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As Chairman Cummings begins Cohen hearing, Rep. Meadows immediately makes motion to postpone the hearing.

Republicans are using parliamentary actions to delay the hearing; votes ongoing.

LIVE BLOG: Real-time updates, news and analysis as Michael Cohen testifies before Congress. nbcnews.to/2U9jG5u

Democrats on the House Oversight Cmte., who largely outnumber Republicans, overcome motion to adjourn Cohen hearing; hearing continues.

Chairman Cummings to Republicans:

"You've made it clear that you do not want the American people to hear what Mr. Cohen has to say. But the American people have a right to hear him. So we're going to proceed."

In opening statement, Chairman Cummings, a Democrat, says it is legitimate to question Michael Cohen's established history of lying during the hearing today, but the American people have the right to hear from Cohen and make their own judgments.

Chairman Cummings: “The American people, by the way, voted for accountability in November, and they have a right to hear Mr. Cohen in public so they can make their own judgments."

Michael Cohen begins testimony: "I regret all the help and support I gave [President Trump] along the way. I am ashamed of my own failings, and I publicly accepted responsibility for them by pleading guilty in the Southern District of New York."

Michael Cohen in congressional testimony: "I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump’s illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat."

Michael Cohen claims that President Trump lied about the Moscow Trump Tower negotiations throughout the campaign, because he never expected to win the election, and he stood to make millions on the deal.

Cohen: “Since taking office, [Donald Trump] has become the worst version of himself. He is capable of behaving kindly, but he is not kind. He is capable of committing acts of generosity, but he is not generous. He is capable of being loyal, but he is fundamentally disloyal."

Michael Cohen: President 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."

Michael Cohen: "Questions have been raised about whether I know of direct evidence that Mr. Trump or his campaign colluded with Russia. I do not. I want to be clear. But, I have my suspicions."

Michael Cohen says he is sorry for lying to Congress, and sorry for actively hiding the "truth" about Donald Trump from the American people.

Michael Cohen has provided the House Oversight Cmte. with a pair of $35,000 checks (one seen here) that he says he received in 2017 are reimbursements for the $130,000 hush money payment he made to porn star Stormy Daniels weeks before the 2016 election.

Donald Trump Jr. on Michael Cohen's ongoing testimony: "Cohen just wants to be famous. He always wanted his own TV show and the limelight and when he couldn’t get it one way he had to try another."

Cohen says he has spoken to the special counsel's office 7 times.

Asked in the hearing what he would call himself as he calls President Trump a "cheat," Michael Cohen responds: "A fool."

"Shame on you, Mr. Jordan," Michael Cohen says as he disputes Rep. Jordan's characterization of his testimony.

Michael Cohen tells Congress:

"I am in constant contact with the Southern District in New York regarding ongoing investigations."

WATCH: Michael Cohen: President Trump was not joking when he said, "I could stand in the middle of Fifth Ave. and shoot somebody, okay, and I wouldn't lose any voters, okay?" nbcnews.to/2SrPp00

Michael Cohen says the last time he spoke with Trump, or someone on his behalf, was two months after the raid of his home, but says he can't elaborate:

"Unfortunately, this topic is actually something that's being investigated right now by the Southern District of New York."

"I've never been to Prague. I've never been to the Czech Republic," Michael Cohen tells Congress, a reference to a report that a phone traced to Cohen briefly sent signals ricocheting off cell towers in the Prague area in late summer 2016.

Rep. Carol Miller: Cohen hearing is a waste of time, with the "sole purpose of discrediting the president."

Rep. Speier: How many times did Mr. Trump ask you to threaten an individual or entity on his behalf?

Cohen: Quite a few times.

Speier: 50x?

Cohen: More.

Speier: 100x?

Cohen: More.

Speier: 200x?

Cohen: More.

Speier: 500x?

Cohen: Probably, over the 10 years.

Rep. Lawrence responds to Rep. Meadows bringing Lynne Patton, a black HUD official and longtime Trump aide, to refute Michael Cohen's claim that President Trump is a "racist":

"To prop up one member of our entire race of black people ... is totally insulting."

Cohen hearing is in recess while members participate in votes; will resume following the votes.