some help out here...
...OR...I may have had sex with that woman, but it is not my child...just go check the "dress" for my DNA which does not match the "cigar" either...
Which cousin or uncle was it at the Tennessee Jewish Family Reunion??? Seems the woodpile was bigger than was thought and not who we thought was in the woodpile...with blue eyes & blonde & pearly white skin...was her Mom a middle school teacher by chance?
The only secret now is how many & who were they all...so the DNA posse will be busy, busy, busy!!!
Another mountain out of a mole hill. Many men have raised children thinking they were their own. Just a little different twist to this story. Wonder how many men ever have the thought that they might have a child someplace and even admit it if they did. Mr. Cohen did, but he was disappointed. Sad for all of them.
This is an example of how our politicians behave. They are corrupt, and not trustworthy. If they had any character, they would kill them selves. They are cowards real cowards. To hell with them all in Washington.
"I Googled her one night..." Yeah, you did.
It's amazing.... there shouldn't be a question that he's lying. It's such a grandiose, bold-faced lie that people have bought it because it's like something out of the trashy soap opera/reality t.v. garbage that mesmerizes them. I'm astonished.
The good news is it's Tennessee... we're all related in some way down here.
He was tweeting during the State of the Union address? I'm sorry, was he BORED? And, Tennessee is electing this kind of person to Congress?
There seems to be some mental derangement at work here.
Damn, you call this news?
People aren't really so stupid that they fell for this line of bull[...], are they?
If John Brink is still married... he should consider a divorce. What a way to find out that your wife cheated on you.
Please read: "I knew her mother a long time ago."
Where does it say Victoria was born when her mother and father were married, or even in an exclusive relationship?
If the congressman really wanted to keep this matter confidential, why was he twwting during the Stae of the Union address!! I mean really. Maybe atleast sunconsiously he really wanted t o be exposed.
...he was "hit'n" it... came up with that BS to try to quiet the noise.
Brilliant if he did!
TRUE DAT
guess'n you are right
And this moron decides it's okay to "tweet" (or do anything else, actually) during a State of the Union address? Isn't he supposed to be paying attention to what's being said up there on the podium? I mean, really... [...]
Really? Who pays attention to the rhetoric being spilled at a state of the Union address? C'mon.... zzzzzzzzz.......
Not really. The state of the union is basically a bunch of lies and nonsense that will have no effect on the country. i'd rather tweet a model too.
He's a Democrat, by the way. CNN would have made sure to point it out if he were a Republican.
Hello,
In the video segment, CNN identified Tennessee Congressman Steve Cohen as a Democrat.
Thank you for watching New Day~
Lola
CNN Viewer Communications
Complain if you like, but he didn't do anything wrong so it doesn't matter either way.
Uh...Dante...how do you define right and wrong? For me, if someone does something selfish or careless that causes another harm, that's not on the "right" side of right vs. wrong. Let's see. He cheated on his wife. He assumed this woman's daughter was his and established a relationship with her. He tweeted on the job. He caused embarrassment to himself, his family, and this young girl. In the end, he wants to still be a part of her life...which surely makes her father feel rather uncomfortable, not to mention her mother and the girl herself. Perhaps you're using pseudo math. Two wrongs might not make a right, but if you hurt enough people, you're good to go. *eyeroll*
Amen to that!
Awkward for father to know that the potential of another man being her father, even existed.
Ok, if we get caught, let's just say I thought you were my long, lost daughter and then it will appear all so innocent.
So who is her real father?
Maybe she is or was his girlfriend.
So, who is her biological father? Is it John Brink or some other mystery man?
This should be a new tv show that shows the blossoming frienddship of a congressman and a model that believed for a short time that they are father and daughter. It will be called "How I [...] Your Mother."
Bizarre – there are more layers to this story than this. stay tuned
Three years living on a wild hunch? And it took a push from CNN to do the DNA test? **sigh**
Sounds like a lame coverup.
Why is this even a story?!? The stupid dolt thought this was her dad and she was raised by her real dad all along? If this was my daughter I'd knock her in the head.
I'm confused. Why are you outraged with the daughter, of all people? What about the congressman? What about her mother? *another eyeroll*
Did you read something that says John Brink is her "real" dad...? I only saw that the Congressman wasn't.
now I see it – further down in the comments – not in the story.
Yep....this is what our Congress does with all of their time.
But they get paid for life with the best free medical care.
Did they find out if the guy she originally thought was her father, was her father? It says they tested both, but didn't clarify whether Brink was her father (or who knows who was?).
There is so much missing from this story...for example: is the guy who raised her ACTUALLY her father? Can't believe they didn't include that.
Hi,
The man who raised her, John Brink, is her father. This was determined by the DNA.
Thanks for watching New Day!
Lola
CNN Viewer Communications
Maybe she is Bill Clinton's daughter. 🙂 Wonder who her father really is.
Her father is John Brink. This was determined by the DNA.
Thanks for watching and have a wonderful Thursday!
Lola
CNN Viewer Communications
Lola of CNN Viewer Comunications,
If John Brink is truly her father then that should have been stated in this article.
You are ... NOT THE FATHER!
i think he is also Manti Teo's girlfriend's father.