Michael Cohen: A Closer Look
Michael Cohen is a former lawyer who once worked for US President Donald Trump. He gained notoriety after the revelation of his alleged involvement in the payment of hush money to Stormy Daniels, a pornographic actress who claimed to have had an affair with Trump.
Early Career and Relationship with Trump
Cohen was born in Long Island, New York, in 1966. He graduated from the American University with a degree in political science and continued his studies at the Thomas M. Cooley Law School, where he earned his law degree in 1991.
Cohen first met Trump in the early 2000s when he became one of his personal lawyers. He became known for his fierce loyalty to the real estate magnate and businessman, and his willingness to defend his interests at all costs.
The Hush Money Scandal
In 2018, Cohen’s reputation was tarnished when it was revealed that he had paid $130,000 to Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair she had with Trump. Cohen initially denied any knowledge of the payment, but later admitted that he had facilitated it using his own funds.
The payment was made just days prior to the 2016 US presidential election, with accusations that it was made to avoid negative publicity that could impact Trump’s chances of winning.
Cohen’s Legal Troubles
In August 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign finance violations related to the payment to Stormy Daniels. He also admitted to additional charges related to financial crimes and lying to Congress.
As part of his plea deal, Cohen fully cooperated with special counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2018, but was later released to serve the remainder of his sentence under house arrest due to concerns regarding the COVID-19 pandemic.
Conclusion
Michael Cohen’s involvement in the hush money scandal was a turning point in his career as a lawyer. It shed light on the inner workings of Trump’s legal team and brought Cohen under the national spotlight. While he may have faced legal troubles, his cooperation with the Mueller investigation proved to be a crucial factor in revealing crucial information about the president’s alleged involvement in Russian interference.
