Trump-Cohen crisis: President struggles to contain fallout as lawyer Lanny Davis says Cohen could talk to Mueller investigation

Meanwhile at the White House, Donald Trump is posthumously presenting the Medal of Honour to Technical Sergeant John Chapman.

It would be an odd setting for Mr Trump to talk about Michael Cohen or Paul Manafort, but you never know.

Here is that Medal of Honour ceremony, where Mr trump did not mention his other troubles.

Republicans have had varying reactions to the last 24 hours and the presidential tweetstorm of this morning. 

Senator Richard Burr, who oversees the Senate intelligence committee's Russia investigation, said he is “not sure why that would change my support for the president.”

"He was elected by the American people. Short of impeachment or death, he’s the president," Mr Burr told Politico. 

Senator Pat Roberts simply commented: "It is what it is. I can't make a difference on that". 

Noting his support for Mr Trump has not wavered "yet," Senator Lindsay Graham added: “What happens here is, I’m looking for evidence of collusion. That would affect me...Rather than say what would affect me, let me find out what [special counsel Robert] Mueller’s got. Then let me tell you.”

Other Republicans had a less complacent reaction to Mr Trump and the crisis involving former campaign chairman Paul Manafort and former personal attorney Michael Cohen. 

Senator Ben Sasse bluntly said “neither one of these felons should have been anywhere near the presidency.”

“Obviously, Michael Cohen’s assertion that the president directed him to pay this money is not good news for the president,” Senator Susan Collins said.

She noted she has never supported Mr Trump, but Ms Collins has routinely voted along party lines and has supported quickly pushing through the president's Supreme Court nominee Brett Kavanaugh. 

Mr Cohen's lawyer says that his client would not accept a pardon fromMr Trump under any circumstances, even though the president's response to Tuesday's plea deal would suggest a deep rift between the formerly close allies.

Speaking to NPR, attorney Lanny Davis brushed aside the idea that his client would want the president to spring him from federal prison early.

"Under no circumstances would he accept a pardon from Mr Trump," Mr Davis said.

One bit of fallout from the disclosures from Mr Cohen on Tuesday that the made payments to women who have alleged they had affairs with the president — apparently under direction from Mr Trump — has been the issue has weaponized by some Democrats to push back on the Supreme Court nomination of Brett Kavanaugh.

The highest profile of those, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, said as much on the Senate floor, expressing concern with connection Mr Trump may have with the federal crimes.

"In my view, the Senate Judiciary Committee should immediately pause the consideration of the Kavanaugh nomination," Mr Schumer said.

  ↵Here is our final report of day's events. 

And with that, we are closing our coverage for the dat. Thanks for reading.