President Donald Trump on Thursday denied working on a Trump organization real estate project in Moscow, which his former lawyer Michael Cohen said he had pursued until June 2016.
Trump also called Cohen a "weak person" who is "lying" to get a reduced sentence.
Cohen pleaded guilty on Thursday to making false statements to Congress regarding the project, putting fresh pressure on the president.
During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trump's "political message."
Cohen's lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates.
While denying Cohen's claim that negotiations continued well into the 2016 campaign, Trump told reporters "there would be nothing wrong if I did do it."
Trump said his pledge not to conclude new deals only applied after he had been elected and inaugurated.
Material from The Associated Press and Reuters was used in this report.
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