28 votes

Michael Cohen sentenced to three years in prison

2 comments

  1. nacho
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    I hope this does not drown in all the talk of him simply as "Trump's lawyer" The whole republican party owns this.

    From 2017 to 2018, Cohen was deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.

    I hope this does not drown in all the talk of him simply as "Trump's lawyer"

    The whole republican party owns this.

    10 votes
  2. [2]
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    1. Pilgrim
      Link Parent
      The sentence was from the SDNY office's investigation and not the Mueller investigation (although they did provide their .02 as to sentencing). Cohen did not cooperate fully in the SDNY...

      The sentence was from the SDNY office's investigation and not the Mueller investigation (although they did provide their .02 as to sentencing). Cohen did not cooperate fully in the SDNY investigation and that's partly why he got jail time (and also because his crimes were serious).

      Source: https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2018/12/07/michael-cohen-sentencing-memo-key-takeaways/2243428002/

      My favorite quote from the indictment is the state's rebuttal on why Cohen doesn't deserve leniency or "time served":

      While he answered questions about the charged conduct, he refused to discuss other uncharged criminal conduct, if any, in which he may have participated. This precludes him from being given credit for “substantial assistance” and obtaining a 5K1.1 letter. The Court should not sentence Cohen as if he has one. That is, the credit given to Cohen should not approximate the credit that a witness with a cooperation agreement and a 5K1.1 letter would merit.
      Finally, Cohen’s further assertion that he is deserving of leniency because he “could have fought the government and continued to hold the party line, positioning himself for a pardon or clemency” reflects a continuation of his mindset that, at his own option, he is above the laws reflected in his crimes of conviction. (Def. Mem. at 5). Every defendant in every criminal case has the right to fight the charges against him. But where, as here, the evidence of their guilt is overwhelming, defendants often make the choice to plead guilty.
      After cheating the IRS for years, lying to banks and to Congress, and seeking to criminally influence the Presidential election, Cohen’s decision to plead guilty — rather than seek a pardon for his manifold crimes — does not make him a hero

      Source: https://www.latimes.com/nation/politics/la-na-pol-michael-cohen-sentencing-memo-20181207-htmlstory.html

      12 votes