Trump cops a double blow
US President Donald Trump (right) has been rocked by twin bombshells. His former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen has implicated him in a crime, capping a dramatic day for the president in America’s courts which also saw Mr Trump’s campaign chief Paul Manafort found guilty of tax fraud by a jury.
TWIN bombshells have rocked Donald Trump, with his former personal lawyer and fixer implicating him in a crime, capping a dramatic day for the president in America’s courts.
Michael Cohen faces up to five years in jail after pleading guilty to eight charges, encompassing tax evasion and campaign finance violations. It’s the latter that could spell serious trouble for the president.
Questioned by a federal judge in Manhattan, Cohen indicated he had paid sums of $130,000 and $150,000 to two women who claimed they had affairs with Mr Trump, at his boss’ request, in order to buy their silence “with the purpose of influencing the election”.
It stems from reported hush money payments to porn actor Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
On top of that, Mr Trump’s campaign chief Paul Manafort has just been found guilty of tax fraud by a jury. He was convicted on eight charges, with a mistrial declared on 10 others.
It is being seen as a double hammer-blow for Mr Trump and, according to defence lawyer Joey Jackson, a “horrific day for the White House”.
“Michael Cohen implicated Donald Trump in a federal crime,” said CNN legal analyst Jeffrey Toobin.
“That means that, according to this guilty plea, he (Mr Trump) is a co-conspirator.
“This brings these scandals right to the door of the White House.” One of Cohen’s lawyers, Lanny Davis, was scathing of the president in a statement.
“Today he (Cohen) stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purpose of influencing an election. If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn’t they be a crime for Donald Trump?” he said.
THIS (GUILTY PLEA) BRINGS THESE SCANDALS RIGHT TO THE DOOR OF THE WHITE HOUSE CNN LEGAL ANALYST JEFFREY TOOBIN
Meanwhile, Mr Trump arrived in West Virginia for a rally with his supporters.
He used the rally to slam the media, following the legal developments.
“Fake news and the Russian witch hunt. How fake are them?” he said. “Where is the collusion? Where is the collusion? They’re still looking for collusion.”
He briefly spoke to the media after disembarking Air Force One.
“Paul Manafort is a good man. It’s a very sad thing that happened to him today,” Mr Trump said. “I feel very badly for Paul Manafort.”
Mr Trump said the investigation into Mr Manafort was a “witch hunt” and a “disgrace”.