NEW YORK – The former attorney for President Donald Trump has pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about work he did for Trump on a real estate deal in Russia. Michael Cohen entered his plea this morning in a New York City courtroom.
Cohen admitted his statements before the Senate intelligence committee were untrue when he discussed a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. He says the statements made were to stay in line with Trump’s “political message.”
In response, President Trump this morning called Cohen a “weak person” who is “lying” in order to secure a reduced sentence. “He’s lying a bout a project that everyone knew about,” Trump told reporters.
Explaining further, the President said the conversations about a possible Trump Tower had already ended by early 2016 and the project never moved forward. He says Cohen was convicted on things, “totally unrelated to the Trump organization.” “He’s lying a bout a project that everyone knew about.”
Cohen is cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and allegations of collusion with people associated with then candidate Donald Trump.
Cohen served as Trump’s personal attorney for several years until news of alleged payoffs to women concerning alleged sexual encounters with the billionaire became public.
As a result, the attorney was accused of campaign finance violations, tax crimes and bank fraud. In just two weeks, Cohen will be sentenced in federal court for those violations for which he has pleaded guilty.
