2 Trump aides convicted

NEW YORK — Donald Trump stood accused of conspiring to commit campaign fraud and two of his closest aides faced jail time Tuesday, after court proceedings delivered a legal and political one-two punch to his embattled presidency.

In a drama that played out simultaneously across two US cities, courts found the aides guilty of eight charges a piece, stemming from a federal investigation into the 2016 presidential election.

In New York, Trump’s longtime attack-dog fixer Michael Cohen admitted eight counts, including making illegal campaign contributions.

Cohen detailed how he made pre-election hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both claim to have had an affair with Trump.

But in a sensational twist, Cohen also pointed to the President — or “individual 1” as a co-conspirator — alleging that he acted “in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office.”

Sign of guilt A protester holds up a sign as Michael Cohen and Paul Manafort are found guilty of eight charges a piece. AP “I participated in this conduct with the purpose of influencing the election,” a visibly crestfallen Cohen told the judge, his voice trembling at times as he addressed the packed courtroom.

That admission put Trump himself in legal jeopardy and raised the prospect that a trusted lieutenant is ready to spill secrets, gathered over decades, in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The White House refused to comment on Cohen’s allegation.

While the Cohen drama was unfolding in New York, Paul Manafort, the long-time political operative who for months led Trump’s successful presidential campaign, was found guilty of eight financial crimes Tuesday in the first trial victory of the special counsel investigation into the president’s associates.

The jury returned the decision after deliberating four days on tax and bank fraud charges against Manafort, who led Trump’s election effort during a crucial stretch of 2016, including as he clinched the Republican nomination and during the party’s convention.

Manafort, who appeared jovial earlier in the day amid signs the jury was struggling in its deliberations, focused intently as the clerk read off the charges. He stared down blankly at the defense table, then looked up, expressionless, as the judge finished thanking the jury. AFP and AP