At this point, the Trump Tower meeting is a central element in the ongoing Russia investigation. Special counsel Robert Mueller is looking into whether or not it constituted collusion to engender Trump’s election victory. The president and his supporters have repeatedly dismissed Mueller’s investigation as a “hoax” and “witch hunt.”
Earlier this week, Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, stated that Cohen participated in a conversation with the president and his eldest son about the Trump Tower meeting.
However, on Wednesday, Trump accused his former lawyer of “making up stories” in order to cut himself a deal:
I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family. “Justice” took a 12 year old tax case, among other things, applied tremendous pressure on him and, unlike Michael Cohen, he refused to “break” – make up stories in order to get a “deal.” Such respect for a brave man!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018
Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges on Tuesday, including unlawful campaign contributions and various tax violations.
Trump’s former attorney has claimed that the president ordered him to facilitate payments to Trump’s alleged mistresses Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. Cohen also maintains that the payments were made for the sake of influencing the 2016 election.
