MSNBC legal analyst explains why Michael Cohen's sudden silence is terrible news for Trump

A group of MSNBC panelists detailed what the "radio silence" from the president's former "fixer" Michael Cohen could mean — and why it spells trouble for Donald Trump.

Responding to a Thursday Wall Street Journal report that suggests the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape may have been the impetus for Cohen to begin trying to bury his client's past, host Nicolle Wallace noted in Trumpworld, "it's all in the timing."

The attorney's decision to "buy" the silence of former Trump mistress Stormy Daniels after the "Access Hollywood" tape hurt his candidacy adds fuel to the theory that it was a campaign violation, the host noted — and an ex-federal prosecutor agreed.

"Cohen has gone from this volatile public presence to radio silence," Ex-U.S. Attorney Joyce Vance said, "and that is a sign loud and clear that he is cooperating or approaching cooperation with prosecutors in the Southern District of New York."

Bloomberg's Tim O'Brien agreed with the ex-prosecutor.

"Of coure he's cooperating because he has no cards left to play," O'Brien said. "It looks like there's overwhelming evidence on him suggesting bank fraud and tax fraud."

Cohen's decision to leak tapes of the president discussing another "hush money" agreement with former Playmate Karen McDougal was likely a signal, O'Brien said.

"I think they were sending signals to Trump that he should pay attention to him," the editor said. "And now he's gone silent and I do think he's cooperating."

Watch below, via MSNBC: