WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump addressed Paul Manafort’s conviction shortly after landing in West Virginia Tuesday evening, telling reporters that he feels “very sad” about it, but he would not answer questions about Michael Cohen, whose plea deal implicated the president.
Trump’s personal attorney, Rudolph Giuliani, said in a statement released Tuesday evening: “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.”
White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders declined to give any additional comments on the day’s developments, referring to the president’s remarks and Giuliani’s statement, respectively.
Trump is appearing at a rally tonight in Charleston, West Virginia, where he will push his administration’s proposal to allow states to determine their own emissions standards for coal-fueled power plants. He is also in the state to support Republican Patrick Morrisey, who is challenging Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin in the midterm elections for a West Virginia seat in the U.S. senate.