ABC’s Stephanopoulos teases first interview with Cohen post-sentencing

ABC’s George Stephanopoulos on Thursday teased a new interview with President Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, the first interview since Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison.

The interview is set to air during Friday’s “Good Morning America.”

“Just sat down with Michael Cohen for his first response to sentencing and President Trump. Watch tomorrow on @GMA,” Stephanopoulos tweeted.

Just sat down with Michael Cohen for his first response to sentencing and President Trump. Watch tomorrow on @GMA pic.twitter.com/Dx8orwT5us

— GeorgeStephanopoulos (@GStephanopoulos) December 13, 2018

{mosads}Cohen’s three year sentence stems from eight federal charges he pleaded guilty to in August. 

The charges included campaign finance violations tied to an effort to pay off adult-film star Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal to prevent their alleged affairs with Trump from surfacing during the 2016 presidential race.

Prosecutors suggested that they have evidence to prove Cohen’s claim that he made the payments at Trump’s direction. Trump denies he ever directed Cohen to break the law.

The payments, which each exceeded $100,000, amounted to campaign contributions in excess of the federal limit, according to prosecutors.

Trump brushed off the money in an interview won Tuesday, calling them a “simple private transaction.”

“Number one, it wasn’t a campaign contribution. If it were, it’s only civil, and even if it’s only civil, there was no violation based on what we did. OK?” Trump told Reuters.

An additional two months was added to Cohen’s sentence to be served concurrently for a single charge of lying to Congress about plans to build a Trump property in Moscow. Cohen pleaded guilty in late November as part of a cooperation deal with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Cohen will be allowed to voluntarily surrender to federal authorities on March 6.

He has also been ordered to pay $1.4 million in restitution, forfeiture of $500,000 and a fine of $50,000.