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| Michael Cohen 'loyal to family and US' over Donald Trump | Michael Cohen 'loyal to family and US' over Donald Trump |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has said his loyalty will "always" be to his family and country over the US president. | Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen has said his loyalty will "always" be to his family and country over the US president. |
| He also indicated to ABC News he would co-operate with federal prosecutors, even if that were to go against the president's interests. | He also indicated to ABC News he would co-operate with federal prosecutors, even if that were to go against the president's interests. |
| Mr Cohen said previously said he was so loyal to Mr Trump he would "take a bullet for him". | |
| The lawyer is under investigation for his business dealings. | The lawyer is under investigation for his business dealings. |
| In his first interview since his offices were raided by the FBI in April, Mr Cohen also made clear he will refuse to be cast as the "villain of this story". | In his first interview since his offices were raided by the FBI in April, Mr Cohen also made clear he will refuse to be cast as the "villain of this story". |
| Mr Cohen - who has not been charged - is under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as possible violation of election law, Reuters news agency reports. | Mr Cohen - who has not been charged - is under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as possible violation of election law, Reuters news agency reports. |
| The latter is understood to relate to Mr Cohen paying off porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, which could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign. | The latter is understood to relate to Mr Cohen paying off porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, which could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign. |
| Mr Trump admitted the money had exchanged hands in May. | Mr Trump admitted the money had exchanged hands in May. |
| Mr Cohen's offices had been raided by the FBI the month before following a referral from Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible Russian interference during the 2016 election. | Mr Cohen's offices had been raided by the FBI the month before following a referral from Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating possible Russian interference during the 2016 election. |
| Questions have abounded over whether or not Mr Cohen - who denies any wrongdoing - would co-operate with prosecutors. | Questions have abounded over whether or not Mr Cohen - who denies any wrongdoing - would co-operate with prosecutors. |
| But during the ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos, Mr Cohen said his "first priority" was his family. | But during the ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos, Mr Cohen said his "first priority" was his family. |
| He will "not be a punching bag as part of anyone's defence strategy", he warned. "My wife, my daughter and my son have my first loyalty and always will. I put family and country first." | He will "not be a punching bag as part of anyone's defence strategy", he warned. "My wife, my daughter and my son have my first loyalty and always will. I put family and country first." |
| In comments which appeared to further distance himself from Mr Trump, Mr Cohen said: "I don't like the term witch hunt. As an American, I repudiate Russia's or any other foreign government's attempt to interfere or meddle in our democratic process." | In comments which appeared to further distance himself from Mr Trump, Mr Cohen said: "I don't like the term witch hunt. As an American, I repudiate Russia's or any other foreign government's attempt to interfere or meddle in our democratic process." |
| Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt". The president too denies any wrongdoing. | Mr Trump has repeatedly referred to the Mueller investigation as a "witch hunt". The president too denies any wrongdoing. |