Trump rips Michael Cohen after former lawyer implicated the president in crimes

Leah Millis | Reuters

President Donald Trump reacts to a question during an interview in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, August 20, 2018. 

President Donald Trump ripped his former personal lawyer and fixer in a post on Twitter Wednesday, a day after Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to a number of crimes and implicated the president in a scheme to unlawfully silence two women who claim they had sex with him.

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

Cohen admitted on Tuesday to facilitating payments to two women who have alleged affairs with the president. Those payments, Cohen said, were made to influence the outcome of the 2016 election.

Tweet

The tweet is the president’s first substantial comment on the matter. On Tuesday, the president said he felt “badly” for Cohen, according to a transcript provided by the White House, but did not mention Cohen during a rally he held in West Virginia hours after Cohen pleaded.

Earlier Wednesday, Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis said his client would not accept a pardon from the president if it were offered.

“He considers a pardon from somebody who has acted so corruptly as president to be something he would never expect,” Davis said in a “Today” show interview.

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