Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Donald Trump has declared the campaign finance violations his former lawyer Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty to are "not a crime" breaking his silence over charges that implicate him.
Appearing in a New York court, Mr Cohen testified that the president had directed him to commit a crime by arranging payments to silence two women who allege affairs with Mr Trump before the 2016 presidential election.
Mr Cohen told Judge William Pauley III that “in coordination with, and at the direction of, a candidate for federal office” he arranged payments to two women “for the principal purpose of influencing the election.”
Adult film star Stormy Daniels was given $130,000 and former Playboy model Karen McDougal was paid $150,000. Mr Trump denies all allegations of affairs.
Mr Cohen did not name Mr Trump in court, but his lawyer, Lanny Davis, said afterward that he was referring to the president.
“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,” Mr Davis said in a statement.
“If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn't they be a crime for Donald Trump?” Mr Davis said.
Mr Davis went further on Wednesday, saying that Mr Cohen would not accept a presidential pardon. In a round of television interviews, Cohen's attorney, Lanny Davis, said Mr Trump's former longtime lawyer saw the wanted no part in what he saw as the president's abuse of his clemency power.
“He will not, and does not want anything from Donald Trump,” Davis told MSNBC. “The president of the United States is a criminal," he continued.
More follows…
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments