Trump accuses Michael Cohen of making up stories to get a 'deal'

In a series of tweets on Wednesday, Trump blasted Cohen and praised his former campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who was found guilty on eight out of 18 counts of tax and bank fraud on Tuesday.

"I feel very badly for Paul Manafort and his wonderful family," Trump tweeted. “‘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!”

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

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

Cohen said that he made the campaign contribution “at the direction of a candidate for federal office,” meaning Trump. The payments were made “for principal purpose of influencing [the 2016 presidential] election,” according to Reuters. One payment in question referred to the now-infamous ‘hush money’ settlement given to porn star Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, who had threatened to make public her alleged affair with Trump from 2006.

In his morning tweetstorm, Trump sarcastically suggested that “If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!”

If anyone is looking for a good lawyer, I would strongly suggest that you don’t retain the services of Michael Cohen!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) August 22, 2018

Neither Manafort nor Cohen’s charges had anything to do with the Trump campaign’s alleged ‘Russian collusion’ in the runup to the 2016 election. Despite this, Cohen came forward on Tuesday with the revelation that he may have information that would “be of interest” to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s ongoing and still fruitless investigation.

READ MORE: Cohen bombshell sparks fresh calls for Trump impeachment – but what happened to Russia collusion?

Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis made the revelation in several television interviews on Wednesday, but provided no specific details. Davis did, however, announce a crowdfunding campaign to pay Cohen’s legal fees, and help him to “continue his commitment to tell the truth.” It has already raised almost $30,000 of its $500,000 goal.

“There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the government’s charges against Mr. Cohen,” Trump’s attorney, Rudy Giuliani, said in a statement. “It is clear that, as the prosecutor noted, Mr. Cohen’s actions reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over a significant period of time.”

Cohen’s sentencing is due to take place on December 12. He faces a substantial monetary fine and could face over five years in prison.

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