MARC SHORT (CNN POLITICAL CONTRIBUTOR): I think there’s two separate things: One is to say, “I did not direct my counsel to break the law.” They're the ones that should know the law and I think there is a great debate as to whether or not a payment of this sort is actually a violation of campaign finance or not. I think it is pretty realistic to say that somebody who is a celebrity who gets sued for these things would not know whether that's a campaign violation or not. And again, I think that's open for a lot of debate. The more concerning --

ERICA HILL (GUEST CO-HOST): At that point he was no longer a celebrity.

SHORT: Well -- 

HILL: When you're running for president of the United States, these are things that you need to know or surround yourself with people who do know that law. 

SHORT: Well, that's a fair point, that clearly Michael Cohen does not know the law. And I think that's a concern as to then he shouldn't be in that position. But I think, more fundamentally, a question, you know, is veracity. If the president says that he didn't know about it and there’s tape that said he did, I think that's something that the administration needs to address. But specific to the president's tweet this morning saying that “I never directed him to break the law,” I agree with that. I believe that. That's not something that his lawyer should know what the ramifications are or not and advise that back. 

Related:

NY Times: Michael Cohen Sentenced to 3 Years After Implicating Trump in Hush-Money Scandal

Previously:

Fox host: Michael Cohen guilty plea “means absolutely nothing” and “there is no Russia collusion here”

Rush Limbaugh on Michael Cohen sentencing: There is “nothing illegal” about Trump's payments

Lou Dobbs calls Michael Cohen sentence a “preposterous, absurd and ... villainous attempt” to bring about “mob rule”