potentially become president of the united states. >> and that is the crucial question we have tonight, right? because the question is, how much leverage and has he used it? and that is the crucial question we all have, the quid pro quo, and this huge development tonight, putting it front and center. thank you all and our breaking news coverage continues. president trump is trashing cohen. so, you know, and he had been for a little while here. so why did he keep him around for so long? >> because a long time ago, he did me a favor. a long time ago, he did me a favor. >> what favor could it be? that would have resulted in keeping someone around for a dozen years doing all your dirty work. . plus, democrats vowing to investigate the president as trump threatens to retaliate by releasing what he calls devastating documents. and the reporter who broke the story months ago that michael cohen's story on the trump tower in moscow did not add up, that it didn't end in january. that reporter is "outfront" and he has more developments tonight.