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As it happenedended

Michael Cohen sentencing: Trump's former lawyer attacks president's 'dirty deeds' as judge hands him three years in prison

Cohen given jail term over tax fraud and hush money payments to two women who have alleged affairs with president

Chris Stevenson
US District Court, Manhattan
,Joe Sommerlad,Kristin Hugo
Wednesday 12 December 2018 18:11 EST
Comments
Donald Trump denies involvement in Moscow project claiming Michael Cohen 'lying'

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Michael Cohen has warned that he has more to say about what he called the “dirty deeds” of Donald Trump as the president's former lawyer and fixer was sentenced to three years in prison for facilitating payments to two women who allege affairs with Mr Trump.

Cohen was sentenced to 36 months for tax fraud and his role in the payment of hush money to adult actress Stormy Daniels and former playboy model Karen McDougal who said they had affairs with Mr Trump before the 2016 presidential election. The judge in a district court in New York also handed Cohen an extra two months for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower project in Russia. Cohen had pleaded guilty to the charges.

The payments have implicated Mr Trump directly in criminal conduct according to a court filing from prosecutors last week, which said that Cohen was working in co-ordination with the president.

Cohen's adviser Lanny Davis, who was his attorney for the case, said after the sentencing that Cohen will disclose more information concerning Mr Trump, once Robert Mueller wraps up his probe into Russian interference in the 2016 US presidential election and possible collusion with Trump campaign officials.

“At the appropriate time, after Mr Mueller completes his investigation and issues his final report, I look forward to assisting Michael to state publicly all he knows about Mr Trump – and that includes any appropriate congressional committee interested in the search for truth and the difference between facts and lies,” Mr Davis said in a statement.

“Mr Trump's repeated lies cannot contradict stubborn facts,” Mr Davis added.

Cohen is due to surrender and begin his sentence on 6 March, 2019. He must also forfeit $500,000, restitute $1.4m, and pay a $50,000 fine.

US District Judge William H Pauley III said Cohen deserved a harsh punishment for crimes including tax evasion, lying to Congress and arranging illicit payments to silence women who posed a risk to Trump's presidential campaign. Those payments have directly implicated the president in criminal.

“While Mr. Cohen pledges to help in further investigations that is not something the court can consider now,” the judge added.

The sentencing capped a stunning about-face for Cohen who had previously said he would “take a bullet” for the president.

In an emotional statement to court which included tears, Cohen described his disillusionment with Trump and that he had committed his crimes out of “blind loyalty” to the president.

“I have been living in a personal and mental incarceration ever since the day that I accepted the offer to work for a real estate mogul whose business acumen that I deeply admired,” Cohen said. “I know now, in fact, there is little to be admired.”

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“It was my own weakness and a blind loyalty to this man that led me to choose a path of darkness over light,” Cohen said. “I felt it was my duty to cover up his own dirty deeds,” referring to Mr Trump.

To follow events as they happened please read our live blog below.

Please allow a moment for our liveblog to load

Joe Sommerlad12 December 2018 13:45

A quick reminder of what happened yesterday:

Two former Trump aides pleaded their case to judges on Tuesday in the hope of easing the punishment they could face for their crimes. 

Lawyers for ex-Trump administration national security adviser Michael Flynn asked a judge to spare him prison time, saying he had devoted his career to his country and taken responsibility for an "uncharacteristic error in judgment". Mr Flynn has admitted lying to the FBI just days after Trump took office about conversations he had during the transition with the then-Russian ambassador to the United States. 

Meanwhile former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort said they were still deciding whether to dispute allegations that he lied to investigators and breached a plea agreement. Mr Manafort has been convicted in Washington and Virginia of crimes related to years of Ukrainian political consulting work. Although the charges don't directly touch President Trump, Manafort was a central figure during the campaign, which means he could pass along potentially damaging information. 

Joe Sommerlad12 December 2018 14:12

As we await Michael Cohen's courtroom appearance, here's Tom Embury-Dennis on the president's meeting with senior Democrats Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer yesterday.

Mr Trump was apparently so annoyed at their opposition to his appeal for the release of more federal funds to pay for his Mexico border wall that he tossed a folder of briefing papers to the floor at the close and stormed out.

Joe Sommerlad12 December 2018 14:30

Stormy Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti not holding back here with his thoughts on Michael Cohen.

Joe Sommerlad12 December 2018 14:40

The press pack are beginning to assemble outside the courtroom in Manhattan.

Joe Sommerlad12 December 2018 14:50

Michael Cohen is currently arriving at the Manhattan courthouse for sentencing.

Kristin Hugo12 December 2018 15:07

In review, the crimes to which Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty are: 

  1. Misleading congress about building a Trump skyscraper in Moscow, well into Donald Trump's presidential campaign. 

  2. Paying Playboy model Karen McDougal and adult film actress Stormy Daniels to keep quiet about alleged affairs with Donald Trump while he was married. Paying them off during a campaign violates campaign finance laws. 
Kristin Hugo12 December 2018 15:22

Passing cars on the road outside the court are stopping to ask the press what all the cameras are for.Kevin Stopton, an electrician, 37, from Long Island, said when told it was a stentencing hearing for Mr Cohen:“If he has done something wrong he should be punished - but as for the Russia probe I think everyone and president Trump should wait for a final report before making a judgement”

Kristin Hugo12 December 2018 15:28

This is the scene outside court - a heavy media presence and guards on each of the court entrances. 

Lucy Anna Gray12 December 2018 15:32

Former assistant U.S. attorney and NBC/MSNBC legal analyst argues that "I believe there is sufficient evidence to charge Donald Trump with" conspiracy to commit campaign finance fraud in connection with Cohen. He published his take on NBC.

Kristin Hugo12 December 2018 15:32

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