Michael Cohen was convicted for crimes including campaign finance violations, tax evasion, and lying to Congress, with implications for hush money payments made during Trump’s 2016 campaign.
Michael Cohen is an American attorney who gained prominence for his association with Donald Trump, serving as his personal lawyer and fixer for many years. Born on August 25, 1966, in Lawrence, New York, Cohen had a complex relationship with Trump that eventually led to legal issues.
Early Career:
- Cohen earned his law degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School and began his legal career, initially working for various law firms.
- He later entered the taxi medallion business and real estate.
Association with Donald Trump:
- Cohen first became associated with Donald Trump in the early 2000s, acting as his personal attorney and adviser.
- Over the years, Cohen became known for his loyalty to Trump and his willingness to take on various tasks, including dealing with legal matters and public relations issues.
Role as Trump’s Fixer:
- Cohen was often described as Trump’s “fixer,” tasked with handling sensitive and potentially damaging issues.
- He facilitated payments to individuals, including adult film actress Stormy Daniels, to prevent them from publicly discussing alleged affairs with Trump.
Legal Troubles:
- In 2018, Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations.
- The campaign finance violations were related to hush money payments made to women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump, with Cohen implicating Trump in the process.
Cooperation with Investigations:
- Cohen cooperated with federal investigations, including those led by Special Counsel Robert Mueller and the Southern District of New York.
- He provided testimony to Congress about his work for Trump and the payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Imprisonment:
- In December 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison for his role in the campaign finance violations and other financial crimes.
- He began serving his sentence in May 2019 and was released to home confinement in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Post-Prison Period:
- After his release, Cohen continued to speak publicly about his experiences with Trump, authoring a book titled “Disloyal: A Memoir.”