Lanny Davis, an adviser and former attorney for Michael Cohen, said Sunday that Cohen "underwent a genuine transformation" when Donald Trump Donald John TrumpBiden on Trump's refusal to commit to peaceful transfer of power: 'What country are we in?' Romney: 'Unthinkable and unacceptable' to not commit to peaceful transition of power Two Louisville police officers shot amid Breonna Taylor grand jury protests MORE became president that led to Cohen admitting to crimes he committed while working for Trump.

Davis, appearing on CBS's "Face the Nation," said the transformation was sparked because Cohen "feared for his country and his family."

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“Michael Cohen is now taking ownership in his statement to the court of his personal responsibility for his behavior when he worked for Donald Trump," he said.

"Now that he saw Donald Trump as president, he underwent a genuine transformation because he feared for his country and his family when Donald Trump was president," Davis added.

Former Attorney to Michael Cohen @LannyDavis says Cohen “feared for his country and his family when Donald Trump was president." pic.twitter.com/NmLILnn1dv — Face The Nation (@FaceTheNation) December 16, 2018

Cohen, Trump's former personal attorney, was sentenced last week to three years in prison for a range of crimes he committed while working for Trump.

Those crimes included campaign finance violations stemming from payments he made during Trump's 2016 presidential campaign to women who said they had affairs with Trump. Cohen and federal prosecutors have said that Trump directed Cohen to make those payments.

Davis, who is also an opinion contributor for The Hill, said Sunday that Cohen "took ownership and personal responsibility" for his crimes.

“And he’s going to jail as a consequence," Davis added.