Michael Cohen

Michael Dean Cohen
Born:	August 25, 1966 Lawrence, New York
Charges:	Tax evasion, Bank fraud, Campaign finance violations, Lying to Congress
Sentence:	3 years
Facility:	FCI Otisville
Status:	Released

Michael Dean Cohen (born August 25, 1966) is an American attorney and convicted felon who served as personal attorney and "fixer" for Donald Trump from 2006 to 2018 before being sentenced to three years in federal prison for tax evasion, bank fraud, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress. Cohen, who once said he would "take a bullet" for Trump, became a central figure in multiple legal controversies involving the former president, including the hush money payments to adult film actress Stormy Daniels that Cohen orchestrated at Trump's direction during the 2016 presidential campaign. He pleaded guilty in August 2018 and faced sentencing in December 2018, when a federal judge called his crimes a "veritable smorgasbord" of illegal conduct. Cohen served over a year in federal prison before being released to home confinement during the COVID-19 pandemic, completing his sentence in November 2021. He'd later become a key witness in Trump's 2024 criminal trial on charges related to the hush money scheme.

Summary

Few stories in modern American political history match Cohen's dramatic personal reversal. From loyal Trump fixer to convicted felon to star prosecution witness—it's a transformation that says something about loyalty, power, and accountability. For over a decade, Cohen worked as Trump's attorney, dealmaker, and troubleshooter, handling sensitive matters that required discretion and a willingness to work in gray areas. He was known for aggressive loyalty. That famous declaration about taking a bullet for his boss? He meant it. When federal investigators began examining his conduct, Cohen initially stuck with Trump before ultimately deciding to cooperate with prosecutors and publicly turn against his former client.

Cohen's crimes spanned multiple areas. He evaded taxes on more than $4 million in income, made false statements to banks to get loans, violated campaign finance laws by arranging hush money payments to women who claimed affairs with Trump, and lied to Congress about the Trump Organization's efforts to build a tower in Moscow. Each crime reflected a different part of his work for Trump and his own financial dealings.

The campaign finance violations mattered most. Cohen directly implicated Trump, telling the court he'd made the illegal payments "in coordination with and at the direction of" a candidate for federal office. No ambiguity there. This testimony would later form the foundation for criminal charges against Trump himself, making Cohen's case far more than a personal downfall—it became a key moment in the legal accountability of a former president.

Background

Early Life and Career

Michael Dean Cohen was born on August 25, 1966, in Lawrence, New York, on Long Island. He attended American University and earned his law degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Michigan. Cohen practiced personal injury law and got involved in the taxi medallion business, among other ventures.

Work for Donald Trump

Cohen started working for Donald Trump and the Trump Organization in 2006, eventually becoming Trump's personal attorney and executive vice president of the Trump Organization. His job: handle a wide range of sensitive matters. He earned a reputation as Trump's "fixer"—the guy who'd solve problems and protect Trump's interests however necessary.

Managing public relations crises. Dealing with legal threats. Running transactions that needed discretion. Cohen was known for an aggressive, sometimes intimidating style when dealing with people who caused problems for Trump. This went on for over a decade before their relationship fell apart.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

The Hush Money Payments

During Trump's 2016 presidential run, Cohen arranged payments to two women who claimed affairs with Trump. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels got $130,000 for her silence, while former Playboy model Karen McDougal received $150,000 through a "catch and kill" arrangement with American Media Inc., the National Enquirer's publisher. Cohen paid Daniels from his own pocket initially, then got reimbursed by Trump through payments disguised as legal fees.

Federal campaign finance laws prohibited these payments. They were made to influence the 2016 election but weren't disclosed as campaign expenditures. The fact that Trump reimbursed Cohen created a direct connection between the candidate and the illegal conduct.

Tax and Bank Fraud

Federal investigators also discovered Cohen'd evaded taxes on more than $4 million in income over several years. This unreported income came from his taxi medallion business, consulting work, and other sources. Cohen also made false statements to financial institutions to obtain loans.

Lying to Congress

Another guilty plea involved lying to Congress about the Trump Organization's efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 campaign. Cohen'd told congressional committees that negotiations over the Moscow project ended in January 2016. They didn't. They continued at least until June 2016. The lie was designed to minimize the appearance of Trump's business interests in Russia while he was campaigning.

Guilty Plea

On August 21, 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan to eight felony counts: five counts of tax evasion, one count of making false statements to a financial institution, one count of willfully causing an unlawful corporate contribution, and one count of making an excessive campaign contribution. During his plea allocution, Cohen stated he'd made the campaign finance violations "in coordination with and at the direction of" a candidate for federal office.

Then in November 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to an additional count of lying to Congress. This came from Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.

Sentencing

On December 12, 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison. The judge called his crimes a "veritable smorgasbord" of illegal conduct. Cohen was also ordered to pay approximately $1.4 million in restitution, forfeit $500,000, and pay a $50,000 fine. New York disbarred him from practicing law in February 2019.

Prison Experience

Cohen reported to Federal Correctional Institution Otisville, a minimum-security prison camp in New York, in May 2019. He served over a year of his sentence before being released to home confinement in May 2020 when the Bureau of Prisons expanded home release in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

But home confinement didn't last. In July 2020, Cohen was returned to prison after a dispute over release conditions. He claimed it was retaliation for his plan to publish a book critical of Trump. A federal judge agreed there was evidence of retaliation and ordered his release back to home confinement. Cohen finished his sentence in November 2021.

Witness Against Trump

After his conviction, Cohen became vocal in criticizing Trump and cooperated with multiple investigations into his former boss. He testified before Congress and gave extensive interviews to media outlets about his work for Trump.

In May 2024, Cohen took the stand as a key prosecution witness in Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records related to the Stormy Daniels payment. He provided detailed testimony about Trump's alleged knowledge and direction of the hush money scheme. Defense attorneys, though, attacked his credibility hard. His criminal record and public statements against Trump made him an easy target.

Public Statements and Positions

Cohen's statements about Trump have done a complete about-face. Before his conviction, he defended Trump publicly and vigorously. After pleading guilty and especially after sentencing, Cohen became one of Trump's harshest critics, describing him as a con man and criminal.

"Disloyal," his 2020 book, detailed his time with Trump and painted his former boss in unflattering terms. Cohen's maintained an active media presence, frequently commenting on legal matters involving Trump.

Terminology

• Campaign Finance Violation: Breaking laws that regulate contributions to and spending by political campaigns.

• Tax Evasion: The illegal practice of not paying taxes owed through concealment or fraud.

• Fixer: An informal term for someone who handles sensitive or potentially embarrassing problems for a client.

• Hush Money: Payments made to secure someone's silence about potentially damaging information.

See also

• Paul Manafort
• Steve Bannon
• Prison Consultants

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Why did Michael Cohen go to prison?

Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison for tax evasion, bank fraud, campaign finance violations, and lying to Congress. The campaign finance violations involved arranging hush money payments to women who claimed affairs with Donald Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign. Cohen stated in court that he made the illegal payments "in coordination with and at the direction of" Trump. He also evaded taxes on more than $4 million in income and lied to Congress about Trump Organization efforts to build a tower in Moscow.

Q: How long was Michael Cohen in prison?

Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison in December 2018. He reported to FCI Otisville in May 2019 and served over a year before being released to home confinement in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. He completed his sentence in November 2021.

Q: What were the hush money payments Michael Cohen made?

Cohen arranged payments to two women who claimed affairs with Trump. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels received $130,000, while former Playboy model Karen McDougal received $150,000 through a "catch and kill" arrangement with American Media Inc. Cohen initially paid Daniels from his own funds and was reimbursed by Trump through payments disguised as legal fees. These payments violated federal campaign finance laws because they were made to influence the 2016 election but were not disclosed as campaign expenditures.

Q: Did Michael Cohen testify against Trump?

Yes, Cohen became an outspoken critic of Trump after his conviction and cooperated with multiple investigations. In May 2024, he served as a key prosecution witness in Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records related to the Stormy Daniels hush money payment. Cohen provided detailed testimony about Trump's alleged knowledge and direction of the scheme, though defense attorneys vigorously attacked his credibility.

Q: What prison was Michael Cohen in?

Cohen served his sentence at Federal Correctional Institution Otisville, a facility in New York that houses a minimum-security prison camp. His home confinement was briefly interrupted in July 2020 when he was returned to prison after a dispute over release conditions. Cohen alleged this was retaliation for his plan to publish a book critical of Trump. A federal judge agreed there was evidence of retaliation and ordered his release back to home confinement.