US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal.

"I appreciate the special counsel coming out with a statement last night. I think it was very appropriate that they did so," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think that the BuzzFeed piece was a disgrace to our country. It was a disgrace to journalism."

Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US&nbsp;news coverage for the past two days.

&nbsp;Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US&nbsp;news coverage for the past 24 hours.

While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump.

Meanwhile, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing."

After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US&nbsp;Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president.

Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress.

If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal.

US President Donald Trump said on Saturday said, he was grateful to Special Counsel Robert Mueller for a statement disputing a BuzzFeed News report that Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal. "I appreciate the special counsel coming out with a statement last night. I think it was very appropriate that they did so," Trump told reporters at the White House. "I think that the BuzzFeed piece was a disgrace to our country. It was a disgrace to journalism." Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past two days. Mueller's office on Friday disputed key elements of a media report that President Donald Trump directed his former lawyer to lie to Congress about a Moscow real estate deal, raising questions about a story that has dominated US news coverage for the past 24 hours. While Carr did not directly address whether there was evidence that Trump directed Cohen to lie to Congress, he disputed portions of the story about how BuzzFeed corroborated the explosive allegations against Trump. Meanwhile, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith said in a statement: "We stand by the reporting and the sources who informed it, and we urge the Special Counsel to make clear what he's disputing." After the BuzzFeed report was published on Thursday night, investigators in the US Senate and House of Representatives said they planned to investigate the allegations, while some Democrats described the report as a game-changer that, if true, could be grounds for impeaching the president. Cohen, who once said he was so loyal to Trump that he would "take a bullet" for him, is scheduled to begin a three-year prison sentence in March after pleading guilty to charges including campaign finance violations, tax evasion and lying to Congress. If Trump did tell Cohen to lie, that would constitute criminal activity, said House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jerrold Nadler, a Democrat. He added that he would look into the matter.

Trump thanks special counsel Robert Mueller for statement about BuzzFeed article

A top Democrat in the US Congress has vowed to look into a report that President Donald Trump ordered his personal attorney to lie to Congress to hide dealings with Russia.

Adam Schiff, who heads the Intelligence Committee in the House of Representatives, was reacting to a report late Thursday by the online site BuzzFeed that Trump ordered lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress in 2017 about talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign.

"The allegation that the President of the United States may have suborned perjury before our committee in an effort to curtail the investigation and cover up his business dealings with Russia is among the most serious to date," Schiff tweeted.&nbsp;

"We will do what's necessary to find out if it's true."

Trump also supported a Cohen plan to visit Russia during the presidential campaign to meet President Vladimir Putin to jump-start the Moscow tower negotiations according to BuzzFeed, which cites two unnamed federal law enforcement officials as sources.&nbsp;

The trip never materialized, and Trump has repeatedly and emphatically denied dealings with Russia during the campaign.

Cohen also provided Trump and two of his children -- Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. -- regular updates about the Moscow project, the sources told BuzzFeed.

Cohen, who was the real estate billionaire's right-hand-man and fixer at his umbrella company the Trump Organization, in New York at the time, pleaded guilty last year to several charges including the violation of campaign finance laws by arranging hush payments ahead of the 2016 election to women who alleged extramarital affairs with Trump.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress by stating that the Trump Moscow project ended in January 2016, long before Trump became the Republican presidential nominee, when it actually extended into June 2016.

The New York lawyer, 52, was sentenced to three years in jail for the campaign finance violation and other charges.

His incarceration has been delayed while he provides support to ongoing investigations into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia and Trump's finances.

Cohen is scheduled to testify to the House Oversight Committee, newly controlled by opposition Democrats, on February 7 about his work for Trump.

A top Democrat in the US Congress has vowed to look into a report that President Donald Trump ordered his personal attorney to lie to Congress to hide dealings with Russia.

A top Democrat in the US Congress has vowed to look into a report that President Donald Trump ordered his personal attorney to lie to Congress to hide dealings with Russia. Adam Schiff, who heads the Intelligence Committee in the House of Representatives, was reacting to a report late Thursday by the online site BuzzFeed that Trump ordered lawyer Michael Cohen to lie to Congress in 2017 about talks to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign. "The allegation that the President of the United States may have suborned perjury before our committee in an effort to curtail the investigation and cover up his business dealings with Russia is among the most serious to date," Schiff tweeted. "We will do what's necessary to find out if it's true." Trump also supported a Cohen plan to visit Russia during the presidential campaign to meet President Vladimir Putin to jump-start the Moscow tower negotiations according to BuzzFeed, which cites two unnamed federal law enforcement officials as sources. The trip never materialized, and Trump has repeatedly and emphatically denied dealings with Russia during the campaign. Cohen also provided Trump and two of his children -- Ivanka and Donald Trump Jr. -- regular updates about the Moscow project, the sources told BuzzFeed. Cohen, who was the real estate billionaire's right-hand-man and fixer at his umbrella company the Trump Organization, in New York at the time, pleaded guilty last year to several charges including the violation of campaign finance laws by arranging hush payments ahead of the 2016 election to women who alleged extramarital affairs with Trump. Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress by stating that the Trump Moscow project ended in January 2016, long before Trump became the Republican presidential nominee, when it actually extended into June 2016. The New York lawyer, 52, was sentenced to three years in jail for the campaign finance violation and other charges. His incarceration has been delayed while he provides support to ongoing investigations into possible Trump campaign collusion with Russia and Trump's finances. Cohen is scheduled to testify to the House Oversight Committee, newly controlled by opposition Democrats, on February 7 about his work for Trump.

Democrat vows to probe Trump lawyer's alleged lies to Congress

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-cohen-to-be-sentenced-for-hush-money-payments-183522">Michael Cohen</a>, a former lawyer for <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/us-government-shutdown-starting-to-hurt-trumps-financial-deregulation-agenda-191010">US President Donald Trump</a>, said on Thursday he paid a firm to manipulate online polling data "at the direction of and for the sole benefit of" Trump.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Cohen had paid the data firm Redfinch Solutions to manipulate two public opinion polls in favour of Trump before the 2016 presidential campaign.

"As for the @WSJ article on poll rigging," Cohen said on Twitter on Thursday, "what I did was at the direction of and for the sole benefit of @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. I truly regret my blind loyalty to a man who doesn't deserve it."

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As for the <a href="https://twitter.com/WSJ?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@WSJ</a> article on poll rigging, what I did was at the direction of and for the sole benefit of <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@realDonaldTrump</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/POTUS?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@POTUS</a>. I truly regret my blind loyalty to a man who doesn’t deserve it.
— Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelCohen212/status/1085900900835778560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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The attempts to influence the polls ultimately proved largely unsuccessful but does shed a light on the tactics of the Trump campaign and Cohen's role within it. On the campaign trail, Trump frequently referred to his polling numbers to help fuel his candidacy.

Last month Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to women to help Trump’s 2016 campaign and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia

The Journal said Cohen commissioned John Gauger, who runs RedFinch Solutions, to write a computer script to repeatedly vote for Trump in a February 2015 Drudge Report poll on potential Republican candidates. The move came as Trump was preparing to enter the 2016 presidential election race, the newspaper reported.

Trump ranked fifth in the Drudge Report poll, with about 24,000 votes or 5 per cent of the total, according to the Journal.

Cohen also commissioned Gauger to do the same for a 2014 CNBC online poll identifying the country's top business leaders, although Trump was unable to break the top 100 candidates, the Journal reported.

"The president has no knowledge of the polls being rigged," Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said in an interview with Reuters. RedFinch Solutions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, said on Thursday he paid a firm to manipulate online polling data "at the direction of and for the sole benefit of" Trump.

Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for US President Donald Trump, said on Thursday he paid a firm to manipulate online polling data "at the direction of and for the sole benefit of" Trump. The Wall Street Journal reported that Cohen had paid the data firm Redfinch Solutions to manipulate two public opinion polls in favour of Trump before the 2016 presidential campaign. "As for the @WSJ article on poll rigging," Cohen said on Twitter on Thursday, "what I did was at the direction of and for the sole benefit of @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. I truly regret my blind loyalty to a man who doesn't deserve it." As for the @WSJ article on poll rigging, what I did was at the direction of and for the sole benefit of @realDonaldTrump @POTUS. I truly regret my blind loyalty to a man who doesn’t deserve it. — Michael Cohen (@MichaelCohen212) January 17, 2019 × The attempts to influence the polls ultimately proved largely unsuccessful but does shed a light on the tactics of the Trump campaign and Cohen's role within it. On the campaign trail, Trump frequently referred to his polling numbers to help fuel his candidacy. Last month Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to women to help Trump’s 2016 campaign and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia The Journal said Cohen commissioned John Gauger, who runs RedFinch Solutions, to write a computer script to repeatedly vote for Trump in a February 2015 Drudge Report poll on potential Republican candidates. The move came as Trump was preparing to enter the 2016 presidential election race, the newspaper reported. Trump ranked fifth in the Drudge Report poll, with about 24,000 votes or 5 per cent of the total, according to the Journal. Cohen also commissioned Gauger to do the same for a 2014 CNBC online poll identifying the country's top business leaders, although Trump was unable to break the top 100 candidates, the Journal reported. "The president has no knowledge of the polls being rigged," Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani said in an interview with Reuters. RedFinch Solutions did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Rigging polls 'was at the direction of' Trump: Ex-lawyer Michael Cohen

President Donald <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-knew-hush-money-payments-were-wrong-ex-lawyer-cohen-184068">Trump's former personal attorney </a>Michael Cohen said on Thursday he had agreed to testify publicly before a congressional panel on February 7, as US House of Representatives Democrats began kicking off numerous <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-was-at-meeting-in-2015-when-hush-payments-were-discussed-source-183942">investigations of Trump</a>, his business interests and his administration.

Cohen said in a statement he had accepted an invitation to testify from Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.

"I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said.

Cummings said the committee has no intention of interfering in ongoing criminal probes. He said, "To that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Mueller’s office."

Special Counsel Robert Mueller for many months has been investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election, possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign and potential obstruction of justice.

Russia has denied US intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the 2016 campaign, while Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt." The investigation has clouded Trump's presidency.

Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to two women to help Trump in 2016 in violation of campaign laws, and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia.

Cohen once said he would take a bullet for Trump, who called his former close confidante a "Rat" on Twitter in mid-December.

House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said he hoped to schedule a closed-door hearing with Cohen later to discuss the Russia probe.

"Mr. Cohen has expressed an interest in telling his personal story in open session, and we welcome his testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform," Schiff said in a statement.

After Cohen was sentenced, Lanny Davis, an attorney who has been advising him on his media strategy, said Cohen wanted to speak publicly about Trump.

"I look forward to assisting Michael to state publicly all he knows about Mr. Trump - and that includes any appropriate congressional committee interested in the search for truth and the difference between facts and lies," Davis said in a statement at the time.

Cohen, Trump's self-described longtime "fixer," pleaded guilty to the campaign finance charge in August and to making false statements in November.

At a hearing last August in federal court in New York, Cohen testified that Trump had directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments before the 2016 election to two women who said they had engaged in extramarital affairs with Trump.

Adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 and former Playboy model Karen McDougal was paid $150,000 by Cohen.

President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen said on Thursday he had agreed to testify publicly before a congressional panel on February 7, as US House of Representatives Democrats began kicking off numerous investigations of Trump, his business interests and his administration.

President Donald Trump's former personal attorney Michael Cohen said on Thursday he had agreed to testify publicly before a congressional panel on February 7, as US House of Representatives Democrats began kicking off numerous investigations of Trump, his business interests and his administration. Cohen said in a statement he had accepted an invitation to testify from Representative Elijah Cummings, the Democratic chairman of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. "I look forward to having the privilege of being afforded a platform with which to give a full and credible account of the events which have transpired," Cohen said. Cummings said the committee has no intention of interfering in ongoing criminal probes. He said, "To that end, we are in the process of consulting with Special Counsel Mueller’s office." Special Counsel Robert Mueller for many months has been investigating Russia's interference in the 2016 US presidential election, possible collusion between the Kremlin and the Trump campaign and potential obstruction of justice. Russia has denied US intelligence agencies' findings that it meddled in the 2016 campaign, while Trump has denied any collusion with Moscow and called Mueller's probe a "witch hunt." The investigation has clouded Trump's presidency. Cohen was sentenced in December to three years in prison for his role in making illegal hush-money payments to two women to help Trump in 2016 in violation of campaign laws, and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. Cohen once said he would take a bullet for Trump, who called his former close confidante a "Rat" on Twitter in mid-December. House Intelligence Committee Chairman Adam Schiff said he hoped to schedule a closed-door hearing with Cohen later to discuss the Russia probe. "Mr. Cohen has expressed an interest in telling his personal story in open session, and we welcome his testimony before the Committee on Oversight and Reform," Schiff said in a statement. After Cohen was sentenced, Lanny Davis, an attorney who has been advising him on his media strategy, said Cohen wanted to speak publicly about Trump. "I look forward to assisting Michael to state publicly all he knows about Mr. Trump - and that includes any appropriate congressional committee interested in the search for truth and the difference between facts and lies," Davis said in a statement at the time. Cohen, Trump's self-described longtime "fixer," pleaded guilty to the campaign finance charge in August and to making false statements in November. At a hearing last August in federal court in New York, Cohen testified that Trump had directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments before the 2016 election to two women who said they had engaged in extramarital affairs with Trump. Adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, was paid $130,000 and former Playboy model Karen McDougal was paid $150,000 by Cohen.

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen to testify publicly before US Congress

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-knew-hush-money-payments-were-wrong-ex-lawyer-cohen-184068">former personal lawyer</a>&nbsp;Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter.

"Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable &amp; unheard of until the witch hunt was illegally started," tweeted Trump.

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Remember, Michael Cohen only became a “Rat” after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable &amp; unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE! Why didn’t they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked’s office?
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1074313153679450113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 16, 2018</a></blockquote>
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The term "rat" is traditionally used in organised crime to refer to a "turncoat" or "informer" who has confessed to authorities and given law enforcement authorities inside information about the organisation.

Trump went on to say in the same Twitter post: "They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE! Why didn't they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked's office?"

The initials DNC refers to the Democratic National Committee and "Crooked" is one of Trump's favorite expressions for former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election and whose use of a private email server to send certain official emails while she was secretary of state - deemed by the FBI to have been reckless but not harmful to national security - he continually mentions.

Cohen, who at one time had publicly said that he would "take a bullet" for Trump, was sentenced this past week to three years in prison for assorted crimes, including violating campaign finance laws in deeds which he testified under oath that the president directed him to undertake.

Cohen was sentenced by a New York court for, among other things, paying hush money to two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump, but he was also handed prison time for matters linked to the Russia probe, including his involvement in a project to build a "Trump Tower" in Moscow.

The president reacted this past week to the accusations against his former personal lawyer, tweeting "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

Since May 2017, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been heading an investigation - independent of government - into possible links between members of Trump's election campaign and the Kremlin, which US intelligence agencies accuse of interfering in the 2016 elections, but he has also been examining potential obstruction of justice by Trump himself.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter.

President Donald Trump on Sunday called his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen - who was sentenced to three years in prison after cooperating with prosecutors in several investigations, including the so-called "Russia probe" - a "rat" on Twitter. "Remember, Michael Cohen only became a 'Rat' after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the witch hunt was illegally started," tweeted Trump. Remember, Michael Cohen only became a “Rat” after the FBI did something which was absolutely unthinkable & unheard of until the Witch Hunt was illegally started. They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY’S OFFICE! Why didn’t they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked’s office? — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 16, 2018 × The term "rat" is traditionally used in organised crime to refer to a "turncoat" or "informer" who has confessed to authorities and given law enforcement authorities inside information about the organisation. Trump went on to say in the same Twitter post: "They BROKE INTO AN ATTORNEY'S OFFICE! Why didn't they break into the DNC to get the Server, or Crooked's office?" The initials DNC refers to the Democratic National Committee and "Crooked" is one of Trump's favorite expressions for former Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton, whom he defeated in the 2016 election and whose use of a private email server to send certain official emails while she was secretary of state - deemed by the FBI to have been reckless but not harmful to national security - he continually mentions. Cohen, who at one time had publicly said that he would "take a bullet" for Trump, was sentenced this past week to three years in prison for assorted crimes, including violating campaign finance laws in deeds which he testified under oath that the president directed him to undertake. Cohen was sentenced by a New York court for, among other things, paying hush money to two women who claimed to have had sexual encounters with Trump, but he was also handed prison time for matters linked to the Russia probe, including his involvement in a project to build a "Trump Tower" in Moscow. The president reacted this past week to the accusations against his former personal lawyer, tweeting "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law." Since May 2017, Special Counsel Robert Mueller has been heading an investigation - independent of government - into possible links between members of Trump's election campaign and the Kremlin, which US intelligence agencies accuse of interfering in the 2016 elections, but he has also been examining potential obstruction of justice by Trump himself.

President Trump calls ex-attorney Cohen a 'rat'

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/china-going-to-open-up-whole-country-they-want-to-please-me-trump-183898">US President Donald Trump</a> was at a meeting in August 2015 when his <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">personal lawyer Michael Cohen</a> and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women.

As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election.

In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed.

The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter.

Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters.

Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment.

Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign.

Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign.

Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions.

In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Michael Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump, NBC News reported on Thursday. A non-prosecution agreement between federal prosecutors and American Media Inc, which publishes the National Enquirer tabloid newspaper, was disclosed on Wednesday in conjunction with the sentencing of Cohen for crimes that included violating campaign finance laws by orchestrating hush payments to women. As part of the agreement American Media admitted that it had made a $150,000 payment to silence a woman about her alleged affair with Trump "in concert" with a presidential campaign and with the intent of influencing the 2016 election. In its "Statement of Admitted Facts," American Media said that in August 2015 Pecker and Cohen met with at least "one other member of the campaign" where the scheme to identify and suppress such stories by making hush payments was discussed. The "other member of the campaign" in that meeting was Trump, NBC reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Charles Stillman, an attorney for American Media, declined to comment to Reuters. Neither Guy Petrillo, a lawyer for Cohen, nor Jay Sekulow, an attorney for Trump, immediately responded to requests for comment. Earlier on Thursday, Trump in a series of tweets distanced himself from Cohen, saying that he never directed Cohen to break the law and that the payments were unrelated to his campaign. Cohen said in a guilty plea in August that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Prosecutors in New York confirmed last week in a court filing that they believed the president ordered the payments to protect his campaign. Trump has denied the affairs and argues the payments to the two women were not campaign contributions. In tweets on Thursday, Trump said, "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law."

Trump was at meeting in 2015 when hush payments were discussed: Source

US President Donald Trump's&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-cohen-to-be-sentenced-for-hush-money-payments-183522">former personal lawyer</a>&nbsp;Michael&nbsp;Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong.

News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong".

Michael Cohen&nbsp;has been sentenced to three years in jail&nbsp;for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

In an interview to a media, Cohen said:&nbsp;"Trump acted because he was very concerned about how this would affect the election".

Cohen's claims have come after <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-was-at-meeting-in-2015-when-hush-payments-were-discussed-source-183942">news reports on Thursday</a> stated that&nbsp;Trump&nbsp;was at a meeting in August 2015 when his&nbsp;<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">personal lawyer Cohen</a>&nbsp;and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump.

Trump who had earlier called Cohen "liar" distanced himself from Cohen and said he had never directed Cohen to break the law.

He also said that the payments made were unrelated to his campaign.

In a guilty plea in August, Cohen had said&nbsp;that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president.

Cohen,&nbsp;who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said in federal court on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his&nbsp;boss's "dirty deeds".

(With inputs from agencies)

US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong. News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong".

US President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen claimed on Friday that Trump was aware that the hush money payments were wrong. News agency AFP quoted Cohen as saying, "Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong". Michael Cohen has been sentenced to three years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign. In an interview to a media, Cohen said: "Trump acted because he was very concerned about how this would affect the election". Cohen's claims have come after news reports on Thursday stated that Trump was at a meeting in August 2015 when his personal lawyer Cohen and David Pecker, chairman of the publisher of the National Enquirer, discussed a scheme to pay off women to suppress their stories about having had affairs with Trump. Trump who had earlier called Cohen "liar" distanced himself from Cohen and said he had never directed Cohen to break the law. He also said that the payments made were unrelated to his campaign. In a guilty plea in August, Cohen had said that he was directed by Trump to arrange a payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal, and personally pay adult-film star Stormy Daniels, both of whom have claimed they had affairs with Trump before he was president. Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said in federal court on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his boss's "dirty deeds". (With inputs from agencies)

Trump knew hush-money payments were wrong: Ex-lawyer Cohen

Michael Cohen, the <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-cohen-to-be-sentenced-for-hush-money-payments-183522">former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump</a> has been sentenced to 3 years in jail&nbsp;for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

Cohen,&nbsp;who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his&nbsp;boss's "dirty deeds".

In a blistering attack on his former boss in federal court, Cohen said he was taking responsibility for his crimes "including those implicating the President of the United States of America".&nbsp;

Cohen pleaded for leniency in the court on Wednesday for the multiple charges levelled against him.

Cohen's lawyers had asked for no jail time after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a financial institution, illegal campaign contributions, and making false statements to Congress.

But the judge sentenced Cohen to three years in jail.

The 52-year-old former lawyer walked into federal court in downtown Manhattan with his wife, son and daughter.

He pleaded guilty in August to charges by federal prosecutors in New York that, just before the election, he paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 and helped arrange a $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal so the women would keep quiet about their past relationships with Trump, who is married. Trump denies having the affairs.

Prosecutors say the hush money payments violated campaign finance laws and they concurred with Cohen's assertion that the payments were directed by Trump, implicating Trump in a possible campaign finance law violation.

(With inputs from agencies) 
&nbsp;

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign.

Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has been sentenced to 3 years in jail for his role in the payment of hush money to women who said they had affairs with Trump and for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia discussed during the 2016 election campaign. Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for the president, said on Wednesday that his job was to cover up his boss's "dirty deeds". In a blistering attack on his former boss in federal court, Cohen said he was taking responsibility for his crimes "including those implicating the President of the United States of America". Cohen pleaded for leniency in the court on Wednesday for the multiple charges levelled against him. Cohen's lawyers had asked for no jail time after he pleaded guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a financial institution, illegal campaign contributions, and making false statements to Congress. But the judge sentenced Cohen to three years in jail. The 52-year-old former lawyer walked into federal court in downtown Manhattan with his wife, son and daughter. He pleaded guilty in August to charges by federal prosecutors in New York that, just before the election, he paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 and helped arrange a $150,000 payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal so the women would keep quiet about their past relationships with Trump, who is married. Trump denies having the affairs. Prosecutors say the hush money payments violated campaign finance laws and they concurred with Cohen's assertion that the payments were directed by Trump, implicating Trump in a possible campaign finance law violation. (With inputs from agencies)

Ex-Trump lawyer Cohen says job was to cover up boss's 'dirty deeds', sentenced to 3 years in prison

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss.

But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency.

The 52-year-old New Yorker has gone from being one of Trump's most trusted lieutenants over the course of 12 years to telling authorities everything he knows about the former real estate magnate's business affairs.

On Wednesday, <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">Cohen was sentenced</a> for campaign finance law violations and tax and bank fraud offenses.

Until now, this attorney and businessman who met Trump through real estate dealings was as close to Trump as you can get.

Cohen admired Trump the brash tycoon and twice read his book "The Art of the Deal." He was fiercely faithful to Trump as the latter moved toward a life in politics and he is said to have fancied, in vain, the job of White House chief counsel - the President's official lawyer.

Named vice president of the Trump family business, The Trump Organisation, Cohen was the fixer assigned the most delicate tasks the president needed done.

These included making nasty threats to journalists who asked too many questions about the shady dealings of a man whose empire was built on pillars of loud, cocky and grandiose self-promotion.

Nickname, the pitbull

"If somebody does something Mr Trump doesn't like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr Trump's benefit," Cohen told ABC News in 2011. "If you do something wrong, I'm going to come at you, grab you by the neck, and I'm not going to let you go until I'm finished."

This devotion would earn Cohen - the son of a nurse and a Polish-born doctor who survived the Holocaust - the nickname of <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-calls-cohen-liar-after-his-sentencing-report-183616">Trump's pitbull</a>. And ultimately it has also dragged him into life-altering legal woes.

US media say Cohen's first taste of lawyering prepared him for shady dealings.

After graduating from law school at Western Michigan University, he specialised in helping people who were hurt in accidents - an ambulance chaser in slang.

For instance, he once defended a woman accused of trying to defraud an insurance company by seeking damages from a fictitious road accident.

Along with his Ukrainian-born wife, Cohen later made a boatload investing in New York taxi licenses, in a pre-Uber era when their value was high and always climbing.

As Trump's fixer, Cohen arranged for Trump to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playmate Karen McDougal, both of whom claimed to have had sex with Trump, right before the 2016 election.

Damaging admissions

But it was an FBI raid on his office in April of this year that paved the way for Cohen to start cooperating with authorities investigation whether Trump colluded with Russia.

Four months later, Cohen acknowledged paying a total of $280,000 to those two women in exchange for their silence. He confessed to violating campaign finance laws that bar individual contributions of more than $2,700 to a politician's campaign.

For the first time, and very importantly, he said he had acted at the president's request in an effort to keep those women from harming Trump's chances of winning the election by triggering a scandal on the eve of the vote.

Cohen thus became a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to sway the vote in his favor and whether the president has tried to obstruct justice by blocking the probe into his relationship with the Russians.

Last month Cohen acknowledged that he lied to Congress about his contacts with Russia about building a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Cohen said these contacts went on until June 2016, far longer than he had previously told lawmakers.

Cohen also said he had been approached in late 2015 by a Russian proposing "political" cooperation with team Trump -- an admission that fueled suspicions of collusion.

Cohen's admissions have people talking about possible impeachment of Trump or criminal charges against him if he does not win re-election in 2020. It is generally thought that a sitting US president cannot be indicted.

Cohen's defenders depict him as a fall guy, but for now he is the only one who is about to go to prison.

New York prosecutors want to see Cohen sentenced to what they call a substantial term of four to five years in prison.

Cohen is hoping that his cooperation with authorities investigating Trump will land him a more lenient punishment.

Cohen's goal now is to get his widely expected prison time over and done with and "begin his life virtually anew, including developing new means to support his family," as his lawyer puts it.

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss. But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency.

He was the personal lawyer to Donald Trump and the epitome of loyalty - a man who said he would "take a bullet" for his boss. But since August, Michael Cohen has been the witness Trump fears most in the Russia investigation, one whose testimony has the power to strike at the heart of Trump's increasingly embattled presidency. The 52-year-old New Yorker has gone from being one of Trump's most trusted lieutenants over the course of 12 years to telling authorities everything he knows about the former real estate magnate's business affairs. On Wednesday, Cohen was sentenced for campaign finance law violations and tax and bank fraud offenses. Until now, this attorney and businessman who met Trump through real estate dealings was as close to Trump as you can get. Cohen admired Trump the brash tycoon and twice read his book "The Art of the Deal." He was fiercely faithful to Trump as the latter moved toward a life in politics and he is said to have fancied, in vain, the job of White House chief counsel - the President's official lawyer. Named vice president of the Trump family business, The Trump Organisation, Cohen was the fixer assigned the most delicate tasks the president needed done. These included making nasty threats to journalists who asked too many questions about the shady dealings of a man whose empire was built on pillars of loud, cocky and grandiose self-promotion. Nickname, the pitbull "If somebody does something Mr Trump doesn't like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr Trump's benefit," Cohen told ABC News in 2011. "If you do something wrong, I'm going to come at you, grab you by the neck, and I'm not going to let you go until I'm finished." This devotion would earn Cohen - the son of a nurse and a Polish-born doctor who survived the Holocaust - the nickname of Trump's pitbull. And ultimately it has also dragged him into life-altering legal woes. US media say Cohen's first taste of lawyering prepared him for shady dealings. After graduating from law school at Western Michigan University, he specialised in helping people who were hurt in accidents - an ambulance chaser in slang. For instance, he once defended a woman accused of trying to defraud an insurance company by seeking damages from a fictitious road accident. Along with his Ukrainian-born wife, Cohen later made a boatload investing in New York taxi licenses, in a pre-Uber era when their value was high and always climbing. As Trump's fixer, Cohen arranged for Trump to pay hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former Playmate Karen McDougal, both of whom claimed to have had sex with Trump, right before the 2016 election. Damaging admissions But it was an FBI raid on his office in April of this year that paved the way for Cohen to start cooperating with authorities investigation whether Trump colluded with Russia. Four months later, Cohen acknowledged paying a total of $280,000 to those two women in exchange for their silence. He confessed to violating campaign finance laws that bar individual contributions of more than $2,700 to a politician's campaign. For the first time, and very importantly, he said he had acted at the president's request in an effort to keep those women from harming Trump's chances of winning the election by triggering a scandal on the eve of the vote. Cohen thus became a key witness in special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to sway the vote in his favor and whether the president has tried to obstruct justice by blocking the probe into his relationship with the Russians. Last month Cohen acknowledged that he lied to Congress about his contacts with Russia about building a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen said these contacts went on until June 2016, far longer than he had previously told lawmakers. Cohen also said he had been approached in late 2015 by a Russian proposing "political" cooperation with team Trump -- an admission that fueled suspicions of collusion. Cohen's admissions have people talking about possible impeachment of Trump or criminal charges against him if he does not win re-election in 2020. It is generally thought that a sitting US president cannot be indicted. Cohen's defenders depict him as a fall guy, but for now he is the only one who is about to go to prison. New York prosecutors want to see Cohen sentenced to what they call a substantial term of four to five years in prison. Cohen is hoping that his cooperation with authorities investigating Trump will land him a more lenient punishment. Cohen's goal now is to get his widely expected prison time over and done with and "begin his life virtually anew, including developing new means to support his family," as his lawyer puts it.

Michael Cohen, Trump's loyal fixer turned tell-all accuser

Donald Trump ignores questions about his former lawyer's 3-year prison sentence

US President Donald Trump has privately admitted to his aides that Michael Cohen was a "liar", hours after the former lawyer of US President was <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-lawyer-says-job-was-to-cover-up-boss-dirty-deeds-sentenced-to-3-years-in-jail-183565">sentenced to three years of prison</a> over federal crimes.

While Trump did not respond to a barrage of questions asked by reporters over the sentencing at a public event, he privately told his administration officials that Cohen was a "liar", CNN reported.

During the hearing at a New York court, Cohen, although, admitted to the crimes he committed, he continued his tirade against Trump, saying he was living in a "personal and mental" prison since he started working for him and acknowledged that he was doing his duty to cover up the "dirty deeds" of the US President.

"Recently the President tweeted a statement calling me weak and it was correct but for a much different reason than he was implying. It was because time and time again I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds," Cohen said.

"This may seem hard to believe, but today is one of the most meaningful days of my life. I have been living in a personal and mental incarceration ever since the day that I accepted the offer to work for a real estate mogul whose business acumen that I deeply admired," Cohen added.

Former Attorney admitted to lying to Congress, violating campaign finance laws and tax evasion. He was ordered to pay US $1.39 million in restitution, forfeit US $500,000 and cough up an additional US $50,000 fine by the US District Judge William Pauley.

The judge also ordered Cohen to surrender himself to the authorities by March 6 next year.

US President Donald Trump has privately admitted to his aides that Michael Cohen was a "liar", hours after the former lawyer of US President was sentenced to three years of prison over federal crimes.

US President Donald Trump has privately admitted to his aides that Michael Cohen was a "liar", hours after the former lawyer of US President was sentenced to three years of prison over federal crimes. While Trump did not respond to a barrage of questions asked by reporters over the sentencing at a public event, he privately told his administration officials that Cohen was a "liar", CNN reported. During the hearing at a New York court, Cohen, although, admitted to the crimes he committed, he continued his tirade against Trump, saying he was living in a "personal and mental" prison since he started working for him and acknowledged that he was doing his duty to cover up the "dirty deeds" of the US President. "Recently the President tweeted a statement calling me weak and it was correct but for a much different reason than he was implying. It was because time and time again I felt it was my duty to cover up his dirty deeds," Cohen said. "This may seem hard to believe, but today is one of the most meaningful days of my life. I have been living in a personal and mental incarceration ever since the day that I accepted the offer to work for a real estate mogul whose business acumen that I deeply admired," Cohen added. Former Attorney admitted to lying to Congress, violating campaign finance laws and tax evasion. He was ordered to pay US $1.39 million in restitution, forfeit US $500,000 and cough up an additional US $50,000 fine by the US District Judge William Pauley. The judge also ordered Cohen to surrender himself to the authorities by March 6 next year.

Trump calls Cohen 'liar' after his sentencing: Report

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump on Thursday said he never told his private lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law and denied any ties to his crimes, a day after Cohen was sentenced to prison on charges that included hush money payments to women ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

"Cohen was guilty on many charges unrelated to me," Trump said in a series of Twitter posts, adding that Cohen wanted "to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence, which he did."

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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called “advice of counsel,” and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made. That is why they get paid. Despite that many campaign finance lawyers have strongly......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073205176872435713?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
....stated that I did nothing wrong with respect to campaign finance laws, if they even apply, because this was not campaign finance. Cohen was guilty on many charges unrelated to me, but he plead to two campaign charges which were not criminal and of which he probably was not...
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073207272069890049?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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....guilty even on a civil basis. Those charges were just agreed to by him in order to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence, which he did-including the fact that his family was temporarily let off the hook. As a lawyer, Michael has great liability to me!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) <a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1073210823936495617?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">December 13, 2018</a></blockquote>
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Cohen, who once said he would "take a bullet for Trump," was sentenced in New York on Wednesday to three years in prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating the payments that were part of the "dirty deeds" he did at the behest of Trump. Federal prosecutors said Trump ordered the payouts to protect his campaign from allegations of sexual affairs with an adult film actress and a Playboy model.

Trump faces growing political and legal risks from a monthslong investigation into the payments by U.S. prosecutors, which stemmed from the larger continuing federal probe into alleged Russian interference in the election and possible collusion by Trump's campaign.

Justice Department policy is not to indict a sitting president but some legal experts have said Trump could be charged after leaving office. Democrats and other critics also have raised the issue of impeachment by Congress.

In his tweets, Trump said he had no role in Cohen's actions.

"I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law," he said. "He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called 'advice of counsel,' and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made. That is why they get paid."

TRUMP DENIALS

Trump has denied the affairs and argued the payments to Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult-film star Stormy Daniels were not campaign contributions.

Trump also has denied collusion with Moscow and called Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt." Russia has also denied any interference.

Prosecutors on Wednesday also said the publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid had struck a deal to avoid charges over its role in one of the payments made "in concert" with Trump's presidential campaign.

Cohen, who also pleaded to tax evasion and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow, in court on Wednesday said his "blind loyalty" led him to cover up for Trump.

Cohen is the latest Trump associate to be swept up in Mueller's investigation following Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates and former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn, among others.

Trump has offered a shifting defense on the payments to the women, first saying in April that he did not know about the payments to later appearing to acknowledge they were made but saying they were unrelated to campaign finances.

In an interview with Reuters this week, he slammed Cohen for cooperating with prosecutors and said he was unconcerned about possible impeachment. He also called any of his potential business dealings with Russia "peanut stuff."

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he never told his private lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law and denied any ties to his crimes, a day after Cohen was sentenced to prison on charges that included hush money payments to women ahead of the 2016 presidential election.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said he never told his private lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law and denied any ties to his crimes, a day after Cohen was sentenced to prison on charges that included hush money payments to women ahead of the 2016 presidential election. "Cohen was guilty on many charges unrelated to me," Trump said in a series of Twitter posts, adding that Cohen wanted "to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence, which he did." I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law. He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called “advice of counsel,” and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made. That is why they get paid. Despite that many campaign finance lawyers have strongly...... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2018 × ....stated that I did nothing wrong with respect to campaign finance laws, if they even apply, because this was not campaign finance. Cohen was guilty on many charges unrelated to me, but he plead to two campaign charges which were not criminal and of which he probably was not... — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2018 × ....guilty even on a civil basis. Those charges were just agreed to by him in order to embarrass the president and get a much reduced prison sentence, which he did-including the fact that his family was temporarily let off the hook. As a lawyer, Michael has great liability to me! — Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 13, 2018 × Cohen, who once said he would "take a bullet for Trump," was sentenced in New York on Wednesday to three years in prison after pleading guilty to orchestrating the payments that were part of the "dirty deeds" he did at the behest of Trump. Federal prosecutors said Trump ordered the payouts to protect his campaign from allegations of sexual affairs with an adult film actress and a Playboy model. Trump faces growing political and legal risks from a monthslong investigation into the payments by U.S. prosecutors, which stemmed from the larger continuing federal probe into alleged Russian interference in the election and possible collusion by Trump's campaign. Justice Department policy is not to indict a sitting president but some legal experts have said Trump could be charged after leaving office. Democrats and other critics also have raised the issue of impeachment by Congress. In his tweets, Trump said he had no role in Cohen's actions. "I never directed Michael Cohen to break the law," he said. "He was a lawyer and he is supposed to know the law. It is called 'advice of counsel,' and a lawyer has great liability if a mistake is made. That is why they get paid." TRUMP DENIALS Trump has denied the affairs and argued the payments to Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult-film star Stormy Daniels were not campaign contributions. Trump also has denied collusion with Moscow and called Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation a "witch hunt." Russia has also denied any interference. Prosecutors on Wednesday also said the publisher of the National Enquirer tabloid had struck a deal to avoid charges over its role in one of the payments made "in concert" with Trump's presidential campaign. Cohen, who also pleaded to tax evasion and lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Organization building in Moscow, in court on Wednesday said his "blind loyalty" led him to cover up for Trump. Cohen is the latest Trump associate to be swept up in Mueller's investigation following Trump's campaign chairman Paul Manafort, former deputy campaign chairman Rick Gates and former White House national security adviser Michael Flynn, among others. Trump has offered a shifting defense on the payments to the women, first saying in April that he did not know about the payments to later appearing to acknowledge they were made but saying they were unrelated to campaign finances. In an interview with Reuters this week, he slammed Cohen for cooperating with prosecutors and said he was unconcerned about possible impeachment. He also called any of his potential business dealings with Russia "peanut stuff."

Did not tell ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to break the law: Donald Trump

Trump's former lawyer Micheal Cohen convicted

US President Donald Trump sees his impeachment as a "real possibility" over finance violations during the 2016 campaign, according to a media report.

Impeachment talks have ratcheted up in recent days following a blockbuster filing from prosecutors in the Southern District of New York in which they directly alleged for the first time that Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen was being directed by the president when he broke the law during the 2016 presidential campaign, CNN said.

Trump has expressed concern that he could be impeached when Democrats take over the House, CNN quoted a source close to the president as saying.

Trump is facing off against a series of accusations put together by a team of investigators.

Special counsel Robert Mueller has launched an 18-month investigation into the legitimacy of Donald Trump's 2016 election win.

A source close to the White House told CNN that aides inside the West Wing believe "the only issue that may stick" in the impeachment process is the campaign finance violations tied to former Cohen's payouts to Trump's alleged mistresses, according to the report.

Prosecutors said Trump's lawyer clearly sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 election from the sidelines through illicit payments.

Under US federal law, any payments made for the "purpose of influencing" an election must be reported in campaign finance disclosures.

Prosecutors said Cohen took great steps to hide the payments, creating shell companies, using fake invoices and sending them in small amounts so they wouldn't arouse suspicion.

He arranged for a US $130,000 payment to adult film star Daniels, which prosecutors concluded violated campaign finance law prohibitions against donations of more than US $2,700 in a general election.

Trump has denied all wrongdoing and compared the investigations to a "witch hunt".

Democrats are suggesting Trump committed an impeachable offense and could be sent to prison when his term in the White House is over.

The incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, said Sunday the allegations, if proven, would constitute "impeachable offenses."

Democratic Senator Chris Coons said on Monday Trump could be indicted after he leaves office.

Cohen first made the allegation in court in September that he was directed by Trump to make the payments to the two women, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. 
Prosecutors endorsed the allegation in a sentencing document for Cohen on Friday, in which they said Cohen should receive a "substantial sentence" for the crimes he committed, which included campaign finance violations for the payments to the two women, tax fraud and lying to Congress.

White House officials, at the moment, still don't believe special counsel Mueller's investigation into possible collusion will result in impeachment. Officials are also comforted by their belief that the campaign finance issue is not seen as enough to galvanize bipartisan support for impeachment, the report said.

Another separate source said Trump remains confident at this point that, while he could be impeached in the House, he doesn't believe he would be convicted in the Senate as the Republicans remains in control there.

The campaign finance issue tied to the alleged mistresses is not viewed as having the firepower to trigger a bipartisan vote for conviction and removal in the Senate, the source said.

These beliefs about the politics at play in impeachment proceedings are based on what White House officials believe Mueller has on Trump right now. It's still unclear exactly where else the special counsel's probe could go, the report said.

US President Donald Trump sees his impeachment as a "real possibility" over finance violations during the 2016 campaign, according to a media report. Impeachment talks have ratcheted up in recent days following a blockbuster filing from prosecutors in the Southern District of New York in which they directly alleged for the first time that Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen was being directed by the president when he broke the law during the 2016 presidential campaign, CNN said.

US President Donald Trump sees his impeachment as a "real possibility" over finance violations during the 2016 campaign, according to a media report. Impeachment talks have ratcheted up in recent days following a blockbuster filing from prosecutors in the Southern District of New York in which they directly alleged for the first time that Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen was being directed by the president when he broke the law during the 2016 presidential campaign, CNN said. Trump has expressed concern that he could be impeached when Democrats take over the House, CNN quoted a source close to the president as saying. Trump is facing off against a series of accusations put together by a team of investigators. Special counsel Robert Mueller has launched an 18-month investigation into the legitimacy of Donald Trump's 2016 election win. A source close to the White House told CNN that aides inside the West Wing believe "the only issue that may stick" in the impeachment process is the campaign finance violations tied to former Cohen's payouts to Trump's alleged mistresses, according to the report. Prosecutors said Trump's lawyer clearly sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 election from the sidelines through illicit payments. Under US federal law, any payments made for the "purpose of influencing" an election must be reported in campaign finance disclosures. Prosecutors said Cohen took great steps to hide the payments, creating shell companies, using fake invoices and sending them in small amounts so they wouldn't arouse suspicion. He arranged for a US $130,000 payment to adult film star Daniels, which prosecutors concluded violated campaign finance law prohibitions against donations of more than US $2,700 in a general election. Trump has denied all wrongdoing and compared the investigations to a "witch hunt". Democrats are suggesting Trump committed an impeachable offense and could be sent to prison when his term in the White House is over. The incoming chairman of the House Judiciary Committee, Jerry Nadler, said Sunday the allegations, if proven, would constitute "impeachable offenses." Democratic Senator Chris Coons said on Monday Trump could be indicted after he leaves office. Cohen first made the allegation in court in September that he was directed by Trump to make the payments to the two women, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Prosecutors endorsed the allegation in a sentencing document for Cohen on Friday, in which they said Cohen should receive a "substantial sentence" for the crimes he committed, which included campaign finance violations for the payments to the two women, tax fraud and lying to Congress. White House officials, at the moment, still don't believe special counsel Mueller's investigation into possible collusion will result in impeachment. Officials are also comforted by their belief that the campaign finance issue is not seen as enough to galvanize bipartisan support for impeachment, the report said. Another separate source said Trump remains confident at this point that, while he could be impeached in the House, he doesn't believe he would be convicted in the Senate as the Republicans remains in control there. The campaign finance issue tied to the alleged mistresses is not viewed as having the firepower to trigger a bipartisan vote for conviction and removal in the Senate, the source said. These beliefs about the politics at play in impeachment proceedings are based on what White House officials believe Mueller has on Trump right now. It's still unclear exactly where else the special counsel's probe could go, the report said.

Trump concerned about being impeached: Report

Federal prosecutors on Friday asked "substantial" prison term for Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump for paying an adult film star hush money on Trump's behalf and evading taxes.&nbsp;

The prosecutors also revealed alleged lies by another former Trump aide Paul Manafort.

Cohen, who has been cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign, pleaded guilty to financial crimes in August in New York, and to a separate charge of lying to Congress in a case disclosed by Mueller last week.

Prosecutors in both those cases were required to submit separate memos on Cohen's cooperation to US District Judge William Pauley in Manhattan, who will decide Cohen's sentence on December 12, reported Reuters.

Asking the judge to reject Cohen's request he be spared prison term, the New York prosecutors described Cohen in their filing as being motivated by "personal greed" and said he "repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends," the report added.

Prosecutors said his sentence should reflect a "modest" reduction from the four to five years they said federal guidelines would suggest.

Mueller said Cohen had voluntarily provided information about his own and others' conduct on "core topics under investigation" and described the information "credible and consistent with other evidence" they had obtained.

Citing Cohen's cooperation, Mueller suggested the sentence for lying to Congress run concurrently with the sentence in the New York case.

Mueller also revealed the details of alleged lies told by Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, during interviews with prosecutors, reported Reuters.

Among other things, prosecutors said Manafort lied about his interactions with a political consultant who had ties to Russian intelligence, and about interactions with Trump administration officials even after Manafort was indicted in late 2017.

"In his interviews with the Special Counsel's Office and the FBI, Manafort told multiple discernible lies - these were not instances of mere memory lapses," Mueller said in the filing, which was requested by a federal judge in Washington after Mueller accused Manafort of breaching his plea deal last month.

Federal prosecutors on Friday asked "substantial" prison term for Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump for paying an adult film star hush money on Trump's behalf and evading taxes.

Federal prosecutors on Friday asked "substantial" prison term for Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump for paying an adult film star hush money on Trump's behalf and evading taxes. The prosecutors also revealed alleged lies by another former Trump aide Paul Manafort. Cohen, who has been cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign, pleaded guilty to financial crimes in August in New York, and to a separate charge of lying to Congress in a case disclosed by Mueller last week. Prosecutors in both those cases were required to submit separate memos on Cohen's cooperation to US District Judge William Pauley in Manhattan, who will decide Cohen's sentence on December 12, reported Reuters. Asking the judge to reject Cohen's request he be spared prison term, the New York prosecutors described Cohen in their filing as being motivated by "personal greed" and said he "repeatedly used his power and influence for deceptive ends," the report added. Prosecutors said his sentence should reflect a "modest" reduction from the four to five years they said federal guidelines would suggest. Mueller said Cohen had voluntarily provided information about his own and others' conduct on "core topics under investigation" and described the information "credible and consistent with other evidence" they had obtained. Citing Cohen's cooperation, Mueller suggested the sentence for lying to Congress run concurrently with the sentence in the New York case. Mueller also revealed the details of alleged lies told by Paul Manafort, President Donald Trump's former campaign manager, during interviews with prosecutors, reported Reuters. Among other things, prosecutors said Manafort lied about his interactions with a political consultant who had ties to Russian intelligence, and about interactions with Trump administration officials even after Manafort was indicted in late 2017. "In his interviews with the Special Counsel's Office and the FBI, Manafort told multiple discernible lies - these were not instances of mere memory lapses," Mueller said in the filing, which was requested by a federal judge in Washington after Mueller accused Manafort of breaching his plea deal last month.

US prosecutors call for substantial prison term for Cohen, detail Manafort's lies in Russia probe

US prosecutors revealed Friday that a Russian offered cooperation to Donald Trump's campaign as early as 2015, declaring that the president's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen had provided "relevant" and "substantial" help to the Russia investigation.

In a separate case, federal prosecutors demanded "substantial" jail time of between 51 to 63 months -- four to five years -- for Cohen for bank fraud and campaign finance violations to which he plead guilty last August.

US Attorney Robert Khuzami accused the 52-year-old, who once vowed to take a bullet for the president, of being motivated by "personal greed" and of "repeatedly" using his power and influence for "deceptive ends."

"Totally clears the President. Thank you!" tweeted the US president cryptically as television networks were consumed by the Cohen documents -- which the White House dismissed as revealing "nothing of value."

The campaign finance violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty in August concerned hush payments he made on Trump's behalf to alleged former lovers of the president, including porn star Stormy Daniels.

Robert Mueller, the special counsel heading up the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 vote, followed up with a separate filing saying Cohen had made "substantial and significant efforts to remediate his misconduct, accept responsibility for his actions, and assist" the special investigation, a thorn in Trump's side.

Cohen continued to provide "relevant and truthful information" to assist the probe, holding seven sessions with investigators, "many of them lengthy, and continues to make himself available to investigators," it said.

He had provided information about contacts with Russian interests during the campaign, attempts by Russians to reach the campaign and about contacts with "persons connected to the White House" in 2017-2018, the filing added.

Around November 2015, some five months after Trump launched his bid for the presidency and well before previously reported contacts, Cohen spoke to a purported "trusted person" in the Russian Federation who offered the campaign "political synergy" and "synergy on a government level."

Cohen said the person "repeatedly proposed" a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming it could have a "phenomenal" impact "not only in political but in a business dimension as well".

"Cohen, however, did not follow up on this invitation," the filing added.

Trump claims 'cleared'

The former fixer last week pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in connection with a Moscow real-estate deal, which was being pursued as late as one month before Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president.

Due to his help, Mueller declined to recommend additional jail time for Cohen for lying to Congress.

Recent filings in the Mueller probe have suggested the White House knew that Cohen planned to lie to lawmakers about his contacts with Russians.

They also suggest Trump and his family were in the loop on discussions with Russians on a Moscow project, even after the real estate tycoon secured the Republican nomination in mid-2016.

Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders dismissed the latest filings in Cohen's case, saying they "tell us nothing of value that wasn't already known."

"Mr. Cohen has repeatedly lied and as the prosecution has pointed out to the court, Mr. Cohen is no hero," she said.

But Mueller has been inching ever closer to the White House, and early on Friday Trump fired off a feverish volley of tweets against a probe he dubs a "witch hunt," accusing Mueller of "big time conflicts of interest" and alleging the prosecutor coerced false testimony from witnesses.

The commander-in-chief vowed his lawyers would produce a "major Counter Report" to rebut Mueller's findings, as and when he delivers them.

Attorney general switch

Shortly afterwards, Trump announced his intention to nominate William Barr as his new attorney general -- succeeding Jeff Sessions, who he sacked last month.

Sessions had angered the president by recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller probe because of his own contacts with Russian officials.

Barr -- a former attorney general under the late George H.W. Bush -- is considered something of a consensus candidate for the highly sensitive post.

He does, however, have a record of endorsing strong executive powers, which could come into play if Mueller sought to compel Trump to testify.

Barr has also voiced concerns about a number of Mueller's team donating to the Democratic Party.

Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned Barr must commit, under oath, that the Russia investigation "will proceed unimpeded" and that the final report will be made available to Congress and the public "immediately."

In Washington Mueller also detailed multiple "lies" that former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort told investigators, leading to a termination of his cooperation deal.

A heavily redacted court filing included among Manafort's "lies," untruths about his dealings with Konstantin Kilimnik, a business associate who US officials suspect is a Russian intelligence operative, and about his contacts with Trump administration officials after striking a plea agreement.

The White House similarly dismissed that filing, arguing it "says absolutely nothing about the President."

"Once again the media is trying to create a story where there isn't one," said Sanders.&nbsp;

US prosecutors revealed Friday that a Russian offered cooperation to Donald Trump's campaign as early as 2015, declaring that the president's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen had provided "relevant" and "substantial" help to the Russia investigation.

US prosecutors revealed Friday that a Russian offered cooperation to Donald Trump's campaign as early as 2015, declaring that the president's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen had provided "relevant" and "substantial" help to the Russia investigation. In a separate case, federal prosecutors demanded "substantial" jail time of between 51 to 63 months -- four to five years -- for Cohen for bank fraud and campaign finance violations to which he plead guilty last August. US Attorney Robert Khuzami accused the 52-year-old, who once vowed to take a bullet for the president, of being motivated by "personal greed" and of "repeatedly" using his power and influence for "deceptive ends." "Totally clears the President. Thank you!" tweeted the US president cryptically as television networks were consumed by the Cohen documents -- which the White House dismissed as revealing "nothing of value." The campaign finance violations to which Cohen pleaded guilty in August concerned hush payments he made on Trump's behalf to alleged former lovers of the president, including porn star Stormy Daniels. Robert Mueller, the special counsel heading up the probe into Russian meddling in the 2016 vote, followed up with a separate filing saying Cohen had made "substantial and significant efforts to remediate his misconduct, accept responsibility for his actions, and assist" the special investigation, a thorn in Trump's side. Cohen continued to provide "relevant and truthful information" to assist the probe, holding seven sessions with investigators, "many of them lengthy, and continues to make himself available to investigators," it said. He had provided information about contacts with Russian interests during the campaign, attempts by Russians to reach the campaign and about contacts with "persons connected to the White House" in 2017-2018, the filing added. Around November 2015, some five months after Trump launched his bid for the presidency and well before previously reported contacts, Cohen spoke to a purported "trusted person" in the Russian Federation who offered the campaign "political synergy" and "synergy on a government level." Cohen said the person "repeatedly proposed" a meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, claiming it could have a "phenomenal" impact "not only in political but in a business dimension as well". "Cohen, however, did not follow up on this invitation," the filing added. Trump claims 'cleared' The former fixer last week pleaded guilty to lying to Congress in connection with a Moscow real-estate deal, which was being pursued as late as one month before Trump officially became the Republican nominee for president. Due to his help, Mueller declined to recommend additional jail time for Cohen for lying to Congress. Recent filings in the Mueller probe have suggested the White House knew that Cohen planned to lie to lawmakers about his contacts with Russians. They also suggest Trump and his family were in the loop on discussions with Russians on a Moscow project, even after the real estate tycoon secured the Republican nomination in mid-2016. Trump's spokeswoman Sarah Sanders dismissed the latest filings in Cohen's case, saying they "tell us nothing of value that wasn't already known." "Mr. Cohen has repeatedly lied and as the prosecution has pointed out to the court, Mr. Cohen is no hero," she said. But Mueller has been inching ever closer to the White House, and early on Friday Trump fired off a feverish volley of tweets against a probe he dubs a "witch hunt," accusing Mueller of "big time conflicts of interest" and alleging the prosecutor coerced false testimony from witnesses. The commander-in-chief vowed his lawyers would produce a "major Counter Report" to rebut Mueller's findings, as and when he delivers them. Attorney general switch Shortly afterwards, Trump announced his intention to nominate William Barr as his new attorney general -- succeeding Jeff Sessions, who he sacked last month. Sessions had angered the president by recusing himself from overseeing the Mueller probe because of his own contacts with Russian officials. Barr -- a former attorney general under the late George H.W. Bush -- is considered something of a consensus candidate for the highly sensitive post. He does, however, have a record of endorsing strong executive powers, which could come into play if Mueller sought to compel Trump to testify. Barr has also voiced concerns about a number of Mueller's team donating to the Democratic Party. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer warned Barr must commit, under oath, that the Russia investigation "will proceed unimpeded" and that the final report will be made available to Congress and the public "immediately." In Washington Mueller also detailed multiple "lies" that former Trump campaign chief Paul Manafort told investigators, leading to a termination of his cooperation deal. A heavily redacted court filing included among Manafort's "lies," untruths about his dealings with Konstantin Kilimnik, a business associate who US officials suspect is a Russian intelligence operative, and about his contacts with Trump administration officials after striking a plea agreement. The White House similarly dismissed that filing, arguing it "says absolutely nothing about the President." "Once again the media is trying to create a story where there isn't one," said Sanders.

Russian offered Trump campaign 'political' cooperation in 2015: US prosecutors

US&nbsp;Special Counsel Robert Mueller will provide new details on Friday on how two of President <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-manafort-pardon-not-off-the-table-interview-180174">Donald Trump</a>'s closest former aides have helped or hindered his investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign.

Mueller last month accused Trump's former campaign chairman <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-trump-aide-manafort-violated-plea-agreement-by-lying-prosecutors-say-179643">Paul Manafort of breaching a plea bargain deal</a> by lying to prosecutors, and he will submit information on those alleged lies in a filing to a federal court in Washington.

That could include shedding new light on Manafort's business dealings or his consulting for pro-Kremlin interests in Ukraine.

Manafort, who maintains he has been truthful with Mueller, managed Trump's campaign for three months in 2016.

Also on Friday, Mueller's office and the Southern District of New York are to file sentencing memos on Michael Cohen, Trump's former private lawyer.

Cohen pleaded guilty to financial crimes in a New York court in August, and last week to lying to Congress in a Mueller case. Sentencing for both of those cases will be handled by one judge.

Attention will focus on whether Mueller discloses new information to supplement Cohen's admission last week that he sought help from the Kremlin for a Trump skyscraper in Moscow late into the 2016 campaign.

Mueller's probe has infuriated Trump. He denies any collusion between his team and Russia, and accuses Mueller's prosecutors of pressuring his former aides to lie about him, his election campaign and his business dealings.

The president has called Cohen a liar and "weak person."

Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said he was eager to see if Mueller's prosecutors directly or tacitly support Cohen's assertions that Trump directed him to make hush payments to women in violation of campaign finance law and that he let the White House know what he planned to tell Congress about the Moscow skyscraper project. Cohen now says he lied in that testimony.

"If the government does not contest that, it indicates that it is consistent with the evidence that they do have," Mariotti said, referring to Cohen's assertions. "It could be a big day."

Sending a message?

The filings on Cohen and Manafort follow a sentencing memo earlier this week on Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn.

In that memo, Mueller praised Flynn for providing "substantial" cooperation and argued that Flynn should receive no prison time, a move widely seen by legal experts as a message to other would-be cooperators that assistance would be rewarded.

Cohen is hoping he will get similar credit, emphasizing in a court filing last week that his decision to cooperate came in the face of fierce criticism by Trump of Mueller's probe.

Cohen's lawyers also argued that celebrities engaged in similar tax evasion cases - one of the core charges against him - faced only civil penalties. They said his financial crimes were unsophisticated, noting no overseas accounts were used.

Manafort, in addition to allegedly lying to Mueller, was convicted in a separate case in Virginia for a sophisticated bank and tax fraud scheme that included tens of millions of dollars in payments for his work in Ukraine.

Mariotti said he expected Mueller's office to be unsparing in its submission on Friday.

"They want the judge to throw the book at Manafort, sending a message to him and everyone else," he said.

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller will provide new details on Friday on how two of President Donald Trump's closest former aides have helped or hindered his investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign.

US Special Counsel Robert Mueller will provide new details on Friday on how two of President Donald Trump's closest former aides have helped or hindered his investigation into possible collusion between Russia and Trump's 2016 election campaign. Mueller last month accused Trump's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort of breaching a plea bargain deal by lying to prosecutors, and he will submit information on those alleged lies in a filing to a federal court in Washington. That could include shedding new light on Manafort's business dealings or his consulting for pro-Kremlin interests in Ukraine. Manafort, who maintains he has been truthful with Mueller, managed Trump's campaign for three months in 2016. Also on Friday, Mueller's office and the Southern District of New York are to file sentencing memos on Michael Cohen, Trump's former private lawyer. Cohen pleaded guilty to financial crimes in a New York court in August, and last week to lying to Congress in a Mueller case. Sentencing for both of those cases will be handled by one judge. Attention will focus on whether Mueller discloses new information to supplement Cohen's admission last week that he sought help from the Kremlin for a Trump skyscraper in Moscow late into the 2016 campaign. Mueller's probe has infuriated Trump. He denies any collusion between his team and Russia, and accuses Mueller's prosecutors of pressuring his former aides to lie about him, his election campaign and his business dealings. The president has called Cohen a liar and "weak person." Renato Mariotti, a former federal prosecutor, said he was eager to see if Mueller's prosecutors directly or tacitly support Cohen's assertions that Trump directed him to make hush payments to women in violation of campaign finance law and that he let the White House know what he planned to tell Congress about the Moscow skyscraper project. Cohen now says he lied in that testimony. "If the government does not contest that, it indicates that it is consistent with the evidence that they do have," Mariotti said, referring to Cohen's assertions. "It could be a big day." Sending a message? The filings on Cohen and Manafort follow a sentencing memo earlier this week on Trump's former national security adviser Michael Flynn. In that memo, Mueller praised Flynn for providing "substantial" cooperation and argued that Flynn should receive no prison time, a move widely seen by legal experts as a message to other would-be cooperators that assistance would be rewarded. Cohen is hoping he will get similar credit, emphasizing in a court filing last week that his decision to cooperate came in the face of fierce criticism by Trump of Mueller's probe. Cohen's lawyers also argued that celebrities engaged in similar tax evasion cases - one of the core charges against him - faced only civil penalties. They said his financial crimes were unsophisticated, noting no overseas accounts were used. Manafort, in addition to allegedly lying to Mueller, was convicted in a separate case in Virginia for a sophisticated bank and tax fraud scheme that included tens of millions of dollars in payments for his work in Ukraine. Mariotti said he expected Mueller's office to be unsparing in its submission on Friday. "They want the judge to throw the book at Manafort, sending a message to him and everyone else," he said.

Special Counsel Robert Mueller to give details on Russia probe with filings on former Trump aides

US President Donald Trump called Monday for "a long prison term" after his ex-lawyer <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ex-lawyer-michael-cohen-says-he-told-trump-about-conversation-with-kremlin-court-filing-180788">Michael Cohen</a> admitted lying to Congress about pursuing a real estate deal with Russia on Trump's behalf during the 2016 election campaign.

He also repeated his accusation that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-sends-written-responses-to-robert-mueller-in-russia-probe-178500">Special Counsel Robert Mueller</a> -- who is investigating possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign -- is forcing witnesses to make up lies damaging to the president.

"You mean he can do all of the TERRIBLE, unrelated to Trump, things having to do with fraud, big loans, Taxis, etc., and not serve a long prison term?" the president said on Twitter.

"He lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence," Trump added.

Cohen, once one of the president's closest allies and a top executive at The Trump Organization, last week admitted lying in testimony about contacts with powerful Moscow figures over building a Trump Tower in Moscow.

Those contacts, including with a top aide to President Vladimir Putin, continued throughout the first half of 2016 even after Trump secured the Republican nomination for president, Cohen admitted.

Trump and his campaign have repeatedly denied talks on a deal after 2015, but Cohen told a court that Trump and members of his family were informed of the discussions which continued through the middle of 2016, just months before the presidential election.

On Friday Cohen, who had already admitted multiple counts of tax evasion, financial fraud and campaign finance violations, asked the New York federal court for a "time served" sentence.

He hasn't spent any time incarcerated beyond the routine custody before each of his guilty pleas.

Cohen's lawyers said he had fully cooperated with Mueller's investigation and would continue to do so, and deserved to avoid imprisonment.

"Michael's decision to cooperate and take full responsibility for his own conduct well reflects his personal resolve, notwithstanding past errors, to re-point his internal compass true north toward a productive, ethical and thoroughly law-abiding life," the lawyers said in a court filing.

Trump meanwhile lashed out at Mueller, whom he again accused of forcing witnesses to make up lies damaging to him.

"Robert Mueller... and his out of control band of Angry Democrats, don't want the truth, they only want lies. The truth is very bad for their mission!" Trump tweeted.

The president praised former political advisor Roger Stone, who has rejected allegations that he abetted Russian interference to help Trump in the 2016 election through contacts with WikiLeaks, which published stolen emails that embarrassed Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.

Trump cited Stone's pledge to never testify against him.

"Nice to know that some people still have 'guts!'" Trump wrote.

US President Donald Trump called Monday for "a long prison term" after his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress about pursuing a real estate deal with Russia on Trump's behalf during the 2016 election campaign.

US President Donald Trump called Monday for "a long prison term" after his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen admitted lying to Congress about pursuing a real estate deal with Russia on Trump's behalf during the 2016 election campaign. He also repeated his accusation that Special Counsel Robert Mueller -- who is investigating possible collusion between Russia and Trump's campaign -- is forcing witnesses to make up lies damaging to the president. "You mean he can do all of the TERRIBLE, unrelated to Trump, things having to do with fraud, big loans, Taxis, etc., and not serve a long prison term?" the president said on Twitter. "He lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence," Trump added. Cohen, once one of the president's closest allies and a top executive at The Trump Organization, last week admitted lying in testimony about contacts with powerful Moscow figures over building a Trump Tower in Moscow. Those contacts, including with a top aide to President Vladimir Putin, continued throughout the first half of 2016 even after Trump secured the Republican nomination for president, Cohen admitted. Trump and his campaign have repeatedly denied talks on a deal after 2015, but Cohen told a court that Trump and members of his family were informed of the discussions which continued through the middle of 2016, just months before the presidential election. On Friday Cohen, who had already admitted multiple counts of tax evasion, financial fraud and campaign finance violations, asked the New York federal court for a "time served" sentence. He hasn't spent any time incarcerated beyond the routine custody before each of his guilty pleas. Cohen's lawyers said he had fully cooperated with Mueller's investigation and would continue to do so, and deserved to avoid imprisonment. "Michael's decision to cooperate and take full responsibility for his own conduct well reflects his personal resolve, notwithstanding past errors, to re-point his internal compass true north toward a productive, ethical and thoroughly law-abiding life," the lawyers said in a court filing. Trump meanwhile lashed out at Mueller, whom he again accused of forcing witnesses to make up lies damaging to him. "Robert Mueller... and his out of control band of Angry Democrats, don't want the truth, they only want lies. The truth is very bad for their mission!" Trump tweeted. The president praised former political advisor Roger Stone, who has rejected allegations that he abetted Russian interference to help Trump in the 2016 election through contacts with WikiLeaks, which published stolen emails that embarrassed Trump's Democratic rival Hillary Clinton. Trump cited Stone's pledge to never testify against him. "Nice to know that some people still have 'guts!'" Trump wrote.

Trump calls for his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen to be jailed

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, informed Trump about a conversation he had with the Kremlin seeking help to build a skyscraper in Moscow in 2016 during the US&nbsp;presidential campaign, according to a court filing.

Cohen also "remained in close and regular contact with White House-based staff and legal counsel" to Trump while preparing false statements to Congress about his contacts with Russia, Cohen's lawyer's said in the filing to a Manhattan federal judge late Friday.

Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12 after pleading guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a bank, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress.

Cohen has been cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign and his lawyers asked in the filing that he avoid prison time. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Cohen, a former member of Trump's inner circle who in the past called himself the president's "fixer,", admitted this week that he made false statements to two congressional panels about the Moscow project in a bid to remain consistent with Trump's messaging about Russia during the 2016 campaign.

Cohen had said in his statement to Congress that he had limited contact with Trump concerning the project, when in fact it had been more extensive. Cohen also said he falsely told Congress he never took any steps toward traveling to Russia when in fact he had discussed going there.

In Friday's court filing, Cohen said he kept Trump "apprised" of the "substantive conversation" he had with an assistant to a key Russian government official in January 2016 in which he sought help securing land and financing for the Moscow tower project.

Cohen also said he talked with Trump, referred to as "Client-1" in the filing, about traveling to Russia to pursue the project deep into the 2016 presidential campaign.

"He and Client-1 also discussed possible travel to Russia in the summer of 2016, and Michael took steps to clear dates for such travel," Cohen's lawyers said in the filing.

After Cohen's guilty plea on Thursday, Trump called Cohen a "weak person" and accused him of making up the story to receive a lesser prison sentence. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia and criticized Mueller's probe as a politically charged witch hunt.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, informed Trump about a conversation he had with the Kremlin seeking help to build a skyscraper in Moscow in 2016 during the US presidential campaign, according to a court filing.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, informed Trump about a conversation he had with the Kremlin seeking help to build a skyscraper in Moscow in 2016 during the US presidential campaign, according to a court filing. Cohen also "remained in close and regular contact with White House-based staff and legal counsel" to Trump while preparing false statements to Congress about his contacts with Russia, Cohen's lawyer's said in the filing to a Manhattan federal judge late Friday. Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced on December 12 after pleading guilty to tax evasion, making false statements to a bank, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress. Cohen has been cooperating with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign and his lawyers asked in the filing that he avoid prison time. The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Cohen, a former member of Trump's inner circle who in the past called himself the president's "fixer,", admitted this week that he made false statements to two congressional panels about the Moscow project in a bid to remain consistent with Trump's messaging about Russia during the 2016 campaign. Cohen had said in his statement to Congress that he had limited contact with Trump concerning the project, when in fact it had been more extensive. Cohen also said he falsely told Congress he never took any steps toward traveling to Russia when in fact he had discussed going there. In Friday's court filing, Cohen said he kept Trump "apprised" of the "substantive conversation" he had with an assistant to a key Russian government official in January 2016 in which he sought help securing land and financing for the Moscow tower project. Cohen also said he talked with Trump, referred to as "Client-1" in the filing, about traveling to Russia to pursue the project deep into the 2016 presidential campaign. "He and Client-1 also discussed possible travel to Russia in the summer of 2016, and Michael took steps to clear dates for such travel," Cohen's lawyers said in the filing. After Cohen's guilty plea on Thursday, Trump called Cohen a "weak person" and accused him of making up the story to receive a lesser prison sentence. Trump has repeatedly denied any collusion with Russia and criticized Mueller's probe as a politically charged witch hunt.

Ex-lawyer Michael Cohen says he told Trump about conversation with Kremlin: Court filing

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/ahead-of-g20-meeting-with-xi-trump-says-billions-of-dollar-pouring-into-us-due-to-tariffs-on-china-180279">US President Donald Trump</a> said Thursday his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen was a "weak person" who was lying to get a reduced sentence after the fixer admitted misleading Congress over the Russia investigation.

"He is a weak person. And what he is trying to do is get a reduced sentence. So he is lying about a project that everybody knew about," Trump told reporters at the White House.

Cohen entered his guilty plea in federal court in Manhattan to one count of making false statements to Congress in an investigation by lawmakers into whether Trump's campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 US election in his favour. The plea increased the pressure on Trump during the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russia's role in the election.

The proposal at issue was to build a skyscraper bearing Trump's name in the Russian capital, a project that ultimately did not materialize. Cohen provided false statements to both the Senate and House intelligence committees to create the false impression the Moscow real estate project had ended by the time the political primary season began, the charging document said.

Cohen said in court that in 2017, he submitted a written statement to Congress saying all efforts relating to the real estate project in Moscow had ceased by January 2016. Cohen said that in fact, these efforts continued until June 2016.

Cohen also said that in the statement to Congress, he claimed to have had limited contact with Trump concerning the project, when in fact it had been "more extensive." Cohen also said he falsely told Congress he never took any steps toward travelling to Russia, when in fact he had discussed travelling there, although he never did.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen was a "weak person" who was lying to get a reduced sentence after the fixer admitted misleading Congress over the Russia investigation.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen was a "weak person" who was lying to get a reduced sentence after the fixer admitted misleading Congress over the Russia investigation. "He is a weak person. And what he is trying to do is get a reduced sentence. So he is lying about a project that everybody knew about," Trump told reporters at the White House. Cohen entered his guilty plea in federal court in Manhattan to one count of making false statements to Congress in an investigation by lawmakers into whether Trump's campaign worked with Russia to sway the 2016 US election in his favour. The plea increased the pressure on Trump during the ongoing special counsel investigation into Russia's role in the election. The proposal at issue was to build a skyscraper bearing Trump's name in the Russian capital, a project that ultimately did not materialize. Cohen provided false statements to both the Senate and House intelligence committees to create the false impression the Moscow real estate project had ended by the time the political primary season began, the charging document said. Cohen said in court that in 2017, he submitted a written statement to Congress saying all efforts relating to the real estate project in Moscow had ceased by January 2016. Cohen said that in fact, these efforts continued until June 2016. Cohen also said that in the statement to Congress, he claimed to have had limited contact with Trump concerning the project, when in fact it had been "more extensive." Cohen also said he falsely told Congress he never took any steps toward travelling to Russia, when in fact he had discussed travelling there, although he never did.

Trump says ex-lawyer Cohen 'lying' for reduced sentence

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago.

Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said that he took the decision after "putting his family and country first" and "distanced himself from the values of the Trump administration."

In March 2017, Cohen registered himself as a Republican. He had also served as the deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee` Finance Committee, before stepping down amid a federal investigation into his business deals, Fox News reported.

The move comes amid the souring ties between Trump and Cohen over adult actress Stormy Daniels` legal action against the duo over a USD 130,000 non-disclosure agreement, in which the porn star had agreed to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump.

The contract, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential poll, also led to the violation of Trump campaign`s finance laws, which Cohen had agreed later.

In August, the former lawyer had pleaded guilty to the charges in Manhattan federal court for orchestrating the payments at "Trump`s direction".

The announcement of Cohen`s sentence is scheduled for December 12 by Judge William H. Pauley and is expected to include jail time and a monetary fine.

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago.

Michael Cohen, United States President Donald Trump's former attorney, has returned to Democratic Party after he switched to Republican Party one and a half years ago. Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis said that he took the decision after "putting his family and country first" and "distanced himself from the values of the Trump administration." In March 2017, Cohen registered himself as a Republican. He had also served as the deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee` Finance Committee, before stepping down amid a federal investigation into his business deals, Fox News reported. The move comes amid the souring ties between Trump and Cohen over adult actress Stormy Daniels` legal action against the duo over a USD 130,000 non-disclosure agreement, in which the porn star had agreed to stay quiet about her alleged affair with Trump. The contract, which was signed days before the 2016 presidential poll, also led to the violation of Trump campaign`s finance laws, which Cohen had agreed later. In August, the former lawyer had pleaded guilty to the charges in Manhattan federal court for orchestrating the payments at "Trump`s direction". The announcement of Cohen`s sentence is scheduled for December 12 by Judge William H. Pauley and is expected to include jail time and a monetary fine.

Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen returns to Democratic Party

President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has provided "critical information" to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators, his attorney said Thursday.

Cohen, once one of Trump's top aides, began talking with the Mueller investigation after he pleaded guilty on August 21 to bank fraud and campaign finance violations in an agreement with New York prosecutors.

"Good for @MichaelCohen212 in providing critical information to the #muellerinvestigation without a cooperation agreement," tweeted Lanny Davis, Cohen's lawyer.&nbsp;

The news was originally reported by ABC, which said the 52-year-old New York lawyer and businessman "has participated over the last month in multiple interview sessions lasting for hours" with Mueller's team.

The report hinted at bad news for Trump as Mueller's Russia collusion investigation increasingly closes in on the White House.

One week ago, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed in a plea deal with Mueller to cooperate in the investigation.

Cohen did not make a commitment to cooperate when he pleaded guilty, but it was clear that cooperation could help him get a lighter sentence.

Mueller is probing whether the Trump election campaign in 2016 colluded with Russian efforts to damage his opponent, Hillary Clinton, and whether Trump has sought to illegally obstruct the investigation.

But the span of the investigation also reportedly encompasses Trump's business dealings, to which Cohen had a front seat during the decade before the election as a senior executive in the president's real estate business in New York, the Trump Organization.

Once known as Trump's "pit bull" right-hand man, Cohen was privy to multi-million-dollar deals and two alleged lovers -- whose claims could have potentially sabotaged his boss's 2016 election.

Cohen pleaded guilty to charges involving his arrangement of payouts of hush money to those women -- widely thought to be porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen Mcdougal -- just before the November 2016 vote.

In the plea, Cohen stated that he had acted at his boss's request to buy their silence "with the purpose of influencing the election."

Along with two counts of violating campaign finance laws, Cohen also has pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud.

The scandal-prone Trump lambasted his former fixer, accusing him of making up "stories" to cut the plea deal before saying the lawyer's actions were "not a crime" and "not even a campaign violation."

In a Fox interview Trump took aim at his once close associate for "flipping," saying it "almost ought to be outlawed."

Trump conversely praised Manafort for going to trial -- the first case stemming from Mueller's probe to go before a jury -- and eschewing a plea deal, but he is now also cooperating with the investigation.

President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has provided "critical information" to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators, his attorney said Thursday.

President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has provided "critical information" to Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigators, his attorney said Thursday. Cohen, once one of Trump's top aides, began talking with the Mueller investigation after he pleaded guilty on August 21 to bank fraud and campaign finance violations in an agreement with New York prosecutors. "Good for @MichaelCohen212 in providing critical information to the #muellerinvestigation without a cooperation agreement," tweeted Lanny Davis, Cohen's lawyer. The news was originally reported by ABC, which said the 52-year-old New York lawyer and businessman "has participated over the last month in multiple interview sessions lasting for hours" with Mueller's team. The report hinted at bad news for Trump as Mueller's Russia collusion investigation increasingly closes in on the White House. One week ago, former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort agreed in a plea deal with Mueller to cooperate in the investigation. Cohen did not make a commitment to cooperate when he pleaded guilty, but it was clear that cooperation could help him get a lighter sentence. Mueller is probing whether the Trump election campaign in 2016 colluded with Russian efforts to damage his opponent, Hillary Clinton, and whether Trump has sought to illegally obstruct the investigation. But the span of the investigation also reportedly encompasses Trump's business dealings, to which Cohen had a front seat during the decade before the election as a senior executive in the president's real estate business in New York, the Trump Organization. Once known as Trump's "pit bull" right-hand man, Cohen was privy to multi-million-dollar deals and two alleged lovers -- whose claims could have potentially sabotaged his boss's 2016 election. Cohen pleaded guilty to charges involving his arrangement of payouts of hush money to those women -- widely thought to be porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen Mcdougal -- just before the November 2016 vote. In the plea, Cohen stated that he had acted at his boss's request to buy their silence "with the purpose of influencing the election." Along with two counts of violating campaign finance laws, Cohen also has pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud. The scandal-prone Trump lambasted his former fixer, accusing him of making up "stories" to cut the plea deal before saying the lawyer's actions were "not a crime" and "not even a campaign violation." In a Fox interview Trump took aim at his once close associate for "flipping," saying it "almost ought to be outlawed." Trump conversely praised Manafort for going to trial -- the first case stemming from Mueller's probe to go before a jury -- and eschewing a plea deal, but he is now also cooperating with the investigation.

Trump's ex-lawyer Cohen cooperating in Mueller probe

A business partner of US&nbspPresident Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in investigations, the New York Times reported on Tuesday.

Evgeny Freidman, a Russian immigrant who is known as the Taxi King, will avoid jail time and will assist government prosecutors in state or federal investigations, the newspaper report said, citing a person briefed on the matter.

The New York State Attorney General's Office said in a press release that Freidman had pleaded guilty to a criminal charge on Tuesday in an Albany, New York, courtroom, but it made no mention of whether he was cooperating with prosecutors, news agency Reuters reported.

Freidman has been Cohen's partner in the taxi business for years, even after New York City regulators barred Freidman last year from continuing to manage taxi medallions, the New York Times said.

Freidman declined in a text message to answer any questions about cooperating with prosecutors or the terms of his agreement, the Reuters&nbspreport said.

"This is me taking responsibility for my actions! ... Michael is a dear dear personal friend and a passive client! That's it! ...I hate that I have been grouped in this runaway train that I am not a part of!" Freidman said by text.

Freidman's lawyer, Patrick Egan, declined to comment on the Times report.

Freidman had been accused of failing to pay more than $5 million in taxes and five other criminal counts each carrying maximum prison sentences of up to 25 years. In pleading guilty to a single count of criminal tax fraud, Freidman will be sentenced to five years' probation, the attorney general's office said.

A spokeswoman for the New York state attorney general did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Cohen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen for possible bank and tax fraud, possible campaign law violations and perhaps other matters related to Trump's presidential campaign, a person familiar with the probe has said.

The investigation into Cohen arose in part from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into possible collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, something that Trump has repeatedly denied.

Freidman has been Cohen's partner in the taxi business for years, even after New York City regulators barred Freidman last year from continuing to manage taxi medallions, the New York Times said.

A business partner of US&nbspPresident Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in investigations, the New York Times reported on Tuesday. Evgeny Freidman, a Russian immigrant who is known as the Taxi King, will avoid jail time and will assist government prosecutors in state or federal investigations, the newspaper report said, citing a person briefed on the matter. The New York State Attorney General's Office said in a press release that Freidman had pleaded guilty to a criminal charge on Tuesday in an Albany, New York, courtroom, but it made no mention of whether he was cooperating with prosecutors, news agency Reuters reported. Freidman has been Cohen's partner in the taxi business for years, even after New York City regulators barred Freidman last year from continuing to manage taxi medallions, the New York Times said. Freidman declined in a text message to answer any questions about cooperating with prosecutors or the terms of his agreement, the Reuters&nbspreport said. "This is me taking responsibility for my actions! ... Michael is a dear dear personal friend and a passive client! That's it! ...I hate that I have been grouped in this runaway train that I am not a part of!" Freidman said by text. Freidman's lawyer, Patrick Egan, declined to comment on the Times report. Freidman had been accused of failing to pay more than $5 million in taxes and five other criminal counts each carrying maximum prison sentences of up to 25 years. In pleading guilty to a single count of criminal tax fraud, Freidman will be sentenced to five years' probation, the attorney general's office said. A spokeswoman for the New York state attorney general did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Reuters. Cohen did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen for possible bank and tax fraud, possible campaign law violations and perhaps other matters related to Trump's presidential campaign, a person familiar with the probe has said. The investigation into Cohen arose in part from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's inquiry into possible collusion between Trump's 2016 presidential campaign and Russia, something that Trump has repeatedly denied.

Trump lawyer Cohen's business partner cooperating with prosecutors: Report

President Donald Trump has formally disclosed that he reimbursed his personal attorney more than $100,000 last year, apparently in connection with the payment of hush money to a porn star, government records show.

The disclosure caps a series of contradictory statements from Trump and his representatives on the scandal swirling around lawyer Michael Cohen -- which has widened to ensnare major corporations and a Russian oligarch.

The documents released Wednesday by a US government ethics body, do not specify the reason for the payments to Cohen, who paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had a tryst with Trump in 2006 while he was married. The president denies the affair, and initially denied all knowledge of the payment, which Cohen has acknowledged was intended to stop her from going public with the allegations.

Trump's claim began to unravel early this month, however, after Rudy Giuliani, a new member of the president's legal team, said Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the sum paid to Daniels -- and the president himself subsequently acknowledged the repayment.

A footnote to disclosures submitted Tuesday to the Office of Government Ethics said Cohen had incurred "expenses" on Trump's behalf in 2016 of between $100,001 and $250,000.&nbsp;

"Mr&nbsp;Cohen sought reimbursement of those expenses and Mr&nbsp;Trump fully reimbursed Mr&nbsp;Cohen in 2017," it said.

Trump's filing states that the president was not required to disclose Cohen's expenses, but was doing so in the interest of transparency.&nbsp;

But an accompanying letter to the Justice Department from David Apol, the acting head of the Office of Government Ethics, said the payments by Cohen were indeed required to be reported, as also argued by an outside government ethics group which had lodged official complaints in March.

Apol told Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that he was providing both Trump's 2017 and 2018 disclosures, as potentially "relevant to any inquiry" the Justice Department may be pursuing into the president's filings from last year.

Cashing in on access to Trump 
 
Stormy Daniels is suing to be released from the hush agreement reached with Cohen, claiming it is invalid because Trump never signed it.

The president's lawyer, meanwhile, finds himself under investigation by federal prosecutors who seized reams of evidence in raids on his home and office last month but have not revealed what crimes he may have committed.

Cohen also stands accused of seeking to cash in on his proximity to the president, after it emerged he received millions of dollars from a Russian oligarch and major corporations seeking access to the administration.

Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis Wednesday announced the retirement of its top legal expert over the $1.2 million in payments to Cohen, while AT&T has said it made a "big mistake" by paying the lawyer some $600,000.

The scandal engulfing Cohen has opened a new front in the legal challenges dogging Trump, grabbing headlines from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ominous investigation into possible collusion between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia.

The disclosure of Trump's payments to his lawyer came the same day a Senate intelligence panel released thousands of pages of testimony from its probe into a meeting between the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, and a Russian lawyer who offered to provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton.

In his testimony released Wednesday, Trump Jr said he did not tell his father ahead of time about the 2016 meeting at Trump Tower, also attended by the Republican candidate's campaign manager Paul Manafort and son-in-law Jared Kushner.

The newly-released financial documents also offered a glimpse of the performance of two of Trump's flagship hotels: the Trump International Hotel in Washington -- which has attracted crowds of lobbyists, lawmakers and foreign governments with business before the federal government, and Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, dubbed the "Winter White House."

Trump's hotel in the US capital, which opened in late 2016, took in $40.4 million during 2017 while the Florida resort had revenues of $25.1 million last year.

A prior disclosure made last year covered a 16-month period and showed $37.3 million in revenues for Mar-a-Lago.

The report also showed Trump earned between $230,000 and $1.1 million in capital gains income on stock in iPhone maker Apple, Caterpillar, Microsoft and Pepsico.

 
&nbsp;

The US President has formally disclosed that he reimbursed his personal attorney more than $100,000 last year, apparently in connection with the payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels, government records show

President Donald Trump has formally disclosed that he reimbursed his personal attorney more than $100,000 last year, apparently in connection with the payment of hush money to a porn star, government records show. The disclosure caps a series of contradictory statements from Trump and his representatives on the scandal swirling around lawyer Michael Cohen -- which has widened to ensnare major corporations and a Russian oligarch. The documents released Wednesday by a US government ethics body, do not specify the reason for the payments to Cohen, who paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in the run-up to the 2016 election. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, claims she had a tryst with Trump in 2006 while he was married. The president denies the affair, and initially denied all knowledge of the payment, which Cohen has acknowledged was intended to stop her from going public with the allegations. Trump's claim began to unravel early this month, however, after Rudy Giuliani, a new member of the president's legal team, said Trump had reimbursed Cohen for the sum paid to Daniels -- and the president himself subsequently acknowledged the repayment. A footnote to disclosures submitted Tuesday to the Office of Government Ethics said Cohen had incurred "expenses" on Trump's behalf in 2016 of between $100,001 and $250,000. "Mr Cohen sought reimbursement of those expenses and Mr Trump fully reimbursed Mr Cohen in 2017," it said. Trump's filing states that the president was not required to disclose Cohen's expenses, but was doing so in the interest of transparency. But an accompanying letter to the Justice Department from David Apol, the acting head of the Office of Government Ethics, said the payments by Cohen were indeed required to be reported, as also argued by an outside government ethics group which had lodged official complaints in March. Apol told Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein that he was providing both Trump's 2017 and 2018 disclosures, as potentially "relevant to any inquiry" the Justice Department may be pursuing into the president's filings from last year. Cashing in on access to Trump Stormy Daniels is suing to be released from the hush agreement reached with Cohen, claiming it is invalid because Trump never signed it. The president's lawyer, meanwhile, finds himself under investigation by federal prosecutors who seized reams of evidence in raids on his home and office last month but have not revealed what crimes he may have committed. Cohen also stands accused of seeking to cash in on his proximity to the president, after it emerged he received millions of dollars from a Russian oligarch and major corporations seeking access to the administration. Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis Wednesday announced the retirement of its top legal expert over the $1.2 million in payments to Cohen, while AT&T has said it made a "big mistake" by paying the lawyer some $600,000. The scandal engulfing Cohen has opened a new front in the legal challenges dogging Trump, grabbing headlines from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's ominous investigation into possible collusion between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia. The disclosure of Trump's payments to his lawyer came the same day a Senate intelligence panel released thousands of pages of testimony from its probe into a meeting between the president's eldest son, Donald Trump Jr, and a Russian lawyer who offered to provide damaging information about Hillary Clinton. In his testimony released Wednesday, Trump Jr said he did not tell his father ahead of time about the 2016 meeting at Trump Tower, also attended by the Republican candidate's campaign manager Paul Manafort and son-in-law Jared Kushner. The newly-released financial documents also offered a glimpse of the performance of two of Trump's flagship hotels: the Trump International Hotel in Washington -- which has attracted crowds of lobbyists, lawmakers and foreign governments with business before the federal government, and Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, dubbed the "Winter White House." Trump's hotel in the US capital, which opened in late 2016, took in $40.4 million during 2017 while the Florida resort had revenues of $25.1 million last year. A prior disclosure made last year covered a 16-month period and showed $37.3 million in revenues for Mar-a-Lago. The report also showed Trump earned between $230,000 and $1.1 million in capital gains income on stock in iPhone maker Apple, Caterpillar, Microsoft and Pepsico.

Trump discloses payment to attorney who paid off porn star

Michael Avenatti, adult actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer, on Tuesday, claimed that US President Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen, who had also paid Daniels US $130,000 to keep quiet about her encounter with Trump, has received US $500,000 from a Russian billionaire in months after the 2016 US elections.&nbsp

In a tweet and report released on Tuesday, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said a company controlled by Viktor Vekselberg, a businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, sent the payment to Cohen. The payments were allegedly made between January and August 2017.

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After significant investigation, we have discovered that Mr. Trump’s atty Mr. Cohen received approximately $500,000 in the mos. after the election from a company controlled by a Russian Oligarc with close ties to Mr. Putin. These monies may have reimbursed the $130k payment.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) <a href="https://twitter.com/MichaelAvenatti/status/993959992762994688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">May 8, 2018</a></blockquote>
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An attorney for the Renova affiliate, Columbus Nova, said it hired Cohen as a business consultant and that Vekselberg had no involvement in the payments. Columbus Nova is an U.S. investment arm of Renova Group, a conglomerate controlled by Vekselberg. Both Vekselberg and Renova were hit last month by U.S. sanctions for suspected meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and other alleged "malign activity."

AT&T, the telecoms corporation, confirmed it had made payments to Cohen’s firm during 2017 for “insights into understanding the new administration”.

"Essential Consultants was one of several firms we engaged in early 2017 to provide insights into understanding the new administration. They did no legal or lobbying work for us, and the contract ended in December 2017," AT&T said in a statement.

Avenatti also said he discovered four payments of just under $100,000 each by drugmaker Novartis to Essential Consultants, the same company used by Cohen to make payments to Daniels. Novartis, a Swiss-based pharmaceuticals firm, did not dispute that it paid Cohen. 
&nbsp

In a tweet and report released on Tuesday, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said a company controlled by Viktor Vekselberg, a businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, sent the payment to Cohen

Michael Avenatti, adult actress Stormy Daniels' lawyer, on Tuesday, claimed that US President Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen, who had also paid Daniels US $130,000 to keep quiet about her encounter with Trump, has received US $500,000 from a Russian billionaire in months after the 2016 US elections. In a tweet and report released on Tuesday, Daniels' attorney Michael Avenatti said a company controlled by Viktor Vekselberg, a businessman with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin, sent the payment to Cohen. The payments were allegedly made between January and August 2017. After significant investigation, we have discovered that Mr. Trump’s atty Mr. Cohen received approximately $500,000 in the mos. after the election from a company controlled by a Russian Oligarc with close ties to Mr. Putin. These monies may have reimbursed the $130k payment. — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 8, 2018 × An attorney for the Renova affiliate, Columbus Nova, said it hired Cohen as a business consultant and that Vekselberg had no involvement in the payments. Columbus Nova is an U.S. investment arm of Renova Group, a conglomerate controlled by Vekselberg. Both Vekselberg and Renova were hit last month by U.S. sanctions for suspected meddling in the 2016 U.S. election and other alleged "malign activity." AT&T, the telecoms corporation, confirmed it had made payments to Cohen’s firm during 2017 for “insights into understanding the new administration”. "Essential Consultants was one of several firms we engaged in early 2017 to provide insights into understanding the new administration. They did no legal or lobbying work for us, and the contract ended in December 2017," AT&T said in a statement. Avenatti also said he discovered four payments of just under $100,000 each by drugmaker Novartis to Essential Consultants, the same company used by Cohen to make payments to Daniels. Novartis, a Swiss-based pharmaceuticals firm, did not dispute that it paid Cohen.

Stormy Daniels' lawyer alleges big payment to Trump attorney Cohen from Russian oligarch

The US&nbsppresident’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Sunday claimed that Trump would have definitely had Michael Cohen make payments to more women if he had to, as the Trump-Stormy Daniels scandal heats up.&nbsp

"I have no knowledge of that. But I would think if it was necessary, yes." Giuliani told ABC's "This Week", when asked about Cohen making payments to other women, The Hill reported.

Daniels’ lawyer said Giuliani and Trump had “lost track of the truth” and were undermining their own attempted “coverup”. He had added that there could be many other woemn with similar issues to his client.&nbsp

Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's team of lawyers in the Mueller probe over the alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election appeared in several interviews to clarify his comments on reimbursement.

On Thursday, in an exclusive interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, Giuliani said that the payment was "perfectly legal" and was not "campaign money".

Asked whether the US President was aware of the payment, Giuliani underscored that "he did not know the specifics of it in his knowledge".

Also watch:&nbsp<a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/trump-knew-about-the-payment-to-stormy-daniels-trumps-lawyer-134579">Trump knew about the payment to Stormy Daniels: Trump's lawyer</a>

On Thursday, Trump went on a Twitter rant after Guiliani &nbspsaid on Wednesday that <a href="http://www.wionews.com/videos/stormy-daniels-case-trump-repays-michael-cohen-says-rudy-giuliani--134389">Trump had reimbursed Cohen</a> the $130,000 that was given to Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the president, saying that his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair.

"Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction," Trump wrote in one of a series of posts on Twitter early on Thursday.

Last week, Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, who publicly claimed a 2006 sexual encounter with President Trump, filed a fresh defamation suit against him. The lawsuit said that she suffered damages in excess of USD 75,000.

Daniels has been locked in a legal battle with President Trump, seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago.

In her previous lawsuit, the adult star is asking whether the hush agreement was legal and is looking at whether President Trump consented to it.

The adult star revealed that the deal was not valid because the US President "never signed it himself".&nbsp

Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's team of lawyers in the Mueller probe over the alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election appeared in several interviews to clarify his comments on reimbursement

The US&nbsppresident’s lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, on Sunday claimed that Trump would have definitely had Michael Cohen make payments to more women if he had to, as the Trump-Stormy Daniels scandal heats up. "I have no knowledge of that. But I would think if it was necessary, yes." Giuliani told ABC's "This Week", when asked about Cohen making payments to other women, The Hill reported. Daniels’ lawyer said Giuliani and Trump had “lost track of the truth” and were undermining their own attempted “coverup”. He had added that there could be many other woemn with similar issues to his client. Giuliani, who recently joined Trump's team of lawyers in the Mueller probe over the alleged Russian collusion in the 2016 presidential election appeared in several interviews to clarify his comments on reimbursement. On Thursday, in an exclusive interview with Fox News's Sean Hannity, Giuliani said that the payment was "perfectly legal" and was not "campaign money". Asked whether the US President was aware of the payment, Giuliani underscored that "he did not know the specifics of it in his knowledge". Also watch: Trump knew about the payment to Stormy Daniels: Trump's lawyer On Thursday, Trump went on a Twitter rant after Guiliani &nbspsaid on Wednesday that Trump had reimbursed Cohen the $130,000 that was given to Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the president, saying that his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair. "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction," Trump wrote in one of a series of posts on Twitter early on Thursday. Last week, Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, who publicly claimed a 2006 sexual encounter with President Trump, filed a fresh defamation suit against him. The lawsuit said that she suffered damages in excess of USD 75,000. Daniels has been locked in a legal battle with President Trump, seeking to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago. In her previous lawsuit, the adult star is asking whether the hush agreement was legal and is looking at whether President Trump consented to it. The adult star revealed that the deal was not valid because the US President "never signed it himself".

Trump would have had Cohen pay other women if necessary: Lawyer Rudy Giuliani

US&nbsp;President Donald Trump said on Thursday his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair.

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"Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction," Trump wrote in one of a series of posts on Twitter early on Thursday.

His comments come after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team last month, said on Wednesday Trump had reimbursed Cohen the $130,000 that was given to Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the president.

Trump had told reporters on Air Force One last month that he did not know about the payment or the source of the money.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has filed two lawsuits against Trump, one to get out of the non-disclosure agreement she signed in October 2016 in exchange for the $130,000, and another for defamation.

Asked about the president's Thursday morning tweets, her lawyer Michael Avenatti told MSNBC the president had opened himself up to another possible lawsuit for defamation.

'Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction,' Trump wrote in one of a series of posts on Twitter early on Thursday.

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair. × "Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll (sic) in this transaction," Trump wrote in one of a series of posts on Twitter early on Thursday. His comments come after former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who joined Trump's legal team last month, said on Wednesday Trump had reimbursed Cohen the $130,000 that was given to Daniels to buy her silence about an alleged affair with the president. Trump had told reporters on Air Force One last month that he did not know about the payment or the source of the money. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has filed two lawsuits against Trump, one to get out of the non-disclosure agreement she signed in October 2016 in exchange for the $130,000, and another for defamation. Asked about the president's Thursday morning tweets, her lawyer Michael Avenatti told MSNBC the president had opened himself up to another possible lawsuit for defamation.

Porn star Stormy Daniels was not paid with campaign money: Trump

<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/many-killed-as-bus-catches-fire-in-bihars-motihari-134410">27 killed after bus overturns, catches fire in Bihar's Motihari</a>

At least 27 people died afer a bus overturned and caught fire in Bihar's Motihari district.&nbsp;

The bus reportedly fell into a ditch, after which it caught fire.&nbsp;

The government has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each of the victims.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/entertainment-national-film-awards-2018-68-winners-skip-ceremony-janhvi-kapoor-a-r-rahman-attend-134403">National Film Awards: 68 winners skip ceremony because President Kovind does not present all awards</a>

Sixty-eight winners of the National Film Awards skipped the awards ceremony this afternoon in Delhi.&nbsp;

The winners were miffed that President Ram Nath Kovind was handing out only 11 of the National Awards, and that the rest would be handed out by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani.&nbsp;

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/dust-storm-kills-close-to-100-in-uttar-pradesh-rajasthan-134406">Dust storm kills close to 100 in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan</a>

A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, killing nearly 100 people and leaving a trail of destruction.

Houses collapsed and trees and poles were uprooted in the storm that also led to power outages.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-money-for-his-lawyer-cohen-not-from-the-campaign-134417">Porn star</a><a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/trump-says-money-for-his-lawyer-cohen-not-from-the-campaign-134417"> Stormy Daniels was not paid with campaign money: Trump</a>

US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair.

 
<a href="http://www.wionews.com/india-news/jk-45-youth-including-mba-phd-scholar-join-terrorist-ranks-in-2018-134419">Kashmir: 45 youths including MBA, PhD scholar join terrorist ranks in 2018</a>

At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley, including an MBA graduate and a PhD scholar, have joined militancy this year till mid-April, according to officials. The unusual surge in numbers has taken the security establishment by surprise.

27 killed after bus overturns, catches fire in Bihar's Motihari At least 27 people died afer a bus overturned and caught fire in Bihar's Motihari district. The bus reportedly fell into a ditch, after which it caught fire. The government has announced compensation of Rs 4 lakh for the families of each of the victims. National Film Awards: 68 winners skip ceremony because President Kovind does not present all awards Sixty-eight winners of the National Film Awards skipped the awards ceremony this afternoon in Delhi. The winners were miffed that President Ram Nath Kovind was handing out only 11 of the National Awards, and that the rest would be handed out by Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani. Dust storm kills close to 100 in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan A severe dust storm followed by thunder showers hit parts of Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan overnight, killing nearly 100 people and leaving a trail of destruction. Houses collapsed and trees and poles were uprooted in the storm that also led to power outages. Porn star Stormy Daniels was not paid with campaign money: Trump US President Donald Trump said on Thursday his lawyer Michael Cohen did not use presidential campaign funds to pay Stormy Daniels as part of a contract he said was aimed at stopping the adult-film star from making "false and extortionist accusations" about an affair. Kashmir: 45 youths including MBA, PhD scholar join terrorist ranks in 2018 At least 45 youths from the Kashmir Valley, including an MBA graduate and a PhD scholar, have joined militancy this year till mid-April, according to officials. The unusual surge in numbers has taken the security establishment by surprise.

News brief: Big stories of the day

California judge James Otero temporarily put on hold pornstar Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against US President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen's for 90 days.&nbsp;

The move comes after Cohen's house was raided by the FBI following which he argued that his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination may be jeopardized if the proceedings weren't delayed.

The FBI procured&nbsp;records related to Daniels after raiding Cohen's hotel room, home and office earlier this month.

Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, now plans to file an appeal against the delay.

"While we certainly respect Judge Otero's 90-day stay order based on Mr Cohen's pleading of the 5th, we do not agree with it. We will likely be filing an immediate appeal to the Ninth Circuit early next week. Justice delayed is justice denied," Avenatti wrote on Twitter.

The lawsuit will now be heard on July 27.

Daniels emerges at the centre of a controversy that involves US President Donald Trump. She publicly claimed a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, however, Trump and his administration have repeatedly rubbished relations with the porn star.

Daniels also claimed Cohen orchestrated a payment to keep her quiet during the election. Daniels and Trump have been locked in a legal battle earlier this month. Daniels seeks to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago. Daniels, in her lawsuit, asks whether the hush agreement was legal, and is looking at whether Trump consented to it. She maintains that the deal is not valid because the US President "never signed it himself".

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, now plans to file an appeal against the delay

California judge James Otero temporarily put on hold pornstar Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against US President Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen's for 90 days. The move comes after Cohen's house was raided by the FBI following which he argued that his Fifth Amendment right against self-incrimination may be jeopardized if the proceedings weren't delayed. The FBI procured records related to Daniels after raiding Cohen's hotel room, home and office earlier this month. Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, now plans to file an appeal against the delay. "While we certainly respect Judge Otero's 90-day stay order based on Mr Cohen's pleading of the 5th, we do not agree with it. We will likely be filing an immediate appeal to the Ninth Circuit early next week. Justice delayed is justice denied," Avenatti wrote on Twitter. The lawsuit will now be heard on July 27. Daniels emerges at the centre of a controversy that involves US President Donald Trump. She publicly claimed a 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, however, Trump and his administration have repeatedly rubbished relations with the porn star. Daniels also claimed Cohen orchestrated a payment to keep her quiet during the election. Daniels and Trump have been locked in a legal battle earlier this month. Daniels seeks to invalidate a nondisclosure agreement she and Cohen had signed more than a decade ago. Daniels, in her lawsuit, asks whether the hush agreement was legal, and is looking at whether Trump consented to it. She maintains that the deal is not valid because the US President "never signed it himself". (With inputs from agencies)

Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against Trump's lawyer put on hold for 90 days

President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen said on Wednesday he would assert his right under the U.S. Constitution to avoid self-incrimination in a lawsuit filed by adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who says she had an affair with Trump.

In a filing in Los Angeles federal court, Cohen said he decided to assert his constitutional right after the FBI raided his home, office and hotel room two weeks ago.

"Based on the advice of counsel, I will assert my 5th Amendment rights in connection with all proceedings in this case due to the ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York," Cohen wrote in the filing.

The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no individual can be "compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself."

By asserting that right, Cohen can avoid revealing information in Daniels' civil lawsuit that could aid federal investigators in the criminal probe of his business dealings.

Last month, Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, sued Trump and Cohen to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement related to a $130,000 payment she received from Cohen before the 2016 election to keep quiet about her alleged one-night stand with Trump a decade earlier.

The probe of Cohen's business dealings, and the FBI's search of his office that uncovered information related to the $130,000 payment, started with a referral from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign.

Russia denies meddling in the election and Trump has denied any collusion.

Lawyers for Cohen and Trump have asked for the Daniels case to be put on hold for 90 days. At a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge James Otero said he needed more time to review the request for a stay.

Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels or any knowledge of the $130,000 payment.

In a filing in Los Angeles federal court, Cohen said he decided to assert his constitutional right after the FBI raided his home, office and hotel room two weeks ago.

President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen said on Wednesday he would assert his right under the U.S. Constitution to avoid self-incrimination in a lawsuit filed by adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who says she had an affair with Trump. In a filing in Los Angeles federal court, Cohen said he decided to assert his constitutional right after the FBI raided his home, office and hotel room two weeks ago. "Based on the advice of counsel, I will assert my 5th Amendment rights in connection with all proceedings in this case due to the ongoing criminal investigation by the FBI and U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York," Cohen wrote in the filing. The Fifth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution states that no individual can be "compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself." By asserting that right, Cohen can avoid revealing information in Daniels' civil lawsuit that could aid federal investigators in the criminal probe of his business dealings. Last month, Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, sued Trump and Cohen to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement related to a $130,000 payment she received from Cohen before the 2016 election to keep quiet about her alleged one-night stand with Trump a decade earlier. The probe of Cohen's business dealings, and the FBI's search of his office that uncovered information related to the $130,000 payment, started with a referral from Special Counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Russia denies meddling in the election and Trump has denied any collusion. Lawyers for Cohen and Trump have asked for the Daniels case to be put on hold for 90 days. At a hearing last week, U.S. District Judge James Otero said he needed more time to review the request for a stay. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels or any knowledge of the $130,000 payment.

To avoid self-incrimination, Trump lawyer Cohen will invoke 5th Amendment in Stormy Daniels case

Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday released a sketch of a man she said warned her in 2011 to stop discussing her claims she had a sexual encounter with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, while her lawyer offered a $100,000 reward for information about the man.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is fighting a 2016 non-disclosure agreement arranged by Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in which she got $130,000 to keep quiet about her claim that she had sex with Trump a decade earlier, something the US&nbsppresident has denied.

During an appearance on the daytime ABC television talk show "The View" she was asked why she was speaking out.

"I'm tired of being threatened," Daniels responded. "I'm done. I'm sorry, I'm done being bullied."

Daniels repeated her story, first related on CBS' "60 Minutes" last month, that she was on her way to a fitness class with her child when an unknown man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. He warned her to "leave Trump alone. Forget the story", she said in that interview.

On Tuesday, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, asked the public for help identifying the man and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his identification.

The picture they released shows a lightly bearded man in his 20s or 30s with backswept hair and wearing a hoodie. Daniels said she thought he looked like somebody's husband and described him as "sort of handsome."

She said she did not tell police about the threat at the time because she was afraid and did not want to reveal the alleged encounter with Trump.

"I didn't tell my husband at the time, I was embarrassed," she said. "I didn't want him to think I was a bad mom or that I put my daughter in danger."

Trump's lawyers are seeking at least $20 million in damages from Daniels for multiple violations of a nondisclosure agreement.

Daniels appearance on the ABC show came a day after she attended a hearing in Manhattan federal court where Cohen sought to limit the ability of federal prosecutors to review the documents seized in April 9 raids on his home, office and hotel room.

The raids stem in part from a separate probe into possible collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. A source familiar with the raids said the FBI agents were also looking for information on payments to Daniels among materials related to Cohen's other business dealings.

Daniels acknowledged the publicity the whole episode has brought her and said that, while she was making more money, her expenses were climbing as well. She has had to retain a team of bodyguards, as well as a tutor for her daughter.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is fighting a 2016 non-disclosure agreement arranged by Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in which she got $130,000 to keep quiet about her claim that she had sex with Trump a decade earlier, something the US president has denied.

Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday released a sketch of a man she said warned her in 2011 to stop discussing her claims she had a sexual encounter with US&nbspPresident Donald Trump, while her lawyer offered a $100,000 reward for information about the man. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is fighting a 2016 non-disclosure agreement arranged by Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in which she got $130,000 to keep quiet about her claim that she had sex with Trump a decade earlier, something the US&nbsppresident has denied. During an appearance on the daytime ABC television talk show "The View" she was asked why she was speaking out. "I'm tired of being threatened," Daniels responded. "I'm done. I'm sorry, I'm done being bullied." Daniels repeated her story, first related on CBS' "60 Minutes" last month, that she was on her way to a fitness class with her child when an unknown man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. He warned her to "leave Trump alone. Forget the story", she said in that interview. On Tuesday, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, asked the public for help identifying the man and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his identification. The picture they released shows a lightly bearded man in his 20s or 30s with backswept hair and wearing a hoodie. Daniels said she thought he looked like somebody's husband and described him as "sort of handsome." She said she did not tell police about the threat at the time because she was afraid and did not want to reveal the alleged encounter with Trump. "I didn't tell my husband at the time, I was embarrassed," she said. "I didn't want him to think I was a bad mom or that I put my daughter in danger." Trump's lawyers are seeking at least $20 million in damages from Daniels for multiple violations of a nondisclosure agreement. Daniels appearance on the ABC show came a day after she attended a hearing in Manhattan federal court where Cohen sought to limit the ability of federal prosecutors to review the documents seized in April 9 raids on his home, office and hotel room. The raids stem in part from a separate probe into possible collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. A source familiar with the raids said the FBI agents were also looking for information on payments to Daniels among materials related to Cohen's other business dealings. Daniels acknowledged the publicity the whole episode has brought her and said that, while she was making more money, her expenses were climbing as well. She has had to retain a team of bodyguards, as well as a tutor for her daughter.

Stormy Daniels' lawyer offers $100,000 to identify man she says threatened her

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