Trump in hot water as Cohen threatens to share 'information' of Russia meddling in election

Two members of US President Donald Trump’s inner circle have been found guilty of criminal offences, leaving the President in a tight spot as one of the lawyers said his client would be happy to share his knowledge on a possible Russian interference with the presidential election in 2016.

Lawyer Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to a New York court on Tuesday for breaking campaign finance laws and said he had acted at the request of a federal candidate, referring to Trump.

Cohen's campaign finance violations related to a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels, and another $150,000 one to ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal to try and prevent the women from going public about their alleged affairs with Trump just ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.

Lanny Davis, Cohen's lawyer, said: "Today he stood up and testified, under oath, that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purpose of influencing an election."

"If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn't they be a crime for Donald Trump?", he added.

According to Reuters Cohen's lawyer also admitted on Wednesday that his client has knowledge on certain subjects that would be of interest to special counsel Robert Mueller in his investigation of a possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election.

On the same day, Trump’s former campaign chairman Paul Manafort was also found guilty in a separate trial and could face up to 80 years in prison.

At a political rally on Tuesday, Trump fired back, saying there was no evidence of collusion since Manafort’s crimes occurred before becoming involved with the President.

He ignored Cohen’s trial altogether.

Trump is unlikely to face criminal charges as long as he remains president, but could be sacked by Congress if impeached over “high crimes and misdemeanours”, although that would require a two-thirds majority in the Senate.

In May, Trump had backtracked, saying he knew of the payments made by Cohen, but denied that they were in any way linked to his election campaign or that they involved campaign funds.

Rudy Giuliani, the lawyer for Mr Trump, told reporters: "There is no allegation of any wrongdoing against the president in the government's charges against Mr Cohen.

"It is clear that, as the prosecutor noted, Mr Cohen's actions reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over a significant period of time,” he added.