Donald Trump distances himself from Cohen case

United States President Donald Trump denied involvement in the payments made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen, saying he had no knowledge of the same. This comes after Cohen pleaded guilty in Manhattan federal court on Tuesday in connection with eight criminal charges.

However, Trump said he found out about the payments later, but clarified that the payments were not a part of the campaign money, and hence denied any violation of the law, according to The Hill.

US media reports claimed that Cohen, in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office, withheld information that could have tarnished the candidate's image.
The CNN reported that the charges against Cohen brought an end to the months-worth investigation by the US Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York.
The announcement of the sentence is scheduled for December 12 by Judge William H. Pauley and is expected to include jail time and a monetary fine.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to paying adult-film star Stormy Daniels as part of a non-disclosure agreement over her affair with Trump. He further claimed to have done so on the instructions "of the candidate".

(ANI)