Analysis and discussion of the days top stories and compelling issues from Lawrence ODonnell. Presidency took a giant step toward impeachment. It happened in a courtroom in manhattan when these words were spoken. At the direction of, meaning at the direction of the president of the United States. And when a defendant is Pleading Guilty in court, it is very difficult for the defendant to Say Something more important than the word guilty. Thats usually the most important word a defendant speaks during a guilty plea session. But today in Federal Court in manhattan Michael Cohen said guilty, your honor eight times and hes also said at the direction of twice. And both times he meant at the direction of the president of the United States. And so today donald trump made history by becoming the first president of the United States to be accused under oath in Federal Court of ordering someone to commit a federal crime to win a president ial election. At the direction of. Have to be illegally pu
Well see you at 6 00. Lester holt is next. Tonight, President Trump responds after Michael Cohen implicated him in a crime. Mr. Trump now admitting he knew about those secret hush money payments to keep women quiet before the election. Later on i knew. Later on. They didnt come out of the campaign, they came from me. I tweeted about it. The president also praising convicted felon pl manafort for quote refusing to break. Tonight our look at the candidate who said hed have the best people. And now has five former top aides facing possible prison time. Chilling new details about the man accused of killing mollie tibbetts. What he was doing as so many others desperately searched to find her. A monster hurricane barreling dangerously close to hawaii, bracing for catastrophic floods. The latest from the hurricane
hunter in the eye of the storm. New twists in the saga of the prominent me too movement accuser who finds herself accused. Tonight alleged Text Messages surface that bring her denia
4 million. Filing false statements to a bank in order to obtain a loan, and the real stunner, two counts of Campaign Finance violations. The reasons those were such a stunner, because Michael Cohen detailed in a little bit exactly what those Campaign Finance violations were. One, 150,000 payment to the ceo of a Media Company for a contract which we know from our previous reporting has to do with karen mcdougal, who accuses President Trump of an affair, which he, of course, has denied. And then the second, 130,000 payment, which he facilitated, which we know again from previous reporting has to do with Stormy Daniels, a porn star that alleges an affair with the president. Again, their names not mentioned in court, but we know who they were talking about, and then we got a little bit more detail when the u. S. Deputy attorney came out of court after these guilty pleas and talked about all of the charges in general. Take a listen real quickly. A look at breaking news, politics and reports
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Inaugural address, which my old boss had colorful language to describe. George w. Bush called it some crazy bleep. I was thinking about the line about carnage and i was thinking that the real carnage and it was all in motion when he came that day. The real carnage is the people closest to donald trump. The lives that are being destroyed for crimes theyve committed. I mean, you know, its not a night to feel sympathy for Michael Cohen, but the events that are sending him to jail potentially are events put in motion by the things donald trump demanded of the people close to him. It may end up ensnaring his family. But just this idea of wreckage. A source close to Michael Cohen tonight told me that everything donald trump touches is tainted by his toxic brew of lack of ethics and lack of any adherence to the law. I also thought of something that someone who advises this president said to me earlier i
Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. Brian Williams examines the days top political stories and current politicalcampaign news. No comment on cohen who was released on 500,000 bail. His sentencing, interestingly, is scheduled for december 12th. The judge noted that cohen could serve up to 65 years in prison, though we should hasten to add the prosecutess recommended sentence is something closer to four or six years. Manafort is expected to be sentenced to seven to nine years when its all said and done. He also faces another trial on related charges next month in washington. Meanwhile, both men now join rick gates, michael flynn, George Papadopoulos on the roster of Trump Associates who faced criminal charges. On that, let us bring in our expanded leadoff panel for a consequential tuesday evening. Nicolle wallace returned to the night shift. The veteran of the Bush White House and host of deadline white house. And here in new york mi