NEW YORK — Donald Trump stood accused of conspiring to commit campaign fraud and two of his closest aides faced jail time on Tuesday, after court proceedings delivered a legal and political one-two punch to his embattled presidency.

In a drama that played out simultaneously across two US cities, courts found the aides guilty of eight charges a piece, stemming from a federal investigation into the 2016 presidential election.

In New York, Trump’s longtime attack-dog fixer Michael Cohen admitted eight counts, including making illegal campaign contributions.

Cohen detailed how he made pre-election hush payments to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal. Both claim to have had an affair with Trump.

But in a sensational twist, Cohen also pointed to the president – or "individual 1" as a co-conspirator -- alleging that he acted "in coordination and at the direction of a candidate for federal office".

"I participated in this conduct with the purpose of influencing the election," a visibly crestfallen Cohen told the judge, his voice trembling at times as he addressed the packed courtroom.

That admission put Trump himself in legal jeopardy and raised the prospect that a trusted lieutenant is ready to spill secrets, gathered over decades, in exchange for a reduced sentence.

The White House refused to comment on Cohen’s allegations, with spokeswoman Sarah Sanders tersely telling reporters: "Refer you to the president’s outside counsel."

Cohen’s lawyer Lanny Davis, explained his client’s about face after years spent vowing to "take a bullet" for Trump.

"This is Michael fulfilling his promise... to put his family and country first and tell the truth about Donald Trump," said Davis.

"Today, he stood up and testified under oath that Donald Trump directed him to commit a crime by making payments to two women for the principal purpose of influencing an election," the lawyer continued.

"If those payments were a crime for Michael Cohen, then why wouldn’t they be a crime for Donald Trump?"

Nearer home

While the Cohen drama was unfolding in New York, a jury in Virginia found Trump’s one-time campaign chairman Paul Manafort guilty on eight counts, including bank fraud, tax fraud and a failure to declare foreign bank accounts.

Trump expressed regret, calling Manafort "a good man".

"I feel very sad about that," Trump told reporters as he arrived in West Virginia for a rally, claiming the conviction was part of a "witch hunt" after the 2016 election.

"It’s a very sad thing that happened, this has nothing to do with Russian collusion."

Trump also sought to distance himself from Manafort -- who was instrumental in the 72-year-old securing the 2016 Republican nomination.

"He worked for many, many people," said Trump, citing campaigns for former president Ronald Reagan and vice presidential candidate Bob Dole.

At the rally Trump made oblique but impassioned comments about Manafort and the Mueller probe.

"Where is the collusion?" he asked the crowd. "They are still looking for collusion, where is the collusion? Find some collusion. We want to find of the collusion." — AFP