US President Donald Trump has acknowledged for the first time that his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, represented him to negotiate a confidentiality deal regarding an alleged romantic liaison with adult film actress Stormy Daniels.
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"He represents me, like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me," Trump said during a phone interview on the morning Fox & Friends TV show.
"From what I've seen, he did absolutely nothing wrong. There were no campaign funds going into this, which would have been a problem," the president said.
Earlier this month, Trump said he did not know about the US$130,000 payoff that Cohen gave to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign or where Cohen had got the money from.
Cohen said that he made the payment with his own money using a home equity credit line.
This payment has raised questions regarding the possible violation of campaign finance laws, as it could be considered an illegal campaign contribution to protect Trump's image as a candidate.
Trump's acknowledgement gives the case a new twist, as Cohen is under criminal investigation for his business dealings by the FBI and the Office of the US Attorney for the Southern District of New York.
Two weeks ago, FBI agents searched Cohen's office in New York as well as the hotel room where he is staying, seizing documents related to several issues, including the Daniels matter.
On Wednesday, Cohen told a federal judge in Los Angeles that he would invoke his 5th Amendment right to not incriminate himself in a lawsuit filed against him by Daniels.
There has been speculation that Trump may pardon Cohen, although when a reporter asked him about that possibility on Tuesday, the president responded saying "stupid question".
Australian Associated Press
