this is bbc news — our latest headlines. escalating tension between the nuclear powers — pakistan claims to have captured this pilot after shooting down two indian warplanes. a liar and a cheat: president donald trump's convicted hello, you're watching former lawyer michael cohen afternoon live. i'm simon mccoy. is expected to accuse him today at 2... of criminal conduct during a hearing on capitol hill labour mp chris williamson apologises for comments he made about the party's handling escalating tension between of anti—semitism amid calls the nuclear powers — for him to be disciplined. president trump has warm words pakistan claims to have captured this pilot after shooting down for the north korean leader two indian warplanes. as they meet in vietnam i think your country has tremendous a liar and a cheat. economic potential, unbelievable, president donald trump's convicted unlimited, andi economic potential, unbelievable, unlimited, and i think you will have former lawyer michael cohen a tremendous future and you will be is expected to accuse him of criminal conduct a tremendous future and you will be during a hearing on capitol hill — a great leader and i look forward to watching it happen. we'll be there live. labour mp chris williamson weight apologises for comments he made about the party's handling of anti—semitism amid calls for him to be disciplined. what is happening with england, they president trump has warm words for the north korean leader cricketers are back in action and as they meet in vietnam. this is important before the world cup, isn't it? yes, hugely i think that your country has interesting, there is, the final series for england before the home world cup this summer. currently tremendous economic potential. unlimited. i think you will have a ranked number one in the world but they do need to win one of these tremendous future with your country remaining two 0dis to stay in that

asa tremendous future with your country as a leader, and i look forward to watching it happen. spot heading into the tournament, so coming up on afternoon live plenty to play for. we do know, all the sport — with sarah. england are under way in their remember on monday, the third 0di was rained off. the teams are tied fourth one—day international in granada. they lost the torso they are batting first. all the latest that have passed. heading into this. england chased it down with some ease, record run thanks, sarah, and helen has all the weather — chase. today this is how it looking it is barmy out there. not quite record—breaking but whoa i will have so far, eoin morgan lost the toss. the latest. thanks, helen. ben stokes also in for the injured also coming up... targetting netflix. jason roy. he hasjust gone, bowed itv and the bbc have announced joint plans to create britbox — a subscription streaming service for uk audiences. out by 0'shea and tom are so and currently 100—1 in the 13th over there. football, big games in the hello, everyone, this is afternoon live. premier league tonight, liverpool are hoping obviously to stay on top. pakistan is claiming to have shot

down two indian airforce jets they certainly are, as are their in what is a major escalation of tensions between fans. 0ne they certainly are, as are their fans. one point clear of city who the nuclear powers. the conflict centres are in second, 11 games to go in the on the disputed region kashmir, which both countries claim season. inching ever closer to the as their own. pakistan says it shot the planes end. they could be plenty of moving down in retaliation for india's and shaking on the table. liverpool will host watford. looking to bounce attack a suspected militant training back from that homeless draw against camp at balakot in the pakistan controlled part of kashmir. man utd at the weekend. a lot of talk about their front three, they india and pakistan have fought arejust talk about their front three, they are just not talk about their front three, they three wars since gaining arejust not quite talk about their front three, they are just not quite firing for them. independence in 1947. they will also have one eye on the our diplomatic correspondent merseyside derby at the weekend, a james robbins reports. big week for them. three points pakistan said this photo shows that would go a long way, wouldn't they, particularly when you have city soldiers beside the wreckage of an breathing down their necks. they indian warplane, one of two pakistan have bridged that gap back to said it has shot down. india liverpool. they will host west ham acknowledges losing one fighter and tonight fresh of course from their first piece of silverware this acknowledges losing one fighter and a pilot missing in action. pakistan says that this is a indian pilot. season, league cup victory on sunday, let's hear from season, league cup victory on sunday, let's hearfrom boss pep guardiola because he says his side won't be getting complacent soon. the man identifies himself and assert his right to say no more. i don't want to see excuses for my

players about tiredness, the india and pakistan have been fixtures, or how many games. that is exchanging fire along their contested border in kashmir. the line of control. it is part of nothing when you have the illusion can you know, to fight until the end rapidly rising tensions since a to retain the title, it is the power from the energy to give you that is massive suicide car bombing by pakistan —based militants two weeks higher than ago that killed a0 indian security from the energy to give you that is higherthan any from the energy to give you that is higher than any excuses you can find. the new leicester city manager forces in kashmir. now both sides have been using their warplanes are making this one of the most brendan rodgers says special things are on the horizon for the foxes. dangerous period since the 19705. the former celtic boss has signed a the pakistan air force was detected contract untiljune and the indian air force responded. the former celtic boss has signed a contract until june 2022. in that, aerial engagement, one the former celtic boss has signed a contract untiljune 2022. he replaces claude puel, who was sacked on sunday after 16 months in charge, fighter aircraft was shot down. the and that victory was nice happy watching for him. the opportunity to speak with leicester and find out pakistani aircraft was seen by ground forces falling from the sky their ambitions and how we can grow their ambitions and how we can grow on the pakistan side. it's the club. huge potential. some other impossible to check the figures have

knocked out tanks for the history ri5ks repeating. ever since the players with a really good 19605, count5 from either side have experience also. meanwhile, neil been strongly disputed by the other but now what is not in doubt is that both india and pakistan have lennon who replaces rodgers at celtic says he is returning to one substantial arsenals of nuclear weapons. of the biggest and best clubs in substantial arsenals of nuclear weapon5. it has introduced a level world football. he led them to three of risk that alarms the entire league titles. tennis now, british outside world. pakistan's prime minister said neither he nor india's prime minister can afford any escalation given the weapons they number two cameron areas through to the second round of the mexican open have. if we let that happen, he after a 3—5et win overjapan's yoshi heated mediocre. johanna conte also threw in the women's draw. shoot —— 5ay5, have. if we let that happen, he says, event5 have. if we let that happen, he says, events will remain neither in myself or the indian prime minister's control. you must sit johanna konta. she beat her doubles down and talk. for now, there is no partner in straight sets. double sign of temper5 subsiding with demonstrators in both countries 0lympic silver medallist jazz carlin promising revenge. no wonder united has ruled out racing at tokyo 2020. states, china and other major powers she has decided to retire from are urging restraint and dialogue. swimming at the age of 28. now taking ona a5if farooqi is in islamabad. swimming at the age of 28. now taking on a roll with sperm whales to mental some of their young talent and will also front they learn to

thing5 things have just got a bit of the swim programme. she won 1a major year with claims that an indian helicopter has come down in indian international honours including kashmir with six people dead those two 0lympic silver medals from on—board that. kashmir with six people dead on—boa rd that. we kashmir with six people dead on—board that. we still do not know rio. she is one of the most what has happened. well, pakistan is successful welsh swimmers in history. that is all your support saying that it short down to indian for now. thank you very much. fighterjets in the kashmir disputed region. 0ne fighterjets in the kashmir disputed region. one of them fell on the let's get more now on the second indian side and one fell on face—to—face meeting pakistani side. pakistan claims to between president trump and the north korean leader kim jong—un. they are expected to discuss a road have captured the pilot of that map for ridding the korean peninsula indian aircraft. it is on video and of nuclear weapons in two days of talks. our world affairs correspondent, the pictures have been released to nick beake, is in hanoi for us. the pictures have been released to the pakistani media. the army for those of you there, what are you being told about what they are spokesman also confirmed that the discussing? if i'm completely honest with you we are not hearing a great pakistani army undertook a strike on deal about the detail. what will be in these talks tomorrow between the the indian side of the border, the two sides. mr trump has framed this line of control. it did not target all along as he being the man who any military installation but open areas just to give a message to can pull this off. from terms of india that pakistan has the capacity

this evening, it has largely been to target opposition in india. the the theatre, the two men have picked up the theatre, the two men have picked u p exa ctly the theatre, the two men have picked up exactly where they left off back pakistani spokesman also said it in singapore last year. after that does not want to escalate the moment, remember, mr trump in singapore last year. after that moment, remember, mrtrumpfamously said that he and the north korean leader had fallen in love, and it situation but practically, both does seem that the bromance between sides are adding to the intense the two men is alive and well, and situation any kashmir region. imran obviously for many people that raises eyebrows given the fact that the north korean leader is on a khan warning against further stage with mr trump, of course, a exploration said if there is escalation, it is no longer in his dictator in a country the un has 01’ escalation, it is no longer in his or his counterpart‘s control. escalation, it is no longer in his or his counterpart's control. he accused of numerous human rights abuses. they met for about an hour also offered india once again to this evening, they had this dinner, the cameras were able to come in and carry out an investigation into an observe them. mr kim said he would do all he could to make this a attack that india blamed on pakistan success and once again president —based military. imran khan said if trump lavished great praise on mr kim saying he was the man with the leadership skills to take his there is any evidence of involvement country leadership skills to take his cou ntry forward leadership skills to take his from anyone from pakistani soil, country forward and america would help him do that. it was all smiles they are willing to investigate when they met, particularly for kim that. he also offered india to hold jong—un but he probably has more to a composite dialogue on terrorism gain with this with the issue of and other issues between the two countries because he says that if sanctions. absolutely, we know sanctions. absolutely, we know sanctions have been in place, there

the war starts the situation keeps is some debate overjust how biting they have been. clearly the north escalating, it can get out of koreans are coming here wanting some control very, very quickly. we are sort of sanction relief. when kim m, control very, very quickly. we are in, already come a very dangerous jong—un took over some eight years game of what looks to some like ago, he promised his country that brickman ship. yes, pakistan and they would be more prosperous, they would eat better, they would be able to develop the economy, and so if india have been in the crossfire sanctions are reduced they are able to do that. remember the americans since last night. for pakistani have said they would only consider civilians have died last night and reducing sanctions if total several have been injured. reports of casualties on the indian side are denuclearisation was achieved. is that going to happen? most analysts also coming in so the situation is think it is hugely unlikely and so very tense. people are forced to the talk is about a road map, some flee their homes who are living sort of gentle steps that can be close to the disputed border and the taken over the coming months, so in hospitals in pakistan and the terms of anything concrete from this we will see what the two men say kashmir region have been put on high tomorrow. we know their teams have alert. the situation is very tense been discussing this for the last and that obviously requires an few weeks in great detail but what happens tomorrow when the two men immediate action in terms of coming meet again over there at the luxury to the table and trying to hotel, we will see what emerges. as de—escalate the situation rather than adding to the already tense backdrops go, not a bad shot. thank situation. thank you very much for

you very much. bringing us that update. we will have more later on. let's return to the news that pakistan says it has shot down two indian air forcejets in a major president donald trump's convicted escalation of the kashmir conflict. former lawyer michael cohen a spokesman said one plane had is expected to accuse him of criminal conduct fallen inside pakistani during a hearing on capitol hill. administered territory and two this is mr cohen arriving pilots had been arrested. it comes a day after indian jets on capitol hill. according to us media, struck militants in pakistan. mr cohen will allege possible tax both india and pakistan fraud and racist language by mr trump. claim all of kashmir, but control only parts of it. the white house has questioned why the indian foreign ministry lawmakers invited someone who has pleaded guilty to lying to congress. 0ur correspondent laura gave this update. trevelyn has the latest. shortly after that incident, pakistan closed its airspace. we are it's going to be great political just getting some news on how that theatre, that is for sure. michael is affecting international airlines which are having to reboot flights cohen, who was the president's after that airspace was shut. self—described fixer and lawyer for ten yea rs self—described fixer and lawyer for ten years will say the president is a con man, racist and a cheat, and heathrow says it has so far taken will say that, while in office, the one diverted flight that was travelling new york to delhi. the president committed criminal airlines he says are responsible for conduct. remember that the president was alleged to have had an affair re—routing their flights and are putting in contingency plans to with a porn star, stormy daniels. ensure planes can refuel and there is capacity at airports to which the michael kohn paid hush money to her flights are diverted. the warning

so michael kohn paid hush money to her so she would not talk about it from many airlines, the longer the during the election campaign. michael cohen will demonstrate a airspace of the region remains closed, the heart of the re—routing cheque from president trump of flights will become. in the last reimbursing him for the payment he made to stormy daniels, which is few moments, thai airlines has cancelled all its flights in the very serious. you will also say that mrtrump region. that is the latest on that. very serious. you will also say that mr trump knew very serious. you will also say that mrtrump knew in very serious. you will also say that mr trump knew in advance that in terms of the politics of this, wikileaks were going to reveal those hacked e—mails. us intelligence said the british public —— foreign office that those e—mails were given to minister mark field has been giving his response. wikileaks. quite an extraordinary the foreign secretary spoke day here. in prospect, the to his indian and pakistani counterparts on monday to discuss the situation, and we are in regular president's colleagues are saying michael cohen is a liar. contact with both countries at senior levels to encourage stay with us here restraint, and to avoid on afternoon live — escalating tensions further. we'll bring you live coverage we are monitoring developments of michael cohen's testimony to that closely and considering the house of representatives panel implications for british nationals. i shall be speaking to both in washington from 3 o'clock. the indian and pakistani high and we'll be with our correspondent commissioners this afternoon, and will continue to press for the importance of restraint. on capitol hill from 2.a5pm. we urge both sides to engage in dialogue and to find diplomatic solutions the full coverage of that hearing to ensure regional stability. we are working closely and it looks like it could be rather with international partners, including through the united nations interesting. a murder investigation has been security council, to launched after a man became the sixth person in nine days to be de—escalate tensions. stabbed in london. police say the victim,

who was attacked in ilford, india and pakistan, mr speaker, is believed to be in his twenties. are both long—standing and important friends of the united kingdom. meanwhile in birmingham, a 16—year—old boy is in hospital we have many, and significant, links after being stabbed last night — the latest in a series to both countries through sizeable of knife attacks in the city diaspora of communities. over recent weeks. jon donnison reports. as a consequence, we enjoy strong bilateral relationships with both nations. another day, another fatal stabbing the uk government's position on kashmir remains that it is, in the capital. under this police and must be, for india and pakistan forensic tent outside ilford train to find a lasting political station in east london, the latest resolution to this situation — victim of a plague of knife crime. taking into account the wishes police say he was just 20 years old. of kashmiri people. it isn't for the uk to prescribe, local people are shocked but not to intervene, or to interfere surprised. you please cannot stop it with a solution or to act as a mediator. i know that the house has previously raised concerns anymore, it is too much, out of about the humanitarian and human control. it is not in one part of rights situation in both india—administered kashmir the area, it is everywhere. it does and pakistani—administered kashmir. we continue to monitor the situation make nervous because we may have a and we encourage all states to ensure their domestic standards are in line with granddaughter, you wonder what is international standards. going on in the area and what the children nowadays are thinking. there are at least three other nonfatal stabbings that happened yesterday in what has been a bloody few weeks. last week, 22—year—old

was knifed to death in a hotel lobby in camden. two days later, in a ben bland is here — in a moment he will be telling 23—year—old died after being stabbed us what's hot and what's not ata in the business news. 23—year—old died after being stabbed at a youth club in brixton. the first a look at the headlines on afternoon live escalating tension between following day, a 19—year—old in wood the nuclear powers — pakistan claims to have captured green was stabbed in front of a hair this pilot after shooting down salon. 0n two indian warplanes. green was stabbed in front of a hair salon. on monday, a man believed to a liarand a a liar and a cheat. president donald trump's convicted former lawyer be 32 was fatally stabbed in a fight michael cohen expected to convicted in bethnal green. last night was my him of misconduct on capitol hill. attack in ilford means five knife deaths in london injust nine days. i was at labour mp chris williamson deaths in london injust nine days. iwas ata deaths in london injust nine days. i was at a funeral on friday of a apologises for comments he made about the party's handling young londoner who lost his life in of anti—semitism , amid calls for him to be disciplined. oui’ young londoner who lost his life in our city. i spoke to the family last here's your business headlines on afternoon live marks and spencer has confirmed night about the incident. it is the recent speculation that it will launch a joint venture with 0cado to offer a food delivery service. the deal will see m&s take a 50% case with violent crime that the stake, at a cost of £750 million. amount of homicides has gone up over it means 0cado's 19 year the last four years and london is relationship with rival supermarket waitrose will end. not excluded. seems like this seem to be happening in the capital the bbc and itv, are in advanced talks to create a rival to netflix. almost on a daily basis. stop and it'll be called "britbox". search has been stepped up and a the aim is to launch special serious violence task force in the second half of the year.

was set up last year but it does not the paid—for service seem was set up last year but it does not seem to be having any real impact. is available in the us, where it launched two years ago. it is not just seem to be having any real impact. it is notjust in london that there the service will screen archive programmes, new series was a problem. another police caught and specially commissioned shows, and is expected to sign up other uk broadcasters too. on, this time in birmingham where a 17—year—old was stabbed on monday. selfridges has said it will ban the third teenage victim of knife crime in the city in less than two the sale of exotic animal weeks. his grieving relatives had a skins such as alligator, crocodile and python. from february 2020, the luxury london department store crown prosecutor. what is even more will only sell leather deafening for me is the silence of civic leaders. they are saying why from agricultural livestock. is this not important? my sense is that there will be other innocents that there will be other innocents that will suffer as a result of the lack of action. the home secretary i heard this, angry cultural livestock, which is probably a fair sajid javid was in birmingham in the description of how they would feel! there've been some pointed exchanges last few days and said knife crime between president trump and the group of main oil producing countries — and it's was devastating communities and all about the price of oil? destroying lives. the government action so far has not worked. last yes, this is one that may seem so far removed — year was the worst on record in i mean, when was the last time you bought a barrel of crude oil? terms of stabbings in england and wales. this year could be even but the reality is that it affects the saudi energy minister said

worse. theresa may says the uk remains it affects the fuel you put in your ‘firmly on course' to leave the european union with a deal — if mp5 hold their nerve. she made the comments in a newspaper car, it affects all of that. article ahead of votes in the commons this evening on the government's brexit strategy. 0ur political correspondent president trump tweeted earlier in the week demanding the main oil alex forsyth reports. producing countries, that group, keeps prices down. he said, to despite the signs, spring isn't and quote, oil prices getting too high, everyone's steps in westminster. 0pec, please relax and take it easy. parliament is working out the implications of the prime minister's world cannot take a price hike. that latest plan, the possibility brexit could be delayed if there is no deal was president trump's tweet. this in place by the end of next month. some had been pushing for that. are was president trump's tweet. this was after 0pec countries cut back on production in january to you part of a plot to stop brexit? was after 0pec countries cut back on production injanuary to try to push up production injanuary to try to push up prices, you limit supply and know i want to back the prime prices go up, they have gone up but minister and try get the best deal they haven't quite reached the as possible. others are clear that levels they were out in october. the departure should not be held up. today, the saudis, which effectively to we do not want to delay brexit. lead that group of oil producing countries have responded. michelle the prime minister said that she could not. the prime minister said fleu ry countries have responded. michelle fleury at the new york stock

exchanges following this to us. you parliament will vote again on her brexit deal once she has renegotiated parts with the eu. if have the oil energy ministry for saudi arabia basically coming out it is rejected, and marty 13th, mp5 and saying are taking it a direct response to donald trump's measured can it is rejected, and marty 13th, mp5 ca n vote it is rejected, and marty 13th, mp5 can vote on whether we should leave without a deal and if that does not get support, on march the 1ath, they approach, going forward. part of the concern the donald trump raised in can get support, on march the 1ath, they ca n vote get support, on march the 1ath, they can vote on delaying brexit. pass the date of march 29 when the uk's his tweet was the world economy is currently due to leave the eu. sign fragile at the moment, concern about my order, questions to prime a slowdown and the energy minister, minister. today, theresa may insisted a deal was still within our saying there was also a barb from grasp if the mp5 get behind it saying she does not want to process the 0pec secretary general who basically invited donald trump and delayed. can i be clear? the the americans to join the dialogue, government does not want to extend article 50. the policy is to get legally binding changes so this instead of coming join us round the house can support the deal and we table since america is one of the can leave with a deal. suntory world if not the world's largest brexiteers who want changes to the producers of oil nowadays? that was plan to avoid a hard irish border the end of last year. the talk about signalled they might back that deal if it had a time limit for that —— production cuts has had the effect like some tory brexiteers. it would

of putting prices up. the opposite have to be a short date, not a long effect of what he was wanting. it is date and that would remove the backstop in the lifetime of parliament. that would have a moving higher, the price of oil reasonable effect. any budding perhaps not as high as the saudis and some of its allied countries consensus reasonable effect. any budding consensus is still a long way off. including russia would like to see, this afternoon, another chance for but at the same time obviously mps to how their say on the process and it could still get fractious. higher than donald trump would like. the labour mp chris why is president trump keen to keep williamson has apologised for suggesting the party had "given too much ground" in its response the oil prices down? because to accusations of anti—semitism. presumably if the price stays low senior labourfigures that the us gets low —— less for the are calling for the derby north mp to be suspended. oil and shale it is selling. but also you have to remember this is a 0ur chief political president who likes to boast about correspondent, vicki young, is at westminster. the strength of the us economy, how well it is doing, and on the one tom watson, the deputy leader among hand you are talking about oil those saying he should be revenues, yes, you make a good point disciplined and it has not happened. that is right. another interesting there, but lower oil prices also helps in the manufacturing process, case because chris williamson is an lowering costs, it helps in all ally ofjeremy corbyn and has been sorts of ways for consumers, quite a controversial figure. americans feel they have more money ally ofjeremy corbyn and has been quite a controversialfigure. this recording of him in sheffield at a

momentum meeting seeming to say that in their donald trump has talked in the past the labour party had really gone too that he thinks the price of oil far in apologising for anti—semitism should be around $40 a barrel. and are really playing down the clearly it is significantly above problem that the party has. let's that, but economists are predicting have a listen to what he had to say. a fairly wild ride of the price of oil for the year ahead and they say one of the reason is concerns about a party standing up to racism is now a global slowdown which has a knock—on effect for demand of oil, being deemed as a racist party. i which means the price is likely to go down. so you could perhaps expect think the party's response has not been responsible because, in my more cuts from 0pec and other oil producing countries if they want to opinion, i think we give too much keep those oil revenues coming into ground. their coffers. thanks very much, we are being told this lunchtime michelle at the new york stock that chris williamson has been given exchange. a look at the markets. the a notice of investigation for a ftse 100 exchange. a look at the markets. the pattern of behaviour. he has not so ftse100 is extending the losses it made yesterday. marks and spencer tumbling. far been... but that can take months and one is to happen. there are lots counterintuitively, because we have of people in the party calling for a the news of a tie—up with 0cardo,

but it says it will offer new rights swifter action for this to be done far more quickly and ed miliband, to existing shareholders to fund it and cut the dividend to help fund the former labour leader, saying that project commenced the fall in that this is a test of how serious the share price. metro bank also the leadership in the party, jeremy issuing new shares to plug a gap, a corbyn, how seriously they take the shortfall, after an accounting problem of anti—semitism and it error. that has hit the share price comes with a backdrop of all those mp5 leaving the labour party last quote sharply. week. many of whom sizing the problem of anti—semitism. the problem of anti—semitism. the problem forjeremy corbyn is that he is not seem to act decisively and swiftly in this case, that could i will see you later perhaps. there isa prompt others to leave the party. i will see you later perhaps. there is a lot going on today. try and this is an ongoing row and that positioning their of tom watson, find time. it is important. weight deputy leader of the saying in one of the things we will be concentrating on throughout the public constantly that he thinks afternoon is in washington, donald more has to be done. he is referring trump's former lawyer michael cohen cases of alleged anti—semitism that he has seen to the party and he is will shortly testify and is expected clearly pursuing this, as are other to accuse the president of criminal mp5. piling the pressure onjeremy conduct. it is due to start shortly, corbyn to act. thank you very much for that. scheduled for three o'clock our time. the president has orally been treating to say his former lawyer is

you're watching afternoon live, these are our headlines... lying in an effort to get a reduced prison sentence for his own crimes. escalating tension between the nuclear powers — pakistan claims to have captured this pilot after shooting down it couldn't be more dramatic two indian warplanes. frankly. laura trevelyan is in theyissued they issued this video of the ca ptu red they issued this video of the captured man. a liar and a cheat: washington for us now. we have heard things like this before but this is president donald trump's convicted former lawyer michael cohen different. tell us why donald trump is expected to accuse him of criminal conduct could be really worried? michael during a hearing on capitol hill. labour mp chris williamson apologises for comments he made about the party's handling of anti—semitism amid calls for him to be disciplined. cohen, his formerfixer could be really worried? michael cohen, his former fixer and could be really worried? michael cohen, his formerfixer and personal attorney who worked for him for ten and in sport, england are under way yea rs attorney who worked for him for ten years is going to accuse the president of committing a crime while in office, specifically a in theirfourth one—day international against the west indies in granada. they lost the federal election crime. remember the toss, they are batting first funny. porn star, stormy daniels, who said toss, they are batting firstjohnny ba i rstow has she had an affair with mr trump? toss, they are batting firstjohnny bairstow has reached that might reach 50 already. —— johnny bairstow michael cohen paid her off during has reached 50 already. a big night any champions league, liverpool look the election campaign so she would keep quiet and what he will do to to —— any premier league, liverpool date has brandished checks, one look to hold onto their one—point signed by the president, another by lead on manchester city at the top the president's son, that he says of the table. brendan rodgers said are reimbursements for that hush money payment. it is federal the reason he joined

of the table. brendan rodgers said the reason hejoined leicester city is because of their huge dynamics election crime not to declare a board with young stars with a lot of payment like that under your potential. more on those stories at campaign financial statement, so half past. this is big news, and not only that, but michael cohen is going to say that the president knew in advance that the president knew in advance that wikileaks were going to reduce those hacked democratic e—mails that —— dynamic squad. us intelligence said were given to the bbc and itv have them by the russians. so it is going announced plans to launch a joint streaming service. it's hoped britbox, to be great political theatre but which the broadcasters say will ‘5howcase the best in british already allies of the president are creativity‘ will create telling me michael cohen is a liar, a rival to netflix. it's thought the service he is going to jail in part for could launch later this year. must watch podcast co—host scott bryan is here. admitting lying to congress and this is just the act of a disgraced why now? viewing habits are changing fellow. and they have a point in saying that, but of course if he has so why now? viewing habits are changing proven to be lying again he will so much. people are looking for a face quite a much longer stretch in different challenge to find things to watch. going on streaming, going prison, that is what those who are on netflix and scrabbling to find attacking president trump are saying content. i think, for quite a long anyway. the point is michael cohen time, netflix was really dominant in is going to jail in may for three the uk and had a growing influence yea rs is going to jail in may for three years for a whole variety of crimes, one of them this federal election but the bbc and itv are thinking that they want to maintain that they crime. federal prosecutors in court have said individual one directed mr area that they want to maintain that they

are a destination in their own right. there were discussions ten cohen to commit this crime to pay yea rs right. there were discussions ten years ago about this possibility this money to stormy daniels, before netflix launched. what has individual one is president trump. happened? are before netflix launched. what has happened ? are they late? he will say that in front of the before netflix launched. what has happened? are they late? they really tried. this has been going on for 12 nation today. the impact of this yea rs, tried. this has been going on for 12 years, that was the first time they can't be understated. millions of try to go and do it with channel a as well and the regulator 0fcom americans will see michael cohen's blocked it because they thought this testimony live on television, this would mean that channels would be isn't something that happens on court with only a courtroom artist and tie competitive, all on the same showing it, this is michael cohen group together. —— they would be saying he worked for mr trump for yea rs, saying he worked for mr trump for years, he knows him to be a liar, a anti competitive. now 12 years on, conman, a racist and someone who committed a federal election crime. we have these large streaming platform is all coming in and the republicans are trying to downplay it, attacking michael arguably it is too little, too late cohen's character, it will be a very for building up their own service. no one can doubt the success of dramatic day of testimony here. back of all this, we have the continuing streaming, the bbc iplayer does very well. many people will say they have investigation, and we are still awaiting to hear from investigation, and we are still awaiting to hearfrom robert investigation, and we are still paid their licensee, pay another awaiting to hear from robert miller. charge to watch something from the that's right, and in fact michael cohen will not be able to speak bbc? arguably, quite right but, at about things pertaining to the the same time, i think the bbc has robert mueller enquiry because he is a lwa ys the same time, i think the bbc has always been selling dvds of shows, a corroborating witness without enquiry, but is going to say that a lwa ys always been selling dvds of shows, always using products and the president pressured him

merchandise to go and provide implicitly not to tell the truth to reve nu es merchandise to go and provide revenues back into the bbc and this congress last time he was in front is another way of doing so. i think of them about business dealings and it is possibly going to be a negotiations to build a trump tower frustration because you might think in moscow. remember donald trump as a candidate said he had no business that once britbox gets set up and sta rts that once britbox gets set up and starts to build, they might start dealings with russia whatsoever, taking shows of netflix and the well, michael cohen says he was negotiating with the russians about other providers that people are watching things on. the bbc and itv the possibility of a trump tower in moscow, so that will also come up shows they show on netflix will no today, and you could expect democrats to ask a whole variety of longer be there, will they? absolutely. we are starting to head questions to mr cohen and for the towards a way that there will be so republicans to attack his character. many different streaming providers thank you very much. we will be and your paying £5 for each one or even £7 for each one, you could be returning to the start of that hearing as soon as it gets under paying £30 or £a0 for the same way. michael cohen giving evidence. shows. this is a big change for itv you are watching afternoon live, a look at the weather here, helen thatis shows. this is a big change for itv that is funded by adverts. they are trying to get out of what some would say is a trap. i would not say it is a trap. they have been managing to do quite well for themselves with the advert supported model but broadcasters are trying to think of willetts has that. for many it has

different means to support themselves and i think they are probably thinking that if theyjoin with the bbc in this form and take been another balmy february day, on netflix, it is another form more cloud for the north and the with the bbc in this form and take on netflix, it is anotherform of west compared with recent days. money than their own. i do not think notably across northern ireland, across the northern isles of scotla nd across the northern isles of scotland and some of this low cloud it is cannibalising their existing has been creeping across some of the contact. one group of people all irish sea coast as well but for the majority as you saw, an abundance of broadcasters are desperate for is young people. they are the ones sunshine once again which has sent those temperatures up into the high watching streaming outlets with many teens. it is likely we will be closed yesterday's record, probably not quite as high though. through the evening and overnight it really watching streaming outlets with many watching bbc iplayer. a relatively does change, yes it will be quite small number at this stage and this chilly under starry skies to start is what this is about, hence the with, but you can see the cloud starting to seep in from both the name britbox. the name for me as a north and the south—west. temperatures won't be quite as low bit jarring because it as they have been, not as much frost around, more cloud, and that really name britbox. the name for me as a sets the scene for quite a different bitjarring because it is already established in the us because it has day for many of us. some of those still on half term, notably across been popular with expats, showing wales, seeing some showery rain, and the best of our stuff temperatures significantly lower by five or 6 degrees in many places. internationally. i think for young slightly brighter again on friday people it will probably be hard to but all change for the weekend. we convince them to pay £5 or £6 because if you scroll through television, they can watch these will take you back to capitol hill because there is the man that is the goals —— they can watch the show is focus now of global media attention, michael cohen, resident donald that they want to watch on television and the challenge they will have is having to convince people to pay again, essentially, trump's convicted former lawyer, who

for shows they have already seen. is expected this afternoon to accuse the president of criminal conduct always good to see you. thank you. during this upcoming hearing. we are president trump is meeting expecting michael cohen will allege the north korean leader kimjong—un today for their second face possible tax fraud, racist language to face meeting. by mrtrump. the the talks are taking place possible tax fraud, racist language by mr trump. the white house has in vietnam, and follow their summit already been putting out comments in singapore lastjune. since then, critics claim there's been little progress which it hopes will soften the towards denuclearisation. mr trump says if north korea does damage caused by this hearing, it is give up its nuclear weapons, its future would be ‘awesome'. a question, why did lawmakers bring his words. in somebody who already accused of 0ur correspondent barbara plett usher is travelling lying to congress. we have been with the president and sent this hearing michael cohen has officially report from hanoi. the handshake was not quite as been disbarred from practising law by the us supreme state of court, historic this time but a significant according to new york media. moment nonetheless. president trump is counting on his personal relationship with the north korean leader to get action on we expect the testimony to contain denuclearisation. something he several allegations, one of which is failed to achieve at their first likely to include claims that the summit last year. he has also been president committed a criminal act while in office. this obviously emphasising the economic incentive for pyongyang to give up its nuclear overshadowed a part of claims... of weapons, highlighting that earlier

during a courtesy call with his vietnamese hosts. this communist involvement in the election which country is thriving, he said, and so resulted in victory for president could north korea. hopefully it will donald trump. we are expecting any be successful, we will see what happens, but he wants to do something great also and i think you testimony that donald trump directed wa nt to something great also and i think you want to do something that would be ona par, plans on more scope is max's even want to do something that would be on a par, if you look at what you have done in a short time, he can do during his white house campaign —— it in have done in a short time, he can do itina have done in a short time, he can do it in a very rapid time, making north korea into a great economic power. in pyongyang, the media was on moscow's skyscraper. he was also also building expectations for a branded a conman, racist and a second summit, another step to cheat. you can see much anticipation easing the pariah state. kim jong—un on capitol hill there. photographers was caught on tape on the train being told to get into their positions so this hearing just moments away. donald trump has journey to hanoi. his sister and close confidant by his side, this time with an ashtray. the north already tweeted a the last couple of hours saying mr cohen is lying in korean leader was greeted with pomp order to reduce his prison time. and ceremony but he is under pressure to move beyond the fanfare. bottom left of your screen you can he has offered to shut down north see michael cohen they're ready to give evidence and the bank of korea's maine nuclear facility but photographers who will be watching only if he gets us concessions such

every m ove , every photographers who will be watching as relief from punishing sanctions. every move, every reaction from him. anticipation for this summit is running high and hanoi as vietnam make the most of its rendezvous with history. president trump will also well, as that hearing gets under be making the most of this. any way, let'sjoin success here could help offset the well, as that hearing gets under way, let's join events their own capitol hill as the testimony of political turmoil he faces at home michael cohen gets under way. but we will need to get commitments on denuclearisation to ease the authorised to declare a recess of sceptics on their thought that he is the committee at any time. the full being taken for a ride by north committee hearing is convening to korea. these children are hoping to welcome kim jong—un to their friendship in the garden. it was hear the testimony of michael cohen. built by the north koreans. there will be much talk about peace during former tourney to president donald the next few days but the challenge is to move beyond the pageantry. trump. mr chairman, point of order. rule 9f of the committee rules say that any testimony from your witness with me now is dr leslie vinjamuri, needs to be heard 24 hours in the head of the us and the americas programme at chatham house. thank you for coming in. we have advance. the chairman knows well seen thank you for coming in. we have seen the meat, it all very civilised but we do not know what they will be that at 1008 we received the written talking about because they don't, do testimony and then we received they? no, it has been hard to evidence this morning at 7:54am.

this wasjust decipher what the strategy is. there evidence this morning at 7:54am. isa decipher what the strategy is. there this was just an oversight then i is a strong sense that there was no coordination, the thing we have seen could look beyond it but it was an is that there is not a strong intentional effort by this witness internal coordination and the and his advisers to once again show administration is not working very carefully with its allies in the his disdain for this body. —— if region. to be very fair, this is a this was an oversight. with that, i very difficult problem and previous move that we postpone this hearing. administrations have not succeeded in cracking the knot of i want to thank the gentleman. let denuclearisation when it comes to north korea so one has to keep it in perspective. —— cracking the nut. it me say this, that we got to read the isa perspective. —— cracking the nut. it is a very significant issue for president trump, he wants to wind a testimony late last night. we did. diplomatic success and expectations are high. he said last time that we got it to you all pretty much the north korea is no longer a nuclear threat. he was just plain wrong. same time that we got it. i want to north korea is no longer a nuclear threat. he wasjust plain wrong. one wonders when trump says things like that that clearly are not true, we move forward with this hearing. mr are looking at 65 nuclear warheads in its arsenal, very clearly a chairman, with all due respect, this isa chairman, with all due respect, this is a violation of the rule and, if nuclear threat. the question is whether that can be contained and it it was not intentional, i would not is certainly being deterred from using them. he is signalling that he have a problem. i'm not saying it

was intentional on your part, i say it was intentional on his part wa nts to using them. he is signalling that he wants to engage in talks with the because last night, on a cable north korean leader. trump always speaks with something in mind, network, mr dean made it all very something years trying to get rather than with a rarely effective evident, john dean, and i will quote, he said, as a former estimation of a genuine problem. —— a really effective estimation. what committee councillor in the house audiences you working to? the ones judiciary committee and then a back home or the people of south long—term witness sitting alone at korea that he upset last time by saying there was no longer a threat the table is important. quote, holding your statement as long as and saying there would be no you can so the other side cannot exercises in the see of e goes chew it up as important as well.". there? he has to be really careful. diplomacy is not necessarily his strong point up till now. is it was advised that our witness got understanding of diplomacy, as we from this body and when you are in know, is impulsive and intuitive. he the minority, you would not have wa nts to know, is impulsive and intuitive. he wants to disrupt and use this option stood for it and i am telling you we to move a problem forward, he says should not stand for it as a body. north korea is not a nuclear threat let me say this. mr chairman. i and he is really talking to the leader of north korea in an effort to rein him in, bring him into some sort of negotiation. the problem is, moved to table. a second. i was then what? what is the united states

offer? how firmly will it hold to asking for it to be recognised this line of denuclearisation, which before the motion. you will likely vote is tabling the emotion. excuse seems that the prospect of it is me. cnn had it before we did. they very far off and very unlikely, and the steps towards achieving it have had the experts before we did. the not been laid out. all smiles from kim jong—un but he not been laid out. all smiles from kimjong—un but he has the most vote is on tabling the motion to not been laid out. all smiles from kim jong—un but he has the most to gain, hasn't he? there is a postpone. all in favour say iron. —— question, the moment, about the enforcement of the sanctions not being tremendously effective but nonetheless, they would love to see decision—mac i appeal the ruling of aof nonetheless, they would love to see a of those sanctions and i think the chair. it is a new rules. —— a5 thatis a of those sanctions and i think that is the play for north korea, many as are of the opinion, say what is on offer for the united "aye". to the contrary, "no".. do states and those of america's the rules matter? move to waive the partners in the region that are worried about this? remember, japan, rules. moved to table. she made two south korea are big players here. 0ne south korea are big players here. one of the concerns is what the trump administration might move motions, what is emotion? gel might america into is a position where it vote is on tabling... perhaps thinks about north korea, motions, what is emotion? gel might vote is on tabling. .. i moved to how to contain the threat that table the appeal rolling of the emanates from north korea with chair. the vote is on that. as many respect to the united states.

as are of the opinion, say "aye". to excepting perhaps that north korea the contrary, "no". the ayes have maintains itself as a nuclear power but gives on the question of it, the ayes have it. i ask for a intercontinental ballistic missiles recorded vote. very well, the klerk that could reach the united states so the number of issues here at play, none are really being will call... mr cummings... votes integrated into a strategy so far as we can see. these are the images that president trump or want in all the papers tomorrow, unlikely given what is going on back home at the moment. as we saw in his twitter yes. mr maloney... votes yes. ms feed he is very focused on what is going on back home, those hearings. norton... yes. mr clay... yes. mr michael cohen, his former attorney, testifying and insofar is what we lynch... yes. mr cooper... yes. mr can see, what is going to be a very divisive testimony and one that he connelly... yes. mr krishnamurthy... will be watching. i suspect he will go in tomorrow very tired, i suspect he will be awake and following that, yes. yes. mr ruder... yes. miss tweeting about that so the signals that are coming out of this are very difficult but very hard to see that hill... yes. yes. yes. mr earl he can go into another meeting

without any measurable success. the expectations on today's summit and tomorrow cosmic meetings are very high. thank you. ouch... yes. mrs beer... yes. miss kelly... yes. mr the song a... yes. firefighters say they're likely to be on the scene of a huge moorland fire in west yorkshire for the rest of the day, miss lawrence... yes. miss to make sure it doesn't re—ignite. at its height last night the blaze plaskett... yes. mr khanna... yes. near marsden covered at least two and half square miles. richard lister reports mr gomez... yes. mr cassio cortez... fire crews heading out across marsden moor last night and into yes. miss pressly... yes. yes. mr this. an intense wall of flame more than a this. an intense wall of flame more thana mile this. an intense wall of flame more than a mile long and spreading fast. jordan... no. mr marsh... they are used to wildfires in the summer here but not in february. a dry winter and yes. miss pressly... yes. yes. mr summer here but not in february. a jordan... no. mrmarsh... no. mr yes. miss pressly... yes. yes. mr jordan... no. mr marsh... no. mr goh saw. . . jordan... no. mr marsh... no. mr goh dry winterand an saw... no. miss fox... no. mr summer here but not in february. a dry winter and an unusually temperature drying out the temperature drying out the temperature might heather and repeat underneath. heavy conditions for a massey... no. mr meadows... no. mr majorfire. underneath. heavy conditions for a major fire. this is possibly one of the biggest fires i've seen in west yorkshire for a wildfire. it is heiss. .. massey... no. mr meadows... no. mr running through heather and has a heiss... no. mr

really high flame front because it massey... no. mr meadows... no. mr heiss. .. no. mr grossman. .. is so combustible so it is quite massey... no. mr meadows... no. mr dramatic to see what it is nothing heiss... no. mrgrossman... no. mr we cannot deal with. getting the comber... no. mr cloud... heiss... no. mrgrossman... no. mr comber... no. mrcloud... no. mr cruise and their gear on site was a gibbs... no. mr higgins... no. mr battle, half the battle. a half a mile walk to the fire line and a norman... no. mr roy... no. miss specialist vehicle used to carry the gear over the heavy terrain. the conditions were deemed too dangerous miller... no. mr green... for the dozens of firefighters on the moor and they were forced to norman... no. mr roy... no. miss miller... no. mrgreen... no. mr armstrong... now. mr stew beef... pull back. they returned at first light with the fire still burning but the crews now believe they have got it under control, what triggered no. —— mr stoobie vote no. 0n it is not yet clear but as fire brigades around the country are finding, wildfire season has begun armstrong... now. mr stew beef... no. —— mr stoobie vote no. on this vote, we have 24 for yes, 17 no. the early. time for a look at the weather. helen willetts is with us, very white sand, but that was a year ago. motion to table is agreed to. let me it is, i'm glad you have noticed it say this. you've made it clear that is white, it is no, not sand. but you do not want the american people thatis is white, it is no, not sand. but that is amazing, isn't it? that was to hear what mr cohen has to say.

in cornwall on the beach this time the american people have a right to last year, when we had the beast hear him so we are going to proceed. the american people can judge hear him so we are going to proceed. the american people canjudge his credibility for themselves. now... from the east. it was exceptionally cold this time last year, some more mrchairman, we did stunning photos to remind us, this credibility for themselves. now... mr chairman, we did not say that, we was in scotland a year or so ago. it wa nt mr chairman, we did not say that, we want to follow the rules. we did not is so fickle, the british weather, isn't it? snow virtually in most say stop the hearing, we said postpone it so we can get his parts of the country during some testimony and exhibits when we were point february to march. that was your snow, now you've got your son. supposed to get them according to absolutely, record—breaking the rules of this committee, that is temperatures as we know, it has been quite remarkable, a degree and a all we said, not that we did not half above the previous temperature, andi wa nt all we said, not that we did not want to hear him. you are claiming half above the previous temperature, and i think it is because it has been so dry, the air. 0ften and i think it is because it has been so dry, the air. often when you my time. i reconciled myself for have warmth in the summer, some of five minutes to give an opening the summer sunshine is evaporating statement. today the committee will hear the testimony of michael cohen. the summer sunshine is evaporating the moisture in the air but because the moisture in the air but because the relative humidity is so low, president donald trump was back a there is no moisture in the air, so long time personal tourney and one all that heat is going into warming the air. it is still technically of his closest and most trusted advisers over the last decade. —— winter, isn't it? it is a meteorological start of spring on one of president donald trump's long

the 1st of march but the spring equinox not until 20th march so technically we are still in winter. time attorneys. in arranging secret payoffs for hundreds of thousands of things are about to change. they dollars. 0n the eve of the election are. obviously there are to silence women alleging affairs implications, it has been dry, very with donald trump. mr cohen admitted warm, there are concerns about that, but still some are on half term, many parts of wales are, so i'm sure this has been just to violating campaign finance laws many parts of wales are, so i'm sure this has beenjust a delight. this is in north yorkshire, on the beach. and other laws. he admitted to you are right, it is all about to committing these felonies, quote, in change, not necessarily that much cooler but in stark contrast to what has been and could turn out to be the warmest february on record, in coordination with and any direction terms of maximum temperatures. this of, unquote, president trump. and he calendar shows that for every day of her previous year, bar the first, temperatures somewhere in the month admitted to lying about his actions to protect the president. some would have been above the average. i'm sure we will see that continue tomorrow. we are already in the high certainly ask if mr cohen was lying teens today. it doesn't get much then, why should we believe him now? colder, it has to be said, for the next few days, but we pick up this this is a legitimate question. as a

westerly atla ntic next few days, but we pick up this westerly atlantic wind, so the difference is it will be moisture trial lawyer for many years, i have laden and there will be more cloud faced this situation over and over around, and yes, we will have some again andi rain on the cards as well. for the faced this situation over and over again and i ask the same question. last of it, let's enjoy. this is how here is how i view our role. every the satellite picture looks. for northern ireland, quite a lot of chris below cloud. we also have a one of ours in this room has a duty to serve as an independent on the wea k chris below cloud. we also have a weak weather front creeping in from northern scotland southwards as well. if you like our sunshine, our executive branch. ladies and clear skies are being eroded from gentlemen, we are in search of the both the south and the north, or truth. the president has made many south—west of the north. we have state m e nts truth. the president has made many weather fronts associated with them. statements of his own and now the coming into the high pressure so american people have a right to hear initially the rain will be light and patchy, but it blankets the the other side. they can watch mr following temperature, so still chilly under the clear skies of eastern scotland, central and eastern scotland, central and cohen's testimony and make their own eastern england but temperatures won't be as low as we start judgment. we received a copy of his tomorrow, not as widespread the frost, just more mist and fog. written statement late last night. scotla nd it includes not only personal eye frost, just more mist and fog. scotland largely dry away from the witness accounts of meetings with north—east but these are tomorrow's temperatures, eight to 13 degrees, donald trump as president inside the

vastly different. the showery rain sta rts vastly different. the showery rain oval office but it also includes starts to ease away tomorrow evening and overnight and we will get another little ridge of high pressure for friday. dry weather documents and other corroborating returns for many of us but there will still be a lot of cloud in the evidence for some of mr cohen's sky, mist and fog will be quite statements. for example, mr cohen prevalent in the morning and then late in the day as the wind strength provided a copy of a cheque sent and yet more rain knocking on the door of northern ireland. this looks while president trump was in office more significant, and for western scotland. 11 to 1a is above average for this time of year. 0nce with donald trump as mike signature on it to reimburse mr cohen for the scotland. 11 to 1a is above average for this time of year. once that moves through, it opens the gate if you like for further areas of quite hush money payment to stormy nasty low pressure, deep areas of low pressure, strong winds, heavy daniels. this new evidence raises a rain, and it is cooler air, low pressure, strong winds, heavy rain, and it is coolerair, it low pressure, strong winds, heavy rain, and it is cooler air, it is more as it should be this time of year, so we are mentioning snow in host of troubling, legal and ethical the forecast on sunday and into monday. but saturday looks like this. it looks like a very unsettled concerns about the president was day for most of us. sunday, that mike actions in the white house and theme continues with further showers before. would you close that door, among outbreaks of rain, strong please? thank you. this cheque is winds blowing in late in the day and then for the start of the new week then for the start of the new week the potential for something then for the start of the new week the potentialfor something quite nasty to come along. i will keep you

posted over the next couple of days dated august one 2017. six months but it doesn't look great, does it? later, in april of 2018, the president denied anything about it. in april 2018, president trump was flying on air force one when a reporter asked him the question, did you know about $130,000 payment to stormy daniels? the answer was, quote, no. a month after that, the president admitted to making payments to mr cohen but claim they we re payments to mr cohen but claim they were pa rt of payments to mr cohen but claim they were part of a, quote, monthly retainer, unquote, for legal services. this claim fell apart in august. when federal prosecutors concluded that, in truth and in

fa ct, concluded that, in truth and in fact, there was no such retainer agreement. today, we will also hear from mr cohen pours my account of a meeting in 2016 in donald trump was my office in which roger said of a speakerphone that he had spoken with julian assange who said there would bea julian assange who said there would be a quote, massive dump of e—mails that would damage hillary clinton pot campaign, end of quote. according to cohen, mr trump replied, quote, wouldn't that be great? end of quote. the testimony that michael cohen will provide today, ladies and gentlemen, is deeply disturbing and it should be troubling to all americans. we will all have to make our own evaluation of the evidence and mr cohen pours

my credibility. a5 of the evidence and mr cohen pours my credibility. as he admits he has repeatedly lied in the past. i agree with memberjordan that this is an important factor we need to weigh but we must weigh and hear from him. where i disagree fundamentally with the ranking member regards his effo rts the ranking member regards his efforts to prevent the american people from hearing from mr cohen. mr cohen was like testimony raises great questions about the legality of donald trump was mike conduct and the truthfulness of statements while he was president. we need to assess and investigate this new evidence as we uphold our constitutional oversight and responsibilities. we

will continue, after today, to gather more documents and testimony in our search for the truth. i have made it abundantly clear to mr cohen that, if he comes here today and he does not tell the truth, i will be the first one to refer those untruthful statements to doj. when people say that he does not have anything to lose, he does if you lies. the american people, by the way, voted for accountability in november. we have a right to hear mr cohenin november. we have a right to hear mr cohen in public so they can make their ownjudgment. mr cohen in public so they can make their own judgment. mr cohen pours my testimony is the beginning of the process , my testimony is the beginning of the process, not the end. —— mr cohen's testimony. the days of this

committee protecting the president at all costs are over. they are over. before i close, i want to comment about the scope of today's hearing. at the request of the house intelligence committee and my very good friend, the chairman, i intend over the objections of the ranking member of our committee to limit the scope of today was like hearing to avoid questions about russia. however, mr cohen's written testimony has made statements relating to russia. these are topics that we understand did not raise concern from the department of justice. when it comes to the ranking member and all committee members, we will not restrict questions relating to the witness

multi—mac —— the witness' statements in regard to russia. finally, we will need to remain mindful of those areas that are not ongoing in terms of department ofjustice investigations. those scoping limitations have not changed. finally, to mr cohen, he said, from words i leave with you today before you testify, he said faith is taking the first step, even when you cannot see the whole staircase. there comes a time when silence becomes betrayal. 0ur lies begin to end the day we become silent about things that truly matter. —— our lives begin to end. we will remember not

the words of our enemies but the silence of ourfriends. the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends. with that, i go to the distinguished gentleman, the ranking member of our community, mrjordan. parliamentary enquiry. mr jordan is recognised for his opening statement. your ego. your first big hearing, your first announced witness, michael cohen. iwant everyone in this room to think about this, the first one for the hundred and 16th: press is the man going to prison in two months for lying to progress. your chairman will always be identified with this hearing and we all need to understand what this is, this is the michael cohen hearing presented by lanie davis. that is right, laney davies choreographed the whole thing. the

clintons' best friend, cooperative, put this all together. we know he told her staff, the committee staff that hearing was his idea, he selected as committee, he had to talk michael cohen into coming and most importantly he had to persuade the chairman to actually have him. he told us it took two months to get thatjob done he told us it took two months to get that job done and he told us it took two months to get thatjob done and here we are. he talked him into it. this might be the first time someone convicted of lying to congress has appeared again so quickly in front of congress. certainly is the first time a convicted perjury has been brought back to be a star witness in a hearing. there was a reason this is the first, because no other committee would do it. think about this, with mr cohen here, this committee, we have lots of lawyers on this committee, it is actually encouraging a witness to violate attorney—client privilege. when we legitimise to dishonesty, we

delegitimise this institution. we are supposed to pursue the truth. you have stacked the deck against the truth. we can only ask certain questions, even without amendment you just thought about with now russia on the table, you told us we could not ask questions about the special counsel or the southern district of new york, russia. no, no, only subjects we can talk about are ones you think are going to be harmful to the president of the united states and the answers to those questions are going to come from a guy who cannot be trusted. here's what the us attorney said about mrcohen, he here's what the us attorney said about mr cohen, he enjoyed a privileged life, he wanted wealth and that i had an extensive course of criminal conduct. mr cohen committed for this thing federal crimes over a period of several years. he was motivated to do so by personal greed and repeatedly used

his power and influence for deceptive ends but the democrats don't care. they don't care, they just want to use you, mr cohen, as their patsy today, they have to find somebody somewhere to say something somebody somewhere to say something so they can try to remove the president from office. as they were told to. tom steyer last week organised the town hall, guess where? at the district in manhattan. he organised the town hall, guess where? chairman's district in baltimore. the best they can find to start this process is michael cohen. fraudster, cheat, convicted felon and, in two months, a federal inmate. they didn't find him, laney davies found him. i will say one thing about the democrats, they stick to the playbook. remember, remember how all this started. the

clinton campaign hired a law firm that hired glenn simpson to hire someone to put together a dossier that the fbi used to go and get a warrant to follow the drum campaign but when that whole scheme failed and the american people said they would make donald trump president, they said we have to do something else. now clinton loyalist laney davies has persuaded the chairman of the oversight committee to give a convicted felon a forum to tell stories and lie about the president of the united states so they can all start their impeachment process. we are better than this. we are better than this. i want to do no... i have a motion. i have a motion under rule

2k6 you yielded back. simek you took seven minutes, i took for. is that how you are going to operate? first you do not follow the rules and now you do not follow the rules and now you are saying... point of order. simek you are deviating from the rules ? simek you are deviating from the rules? ijust simek you are deviating from the rules? i just have simek you are deviating from the rules? ijust have a simple motion. we should have the testimony 2a hours in advance. under rule 11, clause four, all media and photographers must be officially credentialled to record these proceedings and take photographs. i also wanted to briefly address the spectators in the hearing room today. we welcome you and respect your right to be here. we also ask in turn foryour your right to be here. we also ask in turn for your respect as we proceed with the business of the

committee today. it is the intention of the committee to proceed without any disruptions. any disruptions of this committee will result in the united states capped that my capitol police restoring order and protesters will be removed, we are grateful for your presidents and cooperation. now i want to welcome mr cohen and thank him for participating in the hearing. mr cohen, if you will please rise and i will begin to sway you in. raise your right hand. do you swear on the testimony that you are about to give as being the whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help you god? let the record show that the witness a nswered the record show that the witness answered in the affirmative. thank you. you may be seated and the microphones are sensitive so please speak directly to them without objection, your written statement

will be made a part of the record and with that, mr cohen, you are now recognised to give an oral presentation of your testimony. is your microphone on? try chairman cummings, ranking memberjordan and members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here today. members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here todaylj members of the committee, thank you for inviting me here today. i have asked this committee to ensure that my family be protected from presidential threats and that the committee be sensitive to the questions pertaining to ongoing investigations. i thank you for your help and your understanding. i am here under oath to correct the record and answer the committee was my questions truthfully, and author the american people what i know about president trump. i recognise

that some of you may doubt and attack me on my credibility and it is for this reason that i have incorporated into this opening statement documents that are irrefutable. and demonstrate that the information you will hear is accurate and truthful. never in a million years did i imagine when i accepted a job in 2007 to work for donald trump that he would one day run for the presidency, to launch a campaign ona run for the presidency, to launch a campaign on a platform of hate and intolerance. and actively win. i regret the day i said yes to mr trump. i regret all the help and support i gave him along the way. i am ashamed of my own failings and publicly accept responsibility for them but by pleading guilty in the southern district of new york. i am

ashamed of my weakness and my misplaced loyalty of the things i did for misplaced loyalty of the things i did foertrump in misplaced loyalty of the things i did for mr trump in an effort to protect and promote him. i am ashamed that i chose to take part in concealing mr trump's illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. i am ashamed because i know what mr trump is, he is a racist, he is a conman, and he is a cheat. he was a presidential candidate who knew that rogerstone was talking withjulianna sanji about a wikilea ks was talking withjulianna sanji about a wikileaks drop on democratic national committee e—mails. and i will explain each in a few moments. —— julian assange. i will provide documents that include a copy of a

check mr trump wrote from his personal bank account after he became president to reimburse me for the hush money payments i made to cover up his affair with an adult film star and prevent damage to his campaign. copies of financial state m e nts campaign. copies of financial statements from 2011, 2012 in 2013 that he gave to such institutions such as deutsche bank. a copy of an article with mr trump was my handwriting on it that reported on the auction of a portrait of himself that he arranged for arranged ahead of time for the bidder and refunded it from a non—profit organisation now hanging in one of his country clu bs. now hanging in one of his country clubs. and copies of letters that i wrote in mrtrump clubs. and copies of letters that i wrote in mr trump pot direction that threatened his high school, colleges

and the college board not to release his grades or sat scores. i hope my appearance here today, my guilty plea and my work with law enforcement agencies are steps along a path of redemption. that will restore faith in me and help this country understand our president better. and before going further, i wa nt to better. and before going further, i want to apologise to each member to use congress as a whole, the last timei use congress as a whole, the last time i appeared before congress, i came to protect mr trump. today, i am here to tell the truth about mr trump. i lied to congress and mr trump. i lied to congress and mr trump stopped —— make that mr trump stopped negotiating the moscow tower in russia. i stated they stopped negotiating in january in russia. i stated they stopped negotiating injanuary of in russia. i stated they stopped negotiating in january of 2016. in russia. i stated they stopped negotiating injanuary of 2016. that was false. 0ur negotiations

continued four months later during the campaign. mrtrump continued four months later during the campaign. mr trump did not directly tell me to lie to congress. that's not how he operates. in conversations we had during the campaign, at the same time i was actively negotiating in russia for him, he would lick me in the eye and tell me, there's russian business, and then go on to on to lie to the american people by saying the same thing. in his way, he was telling me to live. death to lie. there were at least half a dozen times between the caucus and the end ofjune when he would ask me, how's it going in russia, referring to the moscow tower project. you need to know that mr trump's personal lawyer is

reviewed and edited my statement to congress about the timing of the moscow tower negotiations before i gave it, so to be clear, mr trump knew of and directed the trump moscow negotiations throughout the campaign, and lied about it. he lied about it because he never expected to win. he also lied about it because he stood to make hundreds of millions of dollars on the moscow real estate project, and so i lied about it too, because mr trump had made clear to me through his personal statements to me that we both knew to be false, and through his lies to the country that he wa nted his lies to the country that he wanted me to lie, and he made it clear to me because his personal attorneys reviewed my statement before i gave it to congress. 0ver the past two years, i have been

smeared as a rat by the president of the united states. the truth is much different, and let me take a brief moment to introduce myself. my name is michael dean cohen and i am a blessed husband of 2a is michael dean cohen and i am a blessed husband of 24 years, and a further to an incredible daughter and son. when i married my wife, i promised her that i would love her and cherish her and i would protect her. as my father said countless times throughout my childhood, you, my wife, and you, my children, are the air that i breathe, so to my law and to my sammy and to myjake, there's nothing i wouldn't do to protect you —— my laura. i have a lwa ys protect you —— my laura. i have always tried to live a life of loyalty, friendship, generosity and compassion, something my parents ingrained in me and my sibling since

childhood. my father survived the holocaust, thanks to the compassion and selfless acts of others. he was helped by many who put themselves in harm's way to do what they knew was right, and that is why my first instinct has always been to help those in need, and mum and dad, i am sorry i let you down. a5 those in need, and mum and dad, i am sorry i let you down. as the many people that know me best would say, iam the people that know me best would say, i am the person that they call at 3am if they needed help. and i proudly remembered being the emergency contact for many of my children's friends when they were growing up, because their parents knew that i would drop everything and care for them as if they were my own. yet, last fall, i pled guilty in federal court to felonies for the

benefit of, at the direction of, and in coordination with individual number one. and, for the record, individual number one is president donaldj individual number one is president donald j trump. it individual number one is president donaldj trump. it is painful to admit that i was motivated by ambition at times. it is even more painful to admit that many times i ignored my conscience and acted loyal to a man when i should not have. sitting here today, it seems unbelievable that i was so mesmerised by donald trump, that i was willing to do things for him that i knew were absolutely wrong. for that reason, i have come here to apologise to my family, to my government, and to the american people. accordingly, let me now tell you about mr trump. i got to know

him very well, working very closely with him for more than ten years as his executive vice president and special counsel, and then as personal attorney when he became president. when i first met mr trump, he was a successful entrepreneur, a real estate giant and an icon. being around mr trump was intoxicating, when you were in his presence, you felt like you were involved in something greater than yourself, that you were somehow changing the world. i wound up touting the trump narrative for over a decade. that was myjob. always stay on message, always defend. it monopolised my life. at first, i worked mostly on real estate developments and other business transactions. shortly thereafter, mr

trump brought me into his personal life and private dealings. 0ver time, isaw life and private dealings. 0ver time, i saw his true character revealed. mr trump is an enigma. he is complicated, as am i. he is both good and bad, as do we all, but the bad far outweighs the good, and since taking office, he has become the worst version of himself. he is capable of behaving kindly, but he is not kind. he is capable of committing acts of generosity, but he is not generous. he is capable of being loyal, but he is fundamentally disloyal. donald trump is a man who ran for office to make his brand great, not to make our country great. he had no desire or intention to lead this nation, only to market himself and to build his wealth and

power. mr trump would often say, this campaign was going to be the greatest infomercial in political history. he never expected to win the primary. he never expected to win the general election. the campaign, for him, was always a marketing opportunity. i knew early on in my work for mr trump that he would direct me to lie, to further his business interests, and i am ashamed to say that when it was for ashamed to say that when it was for a real estate mogul in the private sector, i considered it trivial. a5 the president, i consider it significant and dangerous. but in the mix, lying for mr trump was normalised, and no one around him questioned it. in fairness, no one around him today questions it either. a lot of people have asked me about whether mr trump knew about

the release of the hacked documents, democratic national committee e—mail ahead of time, and the answer is yes. a5 ahead of time, and the answer is yes. as i earlier stated, mr trump knew from roger stone in advance about the wikilea ks knew from roger stone in advance about the wikileaks drop of e—mails. injuly of 2016, days before the democratic convention, i was in mr trump's office when his secretary announced that roger stone was on the phone. mr trump put mr stone on the phone. mr trump put mr stone on the speakerphone. mr stone told mr trump that he had just gotten off the phone withjulian symons, and that mr sancho told mr stone that within a couple of days there would bea within a couple of days there would be a massive dump of e—mails that would damage hillary clinton's campaign. ——julian would damage hillary clinton's campaign. —— julian assange. would damage hillary clinton's campaign. ——julian assange. mr trump responded to the effect,

wouldn't that be great? mr trump is a racist. the country has seen mr trump caught white supremacists and bigots. we have heard him call poorer countries shitholes. in private he is even worse. he once asked me if i could name a country run bya asked me if i could name a country run by a black person that was not a shithole. this was when barack 0bama was president of the united states, and while we were once driving through a struggling neighbourhood in chicago, he commented that only black people could live that way. and he told me that black people would never vote for him because they were too stupid. and yet i continued to work for him. mr trump isa continued to work for him. mr trump is a cheat. a5 continued to work for him. mr trump

is a cheat. as previously stated, i am giving to the committee today three years of mr trump has met personal financial statements, from 2011, 2012 and 2013, which he gave to deutsche bank to enquire about a loa n to to deutsche bank to enquire about a loan to buy the buffalo bills and to forbes. these are exhibits one a, one band forbes. these are exhibits one a, one b and one c to my testimony. it was my experience that mr trump inflated his total assets when it served his purposes, such as trying to be listed amongst the wealthiest people in forbes, and deflated his assets to reduce his real estate taxes. i am sharing with you two newspaper articles, side by side, that are examples of mr trump inflating and deflating his assets, asi inflating and deflating his assets, as i said, to suit his financial interests. these are exhibits two to my testimony. a5

interests. these are exhibits two to my testimony. as i noted, i am giving the committee today an article he wrote on and sent to me that reported on an auction of a portrait of mr trump. this is exhibit three a to my testimony. mr trump directed me to find a strawberry to find a —— to purchase a portrait of him that was being auctioned off at an art hamptons event. the objective was to ensure that this portrait, which was going to be auctioned last, would go for the highest price of any portrait that afternoon. the portrait was purchased by the fake bidder for $60,000. mrtrump directed purchased by the fake bidder for $60,000. mr trump directed the trump foundation, which is supposed to be a charitable organisation, to repay the fake bidder, despite keeping the art for himself, and please see exhibit three b to my testimony. it should come as no surprise that one of my more common responsibilities

was that mr trump directed me to call business owners, many of whom are small businesses that were owed money for their services, and told them that no payment, or a reduced payment, would be coming. when i asked mrtrump, or payment, would be coming. when i asked mr trump, or when i told mr trump of my success, he actually revelled in it, and yet i continued to work for him. mr trump is a con man. he asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair, and to lie about it to his wife, which i did. lying to the first lady is one of my biggest regrets, because she is a kind, good person, and i respect her greatly, and she did not deserve that. i am giving the committee today a copy of

the $130,000 wire transfer from me to miss clifford's attorney during the closing days of the presidential campaign, that was demanded by miss clifford to maintain her silence about her affair with mr trump, and this is exhibit four to my testimony. mr trump directed me to use my own personalfunds testimony. mr trump directed me to use my own personal funds from a home equity line of credit to avoid any money being traced back to him that could negatively impact his campaign, andi that could negatively impact his campaign, and i do that too, without bothering to consider whether that was improper, much less whether it was improper, much less whether it was the right thing to do, or how it would impact me, my family or the public. and i am going to jail in pa rt public. and i am going to jail in part because of my decision to help mrtrump hide part because of my decision to help mr trump hide that payment from the american people before they voted a

few days later. as exhibit five a to my testimony shows, i am providing a copy of a $35,000 cheque that president trump personally signed from his personal bank account on august one, 2017. when he was president of the united states, pursuant to the cover—up, which was the basis of my guilty plea, to reimburse me. the word used by mr trump's tv lawyer for the illegal hush money i paid on his behalf, this $35,000 cheque was one of 11 cheque instalments that was paid throughout the year, while he was president. 0ther cheques to reimburse me for the hush money payments were signed by donald trump jrand alan payments were signed by donald trump jr and alan weiss and see for that example, five b.

the president of the united states thus wrote a personal check for the payment of hush money as part of a criminal scheme to violate campaign finance laws, and you can find the details of that scheme directed in the us district court for the southern district of new york, so picture this scene. in february 20 17, one month into his presidency, i visited president trump in the oval office for the first time, and it is truly awe—inspiring. he is showing me all around, truly awe—inspiring. he is showing me allaround, and truly awe—inspiring. he is showing me all around, and pointing to different paintings, and he says to me something to the effect of, don't worry, michael, yourjanuary and february reimbursement cheques are coming. they were fed text from new

york and it takes a while for that to get through the white house system. as he promised, i received the first cheque for the reimbursement of $70,000 not long thereafter. when i say conman, i'm talking about a man who declares himself brilliant, but directed me to threaten his high school, his colleges and the college board to never release his grades or sat scores. a5 never release his grades or sat scores. as i mentioned, iam never release his grades or sat scores. as i mentioned, i am giving the committee today copies of a letter i sent out mr trump's direction, threatening the school's civil and criminal actions if mr trump's grades or sat scores were ever disclosed without his permission. these are under exhibit six. the irony wasn't lost on me at the time that mr trump in 2011 had

strongly criticised president 0bama for not releasing his grades, as you can see in exhibit seven, mr trump declared, let him show his records, after calling president 0bama a terrible student. the sad fact is that i'd never heard mr trump say anything in private that led me to believe he loved our nation or wa nted believe he loved our nation or wanted to make it better. in fact, he did the opposite. when telling me in 2008 or 2009 that he was cutting employees salaries in half, including mine, he showed me what he claimed was a $10 million irs tax refund, and he said he could not believe how stupid the government was full giving someone like him that much money back. during the campaign, mrtrump said that much money back. during the campaign, mr trump said he did that much money back. during the campaign, mrtrump said he did not

consider a vietnam veteran and prisoner of war, senatorjohn mccain, to be a hero, because he likes people who weren't captured. at the same time, mr trump tasked me to handle two negative press surrounding his medical deferment from vietnam draft. mr trump claimed it was because of a bone spur, but when i asked for medical records, he gave me none, and said that there was no surgery. he told me not to a nswer was no surgery. he told me not to answer the specific questions by reporters, but rather offer simply the fact that he received a medical deferment. he finished the conversation with the following comment, do you think i'm stupid? i'm not going to vietnam. i find comment, do you think i'm stupid? i'm not going to vietnam. ifind it ironic, mr president, that you are in vietnam right now. and yet i continued to work for him. questions

have been raised about whether i know of direct evidence that mr trump or his campaign colluded with russia. i do not. and i want to be clear. but i have my suspicions. some time in the summer of 2017, i read all over the media that there had been a meeting in trump tower of june 2016, involving donald junior and others from the campaign with russians, including a representative of the russian government, and an e—mail setting up the meeting with the subject line, dirt on hillary clinton. something clicked in my mind. i remembered being in a room with mr trump probably in earlyjune 2016 when something peculiar happened. don trump jr came 2016 when something peculiar happened. don trumer came into the room and walked behind his father's desk, which in and of itself was

unusual. people just didn't walk behind mr trump's desk to talk to him, andi behind mr trump's desk to talk to him, and i recall donjunior leaning over to his father and speaking in a low voice, which i could clearly hear, and saying the meeting is all set, and i remember mrtrump saying, 0k, good, let me know. which struck me, asi 0k, good, let me know. which struck me, as i look back and thought about the exchange between donjr and his father, was first that mr trump had frequently told me and others that his son donjr had the worst judgment of anyone in the world, and also that donjr would never set up any meeting of significance alone, and certainly not without checking with his father. i also knew that nothing went on in trump world, especially the campaign, without mr

trump is ‘5 knowledge and approval, soi trump is ‘5 knowledge and approval, so i concluded that donjr was referring to that june so i concluded that donjr was referring to thatjune 2016 trump tower meeting about dirt on hillary with the russian representatives when he walked behind his dad's desk that day, and that mr trump knew that day, and that mr trump knew that was the meeting donjr was talking about when he said, that's good, let me know. 0ver talking about when he said, that's good, let me know. over the past year or so, good, let me know. over the past yearorso, i good, let me know. over the past year or so, i have good, let me know. over the past year orso, i have done good, let me know. over the past year or so, i have done some real soul—searching, and i see now that my ambition and the intoxication of trump power had much to do with the bad decisions in part that i made, and to you, chairman cummings, and ranking memberjordan, the other members of this committee, and members of this committee, and members of this committee, and members of the house and senate, i am sorry for my lies, and for lying to congress, and to our nation i am sorry for actively working to hide

from you the truth about mr trump when you needed it most. for those who question my motives for being here today, i understand. i have lied, but i am not a liar. here today, i understand. i have lied, but i am nota liar. i here today, i understand. i have lied, but i am not a liar. i have done bad things, but i am not a bad man. i have fixed things, but i am no longer yourfixer, mr man. i have fixed things, but i am no longer your fixer, mr trump. man. i have fixed things, but i am no longer yourfixer, mr trump. and iam going no longer yourfixer, mr trump. and i am going to prison, and have shattered the safety and security that i tried so hard to provide for my family. that i tried so hard to provide for family. my that i tried so hard to provide for my family. my testimony certainly does not diminish the pain that i have caused my family and my friends. nothing can do that. and i have never asked for, nor would i accept a pardon from president trump. and by coming today, i have caused my family to be the target of

personal, scurrilous attacks by the president and his lawyer, trying to intimidate me from appearing before this panel. mr trump called me a rat for choosing to tell the truth, much like a mobster would do when one of his men decides to cooperate with the government, and as exhibit eight shows, i have provided the committee with copies of tweets mr trump posted, attacking me and my family. 0nly someone burying his head in the sand would not recognise them for what they are, encouragement for someone to do harm to me and my family. i never imagined that he would engage in vicious, false attacks on my family, and unleash his tv lawyer to do the same, and i hope this committee, and all members of congress, on both sides of the aisle, make it clear that as a

nation we should not tolerate attem pts nation we should not tolerate atte m pts to nation we should not tolerate attempts to intimidate witnesses before congress, and attacks on family are out of bounds and not acceptable. i wish to especially thank speaker pelosi for her help, exhibit nine, to protect this institution and me, and the chairman of the select committee on intelligence, adam schiff, and you, mrcummings, forand also intelligence, adam schiff, and you, mr cummings, for and also the many republicans who have admonished the president as well. i am not a perfect man. i have done things i am not proud of, and i will live with the consequences of my actions for the consequences of my actions for the rest of my life. today, i get to

decide the example that i set for my children, and howi decide the example that i set for my children, and how i attempt to change how history will remember me. i may not be able to change the past, but i can do right by the american people here today, and i thank you for your attention, and i'm happy to answer the committee's questions. thank you very much mr cohen, i now recognise, myself. mr cohen, i now recognise, myself. mr cohen, before i start, iwant cohen, i now recognise, myself. mr cohen, before i start, i want to make sure you really understand something. you have admitted lying to congress, to this very body, and now you are going to prison for it. do you, mrcohen, now you are going to prison for it. do you, mr cohen, recognised the gravity of your offences? you are a lawyer, right? as of yesterday, i am no longer a lawyer, i have lost my law license, amongst other things. but you understand the gravity of this moment. i most certainly do, mr

chairman. i want you to really hear this, mr cohen. we will not tolerate lying to this congress, by anybody. we are in service of the people, you understand that? i do. the president has also made numerous statements that turned out to be inaccurate. for example, he said he knew nothing about the hush money payments to miss clifford. in his 2017 financial disclosure form, he said he had never owed money to reimburse you for those payments. yet in your testimony, mr cohen, you said that you met with the president in the oval office in february 2017 and discussed his plans to reimburse you for money you paid. you say he told you, andl for money you paid. you say he told you, and i quote, don't worry,

michael, yourjanuary you, and i quote, don't worry, michael, your january and you, and i quote, don't worry, michael, yourjanuary and february reimbursement cheques are coming. is that accurate, and was that in the oval office? the statement is accurate, but the discussions regarding the reimbursement occurred long before he became president. would you explain that? back in 2017, actually, iapologise, in 2016, prior to the election, i was contacted 2016, prior to the election, i was co nta cted by 2016, prior to the election, i was contacted by keith davidson, who is the attorney, or was the attorney for miss clifford, for stormy daniels, and after several rounds of conversations with him about purchasing her life rights for $130,000, what i did each and every

time is go straight into mr trump's office and discuss the issue with him, when it was ultimately determined, this was days before the election, that mr trump was going to pay the $130,000. in the office with me was alan weisel berg, the chief financial officer of the trump organisation. he acknowledged to alan that he was going to pay the 130000 and that alan and i should go back to his office and figure out how to do it. so yes, sir, i stand by the statement i gave, there was a history to it. -- allen weisselberg. in your testimony, you said you brought some cheques, is that right? weight yes, sir. let me ask you about one of these. this from the trump trust that owns the

president's businesses, can you tell me who signed this cheque?” president's businesses, can you tell me who signed this cheque? i believe the top signature is donald trump junior and the bottom signature is allen weisselberg. have arranged for you to get this set if you are supposedly paying no role in the business. because the payments were designed to be paid over the course of 12 months and it was declared to be a retainer for services that would be provided for

the year. of 2017. was there a retainer? there is no retainer currently. would any of the individuals named have any information on that? mr weisel berg for sure about the entire discussions and negotiations prior to the election and donald junior would have cursory information. here's another one. this one appears to be signed by donald trump. himself. is that his signature? that is donald trump was mac signature. let me make sure i understand. donald trump wrote you a cheque out of his personal account while he was serving as president of the united states of america. to reimburse you for hush money payments to miss clifford. is that what you are telling the american people today?

yes, mrchairman. telling the american people today? yes, mr chairman. one final question. the president claimed he knew nothing about these payments. his ethics filing said he owed nothing to you. based on your conversations with him, is there any doubt in your mind that president trump knew exactly what he was paying for? there is no doubt in my mind andi paying for? there is no doubt in my mind and i truly believe there is no doubt in the mind of the people of the united states of america. these documents appear to corroborate what you just told us, we will now yield to...i you just told us, we will now yield to... iwill you just told us, we will now yield to... i will make sure that you and i meet one day while we are in the courthouse and i will take you for every penny you still don't have, andi every penny you still don't have, and i will come after you and eve ryo ne and i will come after you and everyone else you possibly know. i am warning you, tread very f—in

lightly because what i'm going to you is going to be f—in disgusting. do you understand me? mr cohen, you said that? i did. did you say that in your testimonial, page two, that you did things with mr trump in an effort to protect him. is that statement you admitted to saying that i just read statement you admitted to saying that ijust read to protect donald trump? i did it to protect mr trump, donald trump junior, yvonne trump? i did it to protect mr trump, donald trumpjunior, yvonne kerr trump and eric trump. —— ivanka trump. you said this, my weakness can be characterised as a blind loyalty to donald trump, a blind loyalty to donald trump, a blind loyalty that led me to choose a path of darkness. is that accurate?” wrote that. and said it in front of thejudge? wrote that. and said it in front of the judge? that is correct. there are some other things here, let me ask you why you did some of these things. when you filed a false tax

return in 2012—13— 14 — 15—16, was all that out of blind loyalty to the president? —— in 2012—2016. when you failed to report income to the revenue service, was that to protect donald trump? no, i did not. you might when you failed to pay $1.a million in taxes, i have constituents that do not make that any lifetime, when you failed to pay $1.4 million in taxes to the us treasury, was that of some blind loyalty to the president of the united states? you'll like it was not but the number was 1.3 eight million and change and i have paid that money back to the irs. you like the american people appreciate that 1.38 million. i have to say it was over a course “— 1.38 million. i have to say it was over a course —— but i have to say it was over a course of many years. that is why i said it was over five

yea rs. that is why i said it was over five years. that is correct. you said -- made false statements. regarding tax medallions and parking, 2013—15 and pled guilty to making lace that make those false statements to those banks. was that all done to protect the president? it was not. how about this one? you created a fake twitter account, women for cohen to post tweets like this one, and a world of lies, deception and fraud, we appreciate this honest guy, michael cohen, #tgif, #handsome, #sexy.” cohen, #tgif, #handsome, #sexy. i do not send that up, that was a lady at redfin. she would know it was somewhat crazy and wild, we were having fun. that is what it was. we

we re having fun. that is what it was. we were having fun. was it done to protect the president? it was not. you might be fake twitter account? it was a real twitter account that exists. i did not pay the firm, it was done by a young lady who works for the firm and again we were having fun during a stressful time. the point is, thejuly to protect the president or help yourself? i'm not sure how that helped me. —— did you lie to protect the president? i'm not sure either. he was the point. we gave an opening statement —— you gave a 30 minute opening statement and you have a history of lying. do not take my word for it, ta ke lying. do not take my word for it, take what the court said, take what the southern district said. cohen did crimes that were marked by a pattern of deception and permeated his professional life, these crimes we re his professional life, these crimes

were distinct in their harms but very common set of circumstances and each involve deception and were each motivated by personal greed and ambition. a pattern of deception for personal greed and ambition, you got 30 minutes of an opening statement trashing the president of the united states of america. how long did you work for donald trump? a decade. you'll make ten years? correct. you said all these bad things about the president of the last 30 minutes but you work for him for ten years? all those bad things. so bad i can see you working for him for ten days, maybe ten weeks, maybe even ten months but you worked for him for ten years. mr cohen, how long did you work in the white house?” ten years. mr cohen, how long did you work in the white house? i never worked in the white house. that is the point, isn't it? no, sir. yes,

you wanted to work in the white house. no, i was you wanted to work in the white house. no, iwas extremely you wanted to work in the white house. no, i was extremely proud to bea house. no, i was extremely proud to be a personal tourney to the president of the united states of america. —— personal attorney. president of the united states of america. —— personalattorney. i did not want to go to the white house, i was offered jobs and can tell you a story about mr trump rhyming out... because i had not taken a job with him working with don mcginn at the white house general counsel. no, you worked... know, one second. whatl said at the time, i brought a lawyer in the, just a memo as to why i should not go in because there would be no attorney — client privilege. in order to handle some of the matter is that i spoke about in my opening, that would be best suited for me not to go in and every president —— if every president had a personal attorney... girl—mac what i see is a personal attorney... girl—mac what isee is a a personal attorney... girl—mac what i see is a guy who worked for someone for ten years trashing the person you work for not getting a job in the white house and now you

are behaving just like everyone else who got fired i did not get the job they wanted. like james komi. the same selfish motivation after you do not get the thing you want. that is what i see today and that is what the american people will see. all i wa nted the american people will see. all i wanted was what i got, to be personal attorney to the president, enjoy seeing my son in high school and enjoying my daughter who is graduating from college to come back to new york. that has what i wanted. you got that? why is mike i received exactly what i wanted. sinemet gentlemen, your time has expired. thank you. thank you for being here today. as you likely know, i served asa chairat today. as you likely know, i served as a chair at the democratic national committee at the time, and when russia weaponised the messages, but i want to be clear, my question is not about the harm done to any

individual by wikileaks and the russians, it is about the possible and likely harm to united states of america and our democracy. i have a series of questions that i hope will connect more of these dots. your testimony is that mr trump had advanced knowledge of the wikileaks e—mail, isn't it? advanced knowledge of the wikileaks e-mail, isn't it? i cannot answer that in a yes or no. he had advanced notice that there was going to be a dump of e—mails but, at no time, did i hear these passivity that lack specificity of what these e—mails would be. he had advance knowledge of their imminent release?” would be. he had advance knowledge of their imminent release? i stated that. you and that he shared that? he did. would it have been shared with any of his family? i'm not

aware of that. were any of them still involved in the deal? the company was involved which meant the family was involved in the deal. company was involved which meant the family was involved in the dealm mrtrump and his family was involved in the dealm mr trump and his daughter ivanka, and donald junior were involved in the deal, is it possible the whole family is conflicted or compromised with a foreign adversary in the months before the election? yes. based on your experience with the president and knowledge of his relationship with mr stone, do you have reason to believe that the president explicitly or implicitly authorised mr stone to make contact with wikileaks authorised mr stone to make contact with wikilea ks and authorised mr stone to make contact with wikileaks and maintain interest in the strategic release of these details? i'm not aware of that. was mr stone a free agent reporting back to the president what he had done, oran to the president what he had done, or an agent of the campaign acting on behalf of the president with his apparent authority? he was a free

agent. a free agent that was reporting back to the president what he had done? correct. he frequently reached out to mr trump and mr trump was very happy to take his calls. it was very happy to take his calls. it was free service. roger stone said he never spoke with mr trump about wikileaks. how can we corroborate what you're saying? i do not know but i suspect the special counsel because my office and other government agencies have the information you're seeking. —— the special counsel pours my office. moving on, i wikileaks dump happens after the tape was released. do you know, or are you aware of mr trump coordinating or signalling for e—mail don? coordinating or signalling for e-mail don? i am unaware of that. i was not even any country at the time of the hillary bush tape. i was —— hilary— bush tape. of the hillary bush tape. i was ——

hilary- bush tape. was winning his all costs mentality? do you believe that he would cooperate or collude with the foreign power to win the presidency? is he capable of that? it calls on so much speculation, it is really unfair for it calls on so much speculation, it is really unfairfor me... it calls on so much speculation, it is really unfair for me... i understand what you have a tremendous amount of experience. mr trump is all about winning and he will do what is necessary to win. in your experience, would he have the potential to cooperate or collude with the foreign power to win the presidency at all costs? yes. based on what you know, would mr trump or did he lie about colluding and coordinating with the russians at any point during the campaign? as i stated in my testimony, i would not use the word colluding. was there or

something odd about the back—and—forth praise with president vladimir putin? yes. i'm not really sure i can vladimir putin? yes. i'm not really sure i can answer vladimir putin? yes. i'm not really sure i can answer that question in terms of collusion. i was not part of the campaign and i do not know what the other conversations that mr trump had with other individuals, there are so many dots that all seem to lead to the same direction. the element before my time expires, the campaign and entire trump organisation appeared to be filthy with russian contact, there are russian business contacts, there are campaign russian contact, there are lies about all of those contacts and then you have rogerstone informing then you have rogerstone informing the presidentjust before the democratic national convention. -- you have rogerstone informing the

president. that these wikileaks documents were going to be dumped in the rear. we know that there were stolen. the time has expired but you may answer the question. my question is, given all those connections, is it likely that donald trump was fully aware and had every intent of working with russia to help make sure that he could win the presidency at all costs? let me say that this is a matter that is currently being handled by the house select and the senate select committee is so i would prefer not to a nswer committee is so i would prefer not to answer that specific question other than just to tell you that mr trump's desire to win would have him work with anyone and one of the things i had said in my statement was that, when it came to the trump

tower moscow project, it was worth hundreds of millions of dollars and we never expected to win the election, so this was just a business as usual. thank you. thank you. the chairman of this committee promised the american people a fair and open process yet the democrats have vastly eliminated the scope of this hearing and issued a gag order to try to tell members what he can and cannot talk about. my colleagues on the other side of the aisle claimed that they want the truth, they want transparency and fair oversight yet the democrats witness to testify before congress today is none other than a scoring demand who is going to prison for lying to congress. he is going to prison for lying to congress and he is the star witness to congress. if you read the sentencing report on mr cohen, words

like deceptive and greedy are scattered throughout that report, paints a picture of a narcissist, a bully who cannot tell the truth but it is about the president or about his own personal life. —— whether it is about the president or his own life. but he is the star witness. if the democrats were out of the truth, they would have an honest person they would have an honest person they were testifying. if they were really after the truth, they would not restrict the questioning tojust a few topics but let's take a look at those restricted topics. the first topic in your limited scope that i can ask mr cohen is about the president's debts. didn't he plead guilty, mr cohen, to lying about personal finances? we are asking a guy going to jail for lying about his debts to comment on the president was mike debts. he is the expert. mr chairman, —— the president's debts. you said i can

ask about compliance with financial disclosures and campaign finance laws but didn't miss the cohen, on two occasions, break campaign finance law with his own donation? again, the majority party star witness on the president was my compliance is a guy who broke compliance is a guy who broke compliance was himself. you graciously allow us to ask questions of mrcohen on graciously allow us to ask questions of mr cohen on the president was back dealings with the irs and tax law. your star witness broke this or at least five times, pleading guilty to cheating on his taxes, lying to the irs, is he the best witness you have? next up, with permission of the chairman, i can ask the cohen about his perspective on the president's business dealings. let me get this straight, he lied to multiple financial institutions to get loans to pay off other loans just to keep themselves afloat, and he is going to be the expert on business practices? obviously, mr

chairman, the witness may produce documents he suggests incriminate the president yet he lies to banks, all of those lies were done on fraudulent documents. documents that he forged, nothing he says or produces has any credibility. apparently even lied about delivering his own child which his wife had you correct to the record. ladies and gentlemen, how on earth is this witness credible? with all the lies and deception, the self—serving fraud, it begs the question, what is the majority doing here? no one can see this guy is credible, he will say whatever he wants to accomplish his own personal goals. he is a fake witness and his presence here is a travesty. i hope the american people see through this, i know the people back in tennessee well and were, with that statement, i have a few questions to the witness. —— my own know the

people in tennessee will. i know you mentioned in your opening statement you had been disbarred. what is your source of income in the future? why ido source of income in the future? why i do not expect to have one when i am in federal penitentiary. is that am in federal penitentiary. is that a book deal coming or anything like that? i do not have one, i have been contacted that? i do not have one, i have been co nta cted by that? i do not have one, i have been contacted by many including for television and film deals. if you wa nt to television and film deals. if you want to know them, i can write the name down. but what is the point of your statement? let me ask, i have one quick question, who paid your expenses to be here today? who paid my expense to be here today? i did. i would like to use the remainder of my time... how many times did you speak to the special offers? seven.

did they talk to you at all in preparation for today's hearing between the seven time she spoke to them prior to your sentencing? has there been any special cooperation prior to sentencing or today? no. the random for the court back in december, i am speaking about how many times you have spoken since then up to today's hearing and congress? sign that the gentle and puzzling time is expired but you may answer. sorry, i do not have the a nswer to answer. sorry, i do not have the answer to that. —— answer. sorry, i do not have the answer to that. -- de gentleman's time has expired. in your years of working for donald trump, did he control everything that went on in the trump organisation? did you have to get his permission in advance and report back after every meeting of any importance? yes. there was

nothing that happened at the trump organisation form whether it was a response as the daily beast story you referred to, ranking member, that did not go through mr trump with his approval and sign off. as in the case of the payments. how many times that the president ask you or direct you to try to reach settle m e nts you or direct you to try to reach settlements with women in 2015 and 2016? i'm sorry, i do not have the a nswer to 2016? i'm sorry, i do not have the answer to that, i have to go back and try to recollect. certainly need two we know about. -- it is certainly the two we know about. why did the president not provide the accurate information in his 2017 financial disclosure form ? what

accurate information in his 2017 financial disclosure form? what was he trying to hide? correct in other —— he corrected otherforms but he trying to hide? correct in other —— he corrected other forms but not this one. the payments on the reimbursement of the funds that i extended on his behalf. can you elaborate more? going back to the story as i stated, when we left the office and went to his office to make the determination on how money was going to be wired to the interest on a lawyer pours my account for keith davidson in california, i had asked alan to use his money. i did not want to use mine. he said he could not and we then decided how else we could do it. he asked me whether i would know anyone who would want to have a party at one of his clubs that could pay me instead, or somebody who may have wa nted pay me instead, or somebody who may have wanted to become a member of one of the golf clubs and i also do

not have anyone who is interested in that. it got to the point where it was down to the wire, it was either somebody wire the funds and purchase the live rights to the story from miss clifford, or it was going to end up being sold to television, and that would have embarrassed the president, and interfered with the election. but the president has never amended his 2017 form to this day and, while you're facing the consequences of going to jail, he is not. i believe they amended a financial disclosure form and there was a footnote somewhat buried. i do not recall what it says but there was a footnote buried somewhere. can you —— was a footnote buried somewhere. can you -- can you describe, michael, what is catch and kill? it is a method that exist when you're

working with a news outlet, in this specific case it was ami, national enquirer and others where they would contact me or mr trump, or someone, and state that there was a story thatis and state that there was a story that is percolating out there that you may be interested in, and what you may be interested in, and what you do as you contact that individual and you purchase the rights to that story from them. and you practise this with the president? i was involved in several of these catch and kill episodes, but these scenarios existed between mrtrump and one but these scenarios existed between mr trump and one other individual long before i started working for him in 2007. can you suggest who else this committee should talk to for additional information on this or anything else? i believe david

pepper, dylan howard, barry levine of ami as well. alan weisselberg and alan garden as well. your mac thank you. this is a story of redemption. thank you. mr cohen, in your testimony, you stated that you began working for the trump organisation and were dealing with real estate transactions, is that correct? yes. you are also overseeing lots of loan applications as part of a bank to determine your credibility, i wanted to ask you a couple of real estate transaction questions just to see how you operate. according to the southern district of new york prosecutors, you'd lied to banks to secure loans by falsely stating the amount of debt you were in. my question to you, was a donald trump applause for that you knowingly committed a crime of deception to defraud a

bank? —— mac trump applause fault. was the loan for you? it was not his fault and i am not familiar with which loan you're referring to. i would like to say one thing. i would like to respond. we are talking about you home equity line of credit which i believe you're referring to... also... and the summerhouse you purchased. i did not purchase a summer house. no individual and no bank in the 22 years that i have had loa ns bank in the 22 years that i have had loans have ever lost a dollar with me. i own no money to any bank. the bank usually finds out if someone has tried to deceive them.” bank usually finds out if someone has tried to deceive them. i have no money that has ever been owed to any bank. did your so-called blind loyalty to the president cause you to defraud the bank for your own personal gain. i take exception to

that because there has never been a fraud, i did never defraud a bank. lets dig deeper new bank fraud. according to the southern district of new york, you failed to disclose more than $20 million in liabilities as well as tens of thousands of dollars of monthly expenses, that is according to the southern district of new york. mr cohen, you being a lawyer, surely you knew you were breaking the law but why would you do that? i am not a cpa. i pled guilty. i'm going to prison. sinemet because you are a con man? no, sir. because i pled guilty and i will be doing the time. i caused tremendous pain to my family. sinemet one last question about the bank. when eubank found out —— one last question about the bank. when the bank found out, this is important to the southern district of new york, it said that

it was expunged when you shifted the debt to another bank? apparently, according to the information that we received, your intent to defraud the bank was for the desire to purchase the summer home for $8.5 million. no, sir, that was off of an equity line considering i had less than a 50% loan to value on the assets and there was a pre—existing line of credit that existed years before the incident. sinemet you understand that when you fail to disclose the liabilities, ——. that when you fail to disclose the liabilities, --. you understand that when you failed to disclose this, it is your liability. how much was it? the medallions were $45 million. you call donald trump a cheat in your

opening testimony. what would you call yourself? a fall. sinemet 0k. —— a fool. 0k. ok. i do not believe michael cohen is capable of telling the truth and i hope this committee moves forward and we have the opportunity to subpoena witnesses, we do so with witnesses that are not recently disbarred, convicted felons and witnesses that have not committed bank fraud, tax fraud. that is how we are going to determine the proof. i yield the balance of my time to the right remember. if this statement back it doesn't say all, mr cohen's beading of

remorse is minimal and his instinct is to blame others, that is strong. his remorse is nonexistent, hejust said, ido his remorse is nonexistent, hejust said, i do not do anything wrong with the false bank things and i'm guilty of and going to prison for. that is not what i said and you know thatis that is not what i said and you know that is not what i said.” that is not what i said and you know that is not what i said. i pled guilty and i take responsibility for my actions. shame on you, mrjordan. that is not what i said. what i said is, i took responsibility and i take responsibility, what i was doing is explaining to the gentleman that his fa cts explaining to the gentleman that his facts a re explaining to the gentleman that his facts are inaccurate. i take responsibility for my mistakes. i am remorseful and i am going to prison, i will be away from my wife and family for years, so before you turn around and cast more dispersion,

please understand, there are people watching you who know me much better, they know i made mistakes, i own them and i did not fight with the southern district of new york. i did not put the system through an entire scenario, but what i did do isi entire scenario, but what i did do is i pled guilty and i am going to be going to prison. mrjordan. mr cohen, at the centre of the reasons you are going to prison is conviction for campaign finance of violations and they centre around salacious revelations. the washington post reported or aired an access hollywood video, it set a record for the number of people who

washed, crashed the newspaper's server, and this happened in early october, on the cusp of the election. what was mr trump's reaction to the video becoming public at that time and was he concerned about the impact of that video on the election? the answer is yes. a5 video on the election? the answer is yes. as i stated before, i was in london at the time visiting my daughter that he is studying therefore a semester abroad —— they're for. i received a phone call during the dinnerfrom hope hicks, stating that she had spoken to mr trump, and we need you to start making phone calls to the various different news outlets that you have relationships with, she said, and we need to spin this, and we want to

claim that this was locker room talk. was their concern about the election? the answer is yes. then, couple that with karen mcdougal, which then came out around the same time, and then on top of that, the matter with stormy daniels. these things happened the month before the election in almost one after the other. the revelation concerning stormy daniels, where prosecutors and officials learned of that matter, and prosecutors stated that the officials at the magazine contacted you about the story and the magazine of course is the national enquirer. is that correct?

yes. were you concerned about this new story? about it becoming public right after the access hollywood video, in terms of impact on the election? i was concerned about it but more importantly mr trump was concerned about it. what was the president was my concern about these matters becoming public? in october as we were about to go into the election. i don't think anybody would dispute this, after the wildfire that encompassed the billy bush tape, that the second follow—up to it would have been pleasant, and he was concerned with the effect it had had on the campaign, on how

women work seeing him and ultimately whether or not he would have a shot in the general election. you negotiated the $130,000 payment? the 130,000 number was not a number that was actually negotiated. it was told to me by keith davidson that this is a number that ms clifford wanted. you finally completed the deal as it we re you finally completed the deal as it were on october the 25th. what happened in the interim? contemplated whether or not to do it, wasn't sure if she was really going to go public. there was communications back and forth between myself and keith davidson. ultimately it came to either do it or don't, at which time again i had

gone into mr trump's office as i did after each and every conversation and he told me that he had spoken to and he told me that he had spoken to a couple of friends, hundred 30,000, is not a lot of money, and that we should just do it, go ahead and do it -- 130,000. we should just do it, go ahead and do it —— 130,000. we were directed to go back to mr weisberg's office and figure this out. mr cohen, do you know len patton? yes, i do. i asked him to go —— come here today and shed some light. i responsible for her joining shed some light. i responsible for herjoining the shed some light. i responsible for her joining the trump shed some light. i responsible for herjoining the trump organisation and thejob herjoining the trump organisation and the job she currently holds. i'm glad you acknowledge that. you made some very demeaning comments about the president that she did not agree

with. it has to do with your claim of racism. she says that as a daughter of a man born in birmingham, alabama, that there is no way she would work for a an individual who was racist, how do you reconcile that? neither should i come as the son of a holocaust survivor. mr cohen, what i'm saying is, i've spoken to the president over 300 times and i've not heard once i'm a racist comment come out of his mouth in private, so how do you reconcile that, do you have tape recordings of the conversations? no, sir. you have taped everybody else. that is not true. howley times have you typed individuals? maybe a hundred times over ten years.” you typed individuals? maybe a hundred times over ten years. i have it is over 200 times. approximately

100 from what i recall. do you have proof? i do. where is the proof? ask her how many people who are black are executives at the trump organisation. i would ask you, that herentire organisation. i would ask you, that her entire statement be put in the record. did you collect $1.2 million for access to the trump administration? no, sir. why did you collect it? they came to be based upon my knowledge of the enigma donald trump, what he thinks. did they pay you $1.2 million? yes, they did. multi—billion dollar

conglomerate came to me looking for information, not something unusual in dc, looking for information and they believed i had a value stop hounding times did you meet with them? -- how many did you meet with them? -- how many did you meet with them? for $1.2 million, hourly times did you meet with them?” them? for $1.2 million, hourly times did you meet with them? i provided with in person and telephone access. did you ever talk to them, how many? six times. wow. $200,000 a call. i also would like to bring your attention... did you get money from the bank of kazakhstan? it is called bga. did you get money from them? for what purpose? the purpose was

the former ceo of that bank had absconded with between a— $6 million and some of the money was in the united states and they sought my assistance in terms of finding and locating that money and helping them to reconnect it. you are saying all the reports that you were paid over $4 million to have access an understanding of the trump administration, you are saying that all of that wasjust administration, you are saying that all of that was just paid to you just because you are a nice guy?” ama just because you are a nice guy?” am a nice guy but more importantly... i would beg to differ, the record reflects you are not a nice guy. the cause of my contract, i will not lobby, and i do not do the government work, and in fa ct, not do the government work, and in fact, novartis sent me my contract which stated specifically that they wa nted which stated specifically that they wanted me to lobby and they wanted me to provide access to government

including the president, that information, that paragraph was crossed out by me and written in my own handwriting and it says, i will not lobby or to government relations work. novartis's representatives says it was like they were hiring a non—registered lobbyist, do you disagree with that?” non—registered lobbyist, do you disagree with that? i don't know what they said about the contract said. did you ever contact anybody in the administration? yes. to advocate on behalf of any aspect of any of your contracts? i ask your unanimous consent. the gentleman's time has expired but you may answer the question. i don't know what you are referring to, sir. mr chairman. mrcohen, i'm are referring to, sir. mr chairman. mr cohen, i'm pleased that you agreed to testify today voluntarily

and in my view we are all here for just one reason, that is the american people who are tired of being lied to. they have been lied to by president trump and they have been lied to by the president's children and they have been lied to by the president's legal representative and it pains me to say that they have been even lied to by his congressional enablers who are still devoted to perpetuating and protecting this giant con game on the american people. mr cohen, i would like to talk to you about the president's assets. since bylaw these must be reported accurately on its federal financial disclosure and when he submits them for a bank loan. mrcohen,

when he submits them for a bank loan. mr cohen, you served for nearly a decade as then businessman trump's personal attorney and so—called fixer, did you also have an understanding on the president's assets and how he valued those items? yes. in november 2017, cranes new york business reported an organisation provided flagrantly untrue revenue figures going back to at least 2010, to influence their ranking as the largest private company in new york, according to the report while the trump organisation reported nearly 9.5 billion in revenue in 2016, public filing suggested revenues were actually less than one tenth of that. to your knowledge did the president or his company ever

inflate assets or revenues? yes. was that done with the president's knowledge or direction? everything was done with the knowledge and at the direction of mr trump. why would he do that and what purpose did it serve? it depends upon the situation. there were times i was asked again with the cfo to go back and to speak with an individual from forbes because mr trump wanted each year to have his net worth rise on the forbes wealthiest individuals list. and so you look at the assets and you try to find an asset that has, for example, 40 wall st which is about1.2 has, for example, 40 wall st which is about 1.2 million square feet, find an asset which is comparable and find the highest price per

square foot which is achieved in the area and apply it to that building. 0r area and apply it to that building. or if you are going off, the gross rent row, the times of the multiple, new make up the multiple, it is based upon what he wanted to value the asset at —— and you make up the multiple. you have provided this committee with copies of the president's financial statements and parts of them are from 2011, 2012 and 2013, and mr chairman i would like to submit those for the record. mrchairmani like to submit those for the record. mr chairman i would like to submit the statements to the record. thank you. can you explain why you had these financial statements and what you used them for? these financial state m e nts you used them for? these financial statements were used by me for two purposes, to discuss with media whether it was forbes or other

magazines, to demonstrate mr trump's significant net worth, and that was one function, and another was when we we re one function, and another was when we were dealing later on with insurance companies, we would provide them with these copies so that they would understand that the premium which is based sometimes upon the individual‘s capabilities to pay would be reduced. all of this was done at the president's direction and with his knowledge? yes, because whatever the numbers would come back to be, we would immediately report it back. did this information provided to us inflate the president's assets?” information provided to us inflate the president's assets? i believe these numbers are inflated. and of course, inflating assets to boost

your ego is not a crime, but did he ever provide inflated assets to a bank in orderto ever provide inflated assets to a bank in order to help him obtain a loan? you may answer that question. these documents and others were provided to deutsche bank on one occasion when i was with them in our attempt to obtain money so that we can put a bid on the buffalo bills. thank you for your answer.” can put a bid on the buffalo bills. thank you for your answer. i thank you the gentleman for yielding. i wa nt to you the gentleman for yielding. i want to put into the record an article which instigates that mr cohen's promised access to notjust trump but almost the circle around him, almost as if we were getting a lobbyist, they said. we put in the

criminal referralfor lobbyist, they said. we put in the criminal referral for this violation, for the statute number six, 611, iask violation, for the statute number six, 611, i ask unanimous consent that my letter referring mr cohen for violating for illegal lobbying activity be entered into the record. i ask unanimous consent that the first order of business for this committee is for us to look at a bipartisan way a criminal referral is at the next business... inaudible these are objections, not documents. we are objecting to unanimous consent request? is that what? yes. i will yield back. let me be clear, i will yield back. let me be clear, i will give you your whole five minutes. thank you, mr chairman. mr

meadows, the chairman may yield. a ranking member might be aware that i have given more time to his question andl have given more time to his question and i was going to let you do that anyway. i just want and i was going to let you do that anyway. ijust want the committee to know that because of this i will be strict on this five minutes. you have five minutes. mr cohen, you claim that you have lied but you are not a liar. but if you have lied, you are a liar, by definition, and you are a liar, by definition, and you also said the facts are inaccurate, but if they are facts they are accurate. and that would make you inaccurate. i would like to know who you consorted with to provide for this hearing?” consulted with my counsel, lenny davies and michael monaco. did you or michael or lenny cooperate with the democratic majority to prepare for this hearing? can you say that

ain? for this hearing? can you say that again? did you or anyone else cooperate with the democratic party in preparing for this ring? we have spoken to the party. -- for this hearing. did you prepare with mr cummings for this hearing?” prepared for this with my counsel. did you prepare with chairman cummings? we spoke with him and the party. what about chairman shiv? we spoke with him as well. any other individuals liaising with the majority party? what are you saying? did you have a liaison other than you have mentioned, working with the majority to prepare for this hearing? we spoke with the various individuals that you have just

raised, yes. thomas dyer, regarding him and his representatives, is he orany of him and his representatives, is he or any of them paying lenny davies to represent you? not that i'm aware of. who is paying lenny davies? at the moment no one. he is doing this work for nothing? yes, sir, and i hope so. i kind of doubt it. how did he come to represent you? did he approach? i reached out to lenny davies at the recommendation of my former counsel over at mcdermott william emery, who knew mr davies. you reached out to lenny davies?” did, yes, initially. did you want to testify before congress or did he

urge you to testify here?” testify before congress or did he urge you to testify here? i was asked to come here and i am here voluntarily because it is my... did he ask you to come here? no, sir. he says that he did. he says he asked you to come here and that he convinced you and that he did the same with chairman cummings as well. your testimony is that you approached lenny davies to represent you and to come here, he did not persuade you to come here? he did not persuade me. chairman cummings, pa rt not persuade me. chairman cummings, part of the conversations we engaged in with his people, as well as chairman shiv and others, we spoke in order to get me to come here voluntarily. connecting the dots here, with lenny davies, and you, and frankly the chairman and maybe

others, to be rather stunning, that there is an agenda for all this happening here today, and i believe frankly it is to bring the president down and to impugn the president. you were here last year and the oath meant nothing to you then. and we had an oath in this very room about a month ago, and it was, be clear that i will seek the truth, nothing but the truth, so help me god, that sounds like an oath to me. the chairman made that statement. in this very room, last month. but here we are today, our first big hearing and we all know with you a convicted liar, lying to congress, a criminal, andi liar, lying to congress, a criminal, and i believe this witness is totally incompatible with the stated goal of having to seek the truth in this hearing, this is the first time

in the history of congress we have someone testifying here who has already been convicted of lying to congress, so congratulations for being the first in congress to do that. chairman cummings, as well. i cannot believe we have brought this committee to its knees in terms of losing its credibility. it is a shame for mockery of what our purpose is. i yield back. shame for mockery of what our purpose is. iyield back. mr shame for mockery of what our purpose is. i yield back. mr lynch. let me pick up on those last comments. i want to talk about a low point, what about mr papa dollars pled guilty, paul manafort convicted to other charges, mr flynn pled guilty, and for two years, you want to talk about an agenda? my friends, on the other side of the eye refused to bring any of these people before

the committee, so today for the first time we have one witness who voluntarily is coming forward to testify. your side ran away from the truth and we are trying to bring it to the american people. mr cohen, thank you for voluntarily coming before the committee to testify, i wa nt before the committee to testify, i want to ask you about your statements regarding trump tower and moscow, and i want to drill down some of the facts in the details. this goes back away, in 1987 mr trump wrote that he had ongoing discussions with soviet officials back then, to build a luxury hotel across the kremlin, in partnership with the soviet union. at that time it was the soviet union. i want to ask you, in your filing with the special counsel, robert mueller's

office, the prosecutors wrote, and i quote, mr cohen discussed the status and progress of the moscow project with individual one on more than the three occasions mr cohen claims to the committee and he breathed family members of individual one with the company about the project —— and he briefed. who are we referring to as individual one? donaldj briefed. who are we referring to as individual one? donald] trump. the company? the trump organisation through the subsidiary. who are the individuals that you briefed about the moscow project? donald trump junior and if anchor trump. this was in the regular course of business? —— ivanka trump. do you recall how many meetings there might have been?

approximately ten. in total. in your written remarks you wrote, there we re written remarks you wrote, there were at least half a dozen times between the iowa caucus and the end ofjune between the iowa caucus and the end of june when between the iowa caucus and the end ofjune when mrtrump between the iowa caucus and the end ofjune when mr trump would ask me, how is it going in russia, referring to the moscow tower project, how did the president communicate those questions to you, verbally or on the phone? verbally most of the time, virtually all of the time, he would say to me, michael, come with me, he was heading to say, a rally, and as i was walking to the elevator with him he would ask me a quick series of questions. was there any doubt what he was referring to in terms of the project in russia? no, this would be it, otherwise there would be no reason to ask it of me. you also wrote, to be clear, mr trump knew of and directed the trump

moscow organisations throughout the campaign and lied about it. how did the president actually direct the negotiations? what details did he direct? after each communication i had i would report back to him, and our goal was to get this project, we we re our goal was to get this project, we were interested in building what would have been the largest building in all of europe, and if i can say one last thing with regards to the chairman's statement since this is on topic, the lies i told to congress in fairness benefited mr trump. it was in furtherance of my projection of mr trump which i stated in my testimony —— protection. i'm not protecting mr trump any more, so one i truly appreciate taking some of your... studio: we are going to stay with

this. is testimony that america gripped. we have more coverage coming up. today at five... the explosive testimony of president trump's former lawyer to a congressional committee in washington. michael cohen, who's going to jail for tax evasion and fraud, said he wanted to apologise for helping mr trump before laying in to the president's character. i am ashamed because i know what mr trump is. he is a racist, he is a conman and he is a cheat. and i'm live on capitol hill, where we'll be bringing you the latest developments from that hearing. we'll have all the details in the next hour, as the hearing continues, and it risks overshadowing the president's summit meeting in vietnam.

president trump holds talks with the north korean leader,