From The New York Times, I'm Michael Barbaro. This is The Daily.

Today, Michael Cohen is headed to prison for a line on behalf of Donald Trump.

Yesterday, he told Congress he's done protecting the president.

It's Thursday, February 28th.

Maggie Hibber. How does this hearing actually begin on Wednesday morning?

The hearing began in very dramatic fashion with a large of comments and chairs the committee,

a Democrat holding the gavle. Michael Cohen walking in through this crush of photographers and

reporters, trailed by Lanny Davis, his attorney, and sometimes spokesman,

trailed by another of his attorneys, not by any member of his family, who I believe he was

worried about, attending this hearing. He sat down, his face was one, his eyes were puffy,

he looked exhausted and defeated and beaten down, and you could hear a pin drop as he sat down.

The committee told me the order. So, Cummings out of the gate.

I now recognize myself for five minutes to give an opening statement.

Addressed the issue of Michael Cohen's credibility.

He admitted to lying about his actions to protect the president.

Some will certainly ask if Mr. Cohen was lying then, why should we believe him now?

This is a legitimate question.

It was very clear that Republicans were going to go right at Cohen, accusing him of being a liar.

Somebody who has admitted to lying, including admitting to lying into Congress,

when he gave testimony before them in 2017. So Cummings was hoping to put that to bed at the outset.

And Maggie, I found it fascinating what Cummings did at the close of this opening statement.

He delivers this message straight to Cohen.

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