Updated 22:20
Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer of Donald Trump, has pleaded guilty to eight criminal counts in the US.
He's said to have pleaded guilty to counts of tax fraud, making false statements to a financial institution, a count of willfully causing an unlawful corporate campaign contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution.
It's reported the plea deal with prosecutors includes a potential jail term of up to five years.
When asked by a judge in New York if he pleaded guilty, Mr Cohen responded: "Yes sir".
According to the New York Times, during his court appearance Mr Cohen acknowledged paying an adult film actress 'at the direction of the candidate' to keep her silent about an alleged affair with Mr Trump.
It comes following an investigation into his business dealings and his role in paying 'hush money' to women to stop negative stories about his former client.
He's now due to be sentenced in December.
Investigation
Mr Cohen's offices were raided by the FBI in April.
The operation is said to have been 'in part' the result of a 'referral' by Robert Mueller, the special counsel investigating allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election.
Mr Cohen has previously acknowledged paying the adult film actress Stormy Daniels - whose real name is Stephanie Clifford - $130,000 in return for her not speaking out about an alleged affair between herself and Mr Trump in 2006.
President Trump has insisted no campaign money was used to pay hush money, although has acknowledge his then lawyer was reimbursed for the payment.
The US President himself has commented on the operation targeting his former lawyer, claiming 'attorney-client privilege is dead'.
Additional reporting by IRN
