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Michael Cohen pleads guilty to 8 counts, says payments were at 'direction of candidate'

NEW YORK — Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and fixer, pleaded guilty Tuesday to campaign-finance violations and other charges, saying Trump directed him to arrange the payment of hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and a former Playboy model to influence the election.

Cohen's account appears to implicate Trump himself in a crime, though whether -- or when -- a president can be prosecuted remains a matter of legal dispute.

The guilty plea was part of a double dose of bad news for Trump: It came at almost the same moment his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was convicted in Alexandria, Virginia, of eight financial crimes in the first trial to come out of special counsel Robert Mueller's sprawling Russia investigation.

In a deal reached with federal prosecutors, Cohen, 51, pleaded guilty to eight counts, including tax evasion. He could get about four to five years in prison at sentencing Dec. 12.

In entering the plea, Cohen did not name the two women or even Trump, recounting instead that he worked with an "unnamed candidate."

But the amounts and the dates all lined up with the $130,000 paid to Daniels and the $150,000 that went to Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal to buy their silence in the weeks and months leading up to the 2016 White House election. Both women claimed to have had affairs with Trump, which he denies.

Cohen, his voice shaky as he answered questions from a federal judge, said one payment was "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," and the other was made "under direction of the same candidate."

After the court hearing, which ended with Cohen released on $500,000 bail, the lawyer wiped away tears as he gazed out a courthouse window. He left the building and headed straight for a black SUV with tinted windows. A couple of people outside chanted, "Lock him up!" as they recorded the scene with their phones.

Here is a Minute-by-Minute look at how the afternoon unfolded:

6:15 p.m.

Cohen attorney Lanny Davis says Cohen "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...Why wouldn't they be a crime for Donald Trump?”

6:10 p.m.

Rudy Giuliani on Michael Cohen plea: "There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the President in the government's charges against Mr. Cohen."

5:40 p.m.

President Trump, speaking to reporters in West Virginia, defended Paul Manefort after both his former campaign chair and longtime lawyer were found guilty of eight counts each of financial and campaign crimes.

"It doesn't involve me...This has nothing to do with Russian collusion," Trump said. "This started as Russian collusion. This has absolutely nothing to do—this is a witch hunt and it's a disgrace."

5:36 p.m.

The charges against Michael Cohen are as follows:

  • 5 counts of evasion of assessment of income tax liability.
  • 1 count false statements to a bank.
  • 1 count causing an unlawful corporate contribution.
  • 1 count excessive campaign contribution.

5:25 p.m.

Deputy U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami on Cohen charges: "These are very serious charges, and reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over an extended period of time."

"Mr. Cohen...decided that he was above the law, and for that he is going to pay a very, very serious price."

5:19 p.m.

Michael Cohen said in a plea deal that "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office," he kept information that would have been harmful to the candidate and the campaign from becoming public.

5:10 p.m.

Michael Cohen just left the New York courthouse where he pleaded guilty to eight felony counts without speaking to reporters.

5:07 p.m.

Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and “fixer,” Michael Cohen, has pleaded guilty to charges including campaign finance fraud stemming from hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The 51-year-old Cohen said in federal court in New York on Tuesday that he made the payments in coordination with Trump, who wasn’t named, to influence the election. Both women claimed Trump had affairs with them, which he denies.

The other charges Cohen pleaded guilty to involve bank fraud and income tax evasion.

4:58 p.m.

4:56 p.m.

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer and "fixer" Michael Cohen, has pleaded guilty to charges including campaign finance fraud stemming from hush money payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal.

The 51-year-old Cohen entered the plea in federal court in New York on Tuesday. The other charges involve bank fraud and income tax evasion.

As part of his plea agreement, Cohen agreed not to challenge any sentence from 46 to 63 months.

4:38 p.m.

Cohen said in court he violated campaign finance law "in coordination with and at the direction of with a candidate for federal office."

4:37 p.m.

Cohen has told a federal judge he plans to plead guilty to federal charges.

The charges include campaign contribution violations, tax evasion and making a false statement to a financial institution.

4:30 pm.

Trump did not answer questions on Cohen and Manafort from reporters as he boarded AF1 en route to a rally in West Virginia.

4:24 p.m.

Stormy Daniels' attorney has issued a statement about the Cohen plea.

4:12 p.m.

Michael Cohen has entered a federal courtroom in New York where two people familiar with his case say he will plead guilty to federal fraud charges.

Cohen sat down by himself at the defense table Tuesday before he was joined by his lawyer, Guy Petrillo, according to the Associated Press.

WATCH LIVE: Michael Cohen takes plea deal

UPDATE: Michael Cohen pleads guilty to 8 counts on campaign finance violations, bank fraud and more, says it was a "a coordinated effort to influence the election." (LATEST - 2wsb.tv/2N6rt0n) ----------- HAPPENING NOW: President @dDonald J. Trump's former personal attorney has entered a federal courtroom in New York where it's expected he will plead guilty to federal fraud charges.

Posted by WSB-TV on Tuesday, August 21, 2018

3:58 p.m.

The government estimates Cohen would face some significant prison time under the deal, which will also require Cohen to make a substantial monetary forfeiture.

3:30 p.m.

The campaign finance violations are associated with Cohen’s role in alleged hush money agreements with two women, Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, who claim to have had affairs with Donald Trump, sources say.

3:26 p.m.

Cohen has surrendered to the FBI ahead of a 4 p.m. court proceeding, where the government is expected to disclose a plea deal.

3:10 p.m.

Two people familiar with the financial fraud investigation of Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, say he will plead guilty to federal charges including campaign finance fraud, bank fraud and tax evasion.