Trump's ex-lawyer Cohen faces hour of truth

The hour of judgment has come for Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, who was set to learn yesterday if cooperating with authorities conducting the Russia probe will spare him a long prison term.

Cohen, 52, is one of several members of Trump's team who have run afoul of the law but the only one to belong to Trump's inner circle.

For 12 years he was vice president of The Trump Organization, the umbrella company for Trump's real estate businesses, and one of the principal confidants of the New York billionaire.

Cohen accompanied Trump throughout a political ascension which he encouraged, but now has made a spectacular flip.

After investigators raided his offices and New York home in April, he made his confessions.

In August, Cohen admitted to having hidden from tax authorities about $4 million in revenue from his taxi companies.

He also admitted to paying a total of $280,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who threatened to go public during the 2016 presidential campaign about their alleged affairs with Trump.