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Michael admitted on ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he knew it was wrong to make the hush-money payments to women ahead of the 2016 campaign to cover up their alleged affairs with President Trump. And, he said, the president knew, too.

“I stood up before the world yesterday, and I accepted the responsibility of my actions,” Cohen told George Stephanopoulos.

Cohen was sentenced on Wednesday to three years in prison for his role in making those payments, lying to Congress about a Trump Tower deal in Moscow and tax evasion.

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Cohen said “of course” the president knew it was wrong to make the payments.

“I will not be the villain of his story,” he said.

He said his “blind loyalty” to Trump propelled him “cover up” Trump’s “dirty deeds.”

“I gave loyalty to someone who, truthfully, does not deserve loyalty,” he continued.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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