.         FULL Cohen Interview with ABC, Dec. 14, 2018, 720p



Duration: 12 Minutes



Note that this is a TWO-PART-INTERVIEW, with brief panel commentary... in the middle.

IE don't make the mistake of stopping video playback only 1/2 through! :D



As promoted by Lawrence O'Donnell in Friday's "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell"

show, which included an in-depth panel discussion, Michael Cohen sits down for an interview

with ABC News Chief Anchor George Stephanopoulos on "Good Morning America,"

Friday, Dec. 14, 2018



Donald Trump knew hush payments were wrong, Michael Cohen says in interview



US President Donald Trump directed hush payments to two women during the

2016 presidential campaign and knew the actions were wrong, his former

personal lawyer Michael Cohen said in a television interview with US network

ABC News that aired on Friday.



Key points:

Mr Trump's former "fixer" gives his first interview since being sentenced

to three years in prison

Mr Trump knew payments to silence a former Playboy model and adult

film star were wrong, Cohen says

Federal law requires campaign contributions to be disclosed



"He directed me to make the payments. He directed me to become involved in

these matters," Cohen, who was sentenced to prison this week over campaign

finance and other charges, told the American Broadcasting Company.



"I will not be the villain of his story."



Mr Trump has said he never directed Cohen to break the law.



"I don't think there's anybody that believes that," Cohen said.



"First of all, nothing at the Trump organisation was ever done unless it was run

through Mr Trump."



Cohen, speaking in his first interview since he was sentenced on Wednesday,

said Mr Trump at the time "was very concerned about how this would affect

the election" if voters knew about the alleged affairs and told him to pay off

the two women — former Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film star

Stormy Daniels.



"I just reviewed the documents in order to protect him," Cohen said.



"I gave loyalty to someone who truthfully does not deserve loyalty."



The payments aimed to help Mr Trump and his campaign, Cohen added.



Asked if then-candidate Mr Trump knew the payments were wrong, Cohen told

ABC's Good Morning America program: "Of course."



Cohen also denied Mr Trump's claims that he was lying to protect his wife and

family.



"He knows the truth. I know the truth. Others know the truth," he said.



"And here is the truth: the people of the United States of America, the people

of the world, don't believe what he's saying.



"The man doesn't tell the truth, and it's sad that I should take responsibility

for his dirty deeds."



Cohen said he was "angry" at himself and he "didn't display good judgment".

He denied he was driven by greed and ambition.



This week Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison for the payments as

well as unrelated crimes of tax evasion and misleading banks, and two months

for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia.



When asked why viewers should believe him now, Cohen said he was done lying

and that the Special Counsel stated he provided credible information.