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The Hill's 12:30 Report: Michael Cohen testifies on Trump | Washington riveted by testimony | Cohen calls Trump a 'conman' and 'racist' | Alleges Trump knew about Stone, WikiLeaks talks | Cohen says he has no direct evidence of collusion | Giuliani calls testimony 'pathetic' | DC bars open early for hearing | Trump meets Kim in Vietnam | Touts their 'great relationship' | Some reporters barred from Trump-Kim dinner | What was on the menu

MICHAEL COHEN ON CAPITOL HILL

'Prison Mike' makes an appearance:

--> http://bit.ly/2EmDITc ;)

President Trump Donald John TrumpOmar fires back at Trump over rally remarks: 'This is my country' Pelosi: Trump hurrying to fill SCOTUS seat so he can repeal ObamaCare Trump mocks Biden appearance, mask use ahead of first debate MORE's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen is giving explosive and scathing testimony on Capitol Hill about Trump. http://bit.ly/2EAeMco

Livestream: https://cs.pn/2IG7WGp

Live blog of updates: http://bit.ly/2EAeMco

NEWS FROM THE HEARING:

Yikes, lots of buzzwords in his opening statement: "I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a conman. He is a cheat. He was a presidential candidate who knew that Roger Stone Roger Jason StoneThe agony of justice Our Constitution is under attack by Attorney General William Barr Justice IG investigating Stone sentencing: report MORE was talking with Julian Assange about a WikiLeaks drop of [Democratic National Committee] emails." Read Cohen's full opening statement: https://cnn.it/2EgdGkD

Read Cohen's evidence: http://bit.ly/2IFmupG

One of Cohen's biggest regrets: "[Trump] asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair and to lie to his wife about it, which I did. ... Lying to the first lady is one of my biggest regrets. She is a kind, good person. I respect her greatly and she did not deserve that." http://bit.ly/2T7XuvZ

Cohen apologizes: "Over the past year or so, I have done some real soul searching," Cohen said. "I am sorry for my lies and for lying to Congress. And to our nation, I am sorry for actively working to hide from you the truth about Mr. Trump when you needed it most."

Cohen was asked about the @WomenForCohen Twitter account: "We were having fun during a stressful time," Cohen said.

Cohen on being disbarred: "As of yesterday, I am no longer a lawyer." http://bit.ly/2H6dNSM

Trump apparently referred to his campaign as an infomercial: "Mr. Trump would often say this campaign was going to be the greatest infomercial in political history. He never expected to win the primary. He never expected to win the general election. The campaign for him was always a marketing opportunity." http://bit.ly/2HbFWbp

Rep. Jim Jordan James (Jim) Daniel JordanSunday shows preview: Justice Ginsburg dies, sparking partisan battle over vacancy before election House passes resolution condemning anti-Asian discrimination relating to coronavirus Republicans call for Judiciary hearing into unrest in cities run by Democrats MORE (R-Ohio) tore into Cohen: The back and forth: http://bit.ly/2EzqbsL

On whether Trump colluded with Russia: "Questions have been raised about whether I know of direct evidence that Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia," Cohen said. "I do not. I want to be clear. But, I have my suspicions." http://bit.ly/2SvpJ2q

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

Photo of the Trump check for the Stormy Daniels payment: http://bit.ly/2TeYfCV

Cohen's arrival on the Hill: He (unsurprisingly) has quite the police escort. Photo: http://bit.ly/2Xv7dLg

Republicans decorated the room: "Republicans have put up posters in the hearing room with quotes critical of Michael Cohen." Photo from NBC's Frank Thorp V: http://bit.ly/2GORems

Oh, hello there: Trump ally Rep. Matt Gaetz Matthew (Matt) GaetzLara Trump campaigns with far-right activist candidate Laura Loomer in Florida House to vote on removing cannabis from list of controlled substances The Hill's 12:30 Report: Sights and sounds from GOP convention night 1 MORE (R-Fla.), who is not a member of the Oversight and Reform Committee. Gaetz apologized yesterday after a tweet directed at Cohen that raised questions of witness tampering. Photo: http://bit.ly/2H1tr1X

Before the hearing began: "Some members of the crowd waiting in the hallway to get into the Cohen hearing cheered when [Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Alexandria Ocasio-CortezHouse passes bill to avert shutdown Trump attacks Omar for criticizing US: 'How did you do where you came from?' The Memo: Dems face balancing act on SCOTUS fight MORE (D-N.Y.)] walked into the committee room." (Via The Hill's Olivia Beavers) http://bit.ly/2TplmKO

Photo of a just part of the long line to get into the hearing: http://bit.ly/2T1GqYL

If you want an idea of the interest: Here's a photo of all the networks airing the hearing. "Four broadcast networks. Three cable news networks. Plus international and Spanish-language networks." http://bit.ly/2tOWYUR

You have a last-minute 'doctor's appointment': Here's a list of bars in Washington, D.C., where you can watch the Cohen hearing: http://bit.ly/2TnsQ0Q

REACTIONS SO FAR:

From Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani: Giuliani told The Washington Post, "It's pathetic. This is a lawyer who [taped] his own client when he claimed he was being loyal. If you believe him you are a fool." https://wapo.st/2SvpWD4

From Trump’s informal adviser: "Roger Stone in a text to The Hill on Wednesday denied Michael Cohen’s allegation that President Trump knew that Stone was in contact with WikiLeaks about the release of damaging Democratic emails ahead of the 2016 presidential election." His text: "Mr. Cohen’s statement is not true.” (From The Hill’s Jacqueline Thomsen) http://bit.ly/2II9643

It’s a wild Wednesday in Washington. Filing from Capitol Hill, I'm Cate Martel with a quick recap of the morning and what's coming up. Send comments, story ideas and events for our radar to cmartel@thehill.com -- and follow along on Twitter @CateMartel and Facebook .

Did someone forward this to you? Want your own copy? Sign up here to receive The Hill's 12:30 Report in your inbox daily: http://bit.ly/2kjMNnn

THE LATEST IN HANOI, VIETNAM

Welcome to season two of the Trump-Kim show!:

President Trump had his first full day of meetings in Hanoi, Vietnam. http://bit.ly/2Ejio0X

NEWS FROM THE DAY:

U.S. print reporters were not allowed into the dinner: "North Korean reporters were allowed in the Trump-[Kim Jong Un] dinner tonight. US print reporters were blocked by the White House after shouted questions at an earlier event. Needless to say, the North Korean reporters do not shout questions." (Via The Washington Post's Josh Dawsey) http://bit.ly/2GOZzX1

Why the U.S. reporters were excluded: Reuters' Jeff Mason and The Associated Press's Jonathan Lemire shouted questions about denuclearization and Michael Cohen during a photo-op with President Trump and Kim Jong Un. Statement from White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders: http://bit.ly/2XrgMuP

^ Stepping back -- why this is important: The New York Times's Maggie Haberman tweeted, "To be clear, the reporters are being excluded by an official from the US government, not foreign officials, in one of the more outrageous moves by this White House." http://bit.ly/2GQgDfi

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS:

Ever tried to agree to split two entrees with a friend? Imagine a foreign dictator: "A source close to the planning of tonight's dinner in Hanoi with Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un says it has been a struggle to get the menu approved by the US and North Korea. If they had a hard time negotiating what's for dinner, what does that say about denuclearization talks?!" (Via CNN's Will Ripley) http://bit.ly/2T4h3p5

The dinner menu -- YUM, lava cake: "Trump dinner menu with Kim Jong-Un included Shrimp Cocktail, Grilled Sirloin with Pear Kimchi, and Chocolate Lava cake" http://bit.ly/2EBd0aQ

The dinner location: Here's a photo of the Hotel Metropole Hanoi, the site of the Trump-Kim dinner: http://bit.ly/2XrurlK

This is pretty funny to hear ~about~: "White House pool van has a malfunctioning horn that is constantly going off as we wind our way through Hanoi." (Via The Associated Press's Jonathan Lemire) http://bit.ly/2EwWKHO

Op-ed: http://bit.ly/2GNhIVd

IN OTHER NEWS

Jared Kushner Jared Corey KushnerAbraham Accords: New hope for peace in Middle East Tenants in Kushner building file lawsuit alleging dangerous living conditions Trump hosts Israel, UAE, Bahrain for historic signing MORE met with the Saudi Crown Prince:

"President Trump’s son-in-law and senior adviser Jared Kushner met this week with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the first time since the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.: Keep in mind: The White House statement did not mention the murder of Khashoggi. http://bit.ly/2UgTy8Z

A limit on a key deduction:

Via The Hill's Naomi Jagoda, "Nearly 11 million taxpayers may be subject to the limits on the state and local tax (SALT) deduction in President Trump's tax law, a Treasury Department watchdog estimated in a report released Tuesday." http://bit.ly/2Vlo5Cp

NOTABLE TWEETS

Meanwhile in Oregon...:

I hope the llama paid, just like everyone else.

Yes there was a llama on the MAX, TriMet confirms, but there shouldn’t have been https://t.co/AR686XN2B9 pic.twitter.com/b9NhdpBMfa — The Oregonian (@Oregonian) February 26, 2019

The full story in The Oregonian: http://bit.ly/2BVlQhT

ON TAP

The House and Senate are in. President Trump is in Hanoi, Vietnam. Vice President Pence has no public events on his schedule.

8:55 a.m. EST: President Trump finished his day in Hanoi. It's 8:55 p.m. in Vietnam.

2:15–3:15 p.m. EST: The House votes.

WHAT TO WATCH

This morning: President Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen testifies on Capitol Hill. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2IG7WGp

3 p.m. EST: A House hearing on transgender military service. Livestream: https://cs.pn/2Uc6Ovg

NOW FOR THE FUN STUFF...

Today is National Strawberry Day. It's also National Kahlua Day.