President Donald Trump now claims he was transparent about negotiations to build a Trump Tower in Moscow while he was still a candidate for President in 2016.
His now-former attorney Michael Cohen earlier Thursday morning admitted in federal court he had lied when he told Congress the negotiations had concluded in January of 2016. Cohen now says they ended in June of 2016.
“When I’m running for president that doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to do business,” Trump told reporters Thursday morning, before heading off to attend the G-20. “There would have been nothing wrong if I did do it.”
But Trump also called Cohen a “weak person,” “not very smart,” and added he is lying to get a reduced sentence.
Throughout the campaign, and after, Trump repeatedly insisted he had no financial dealings in Russia.