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. Cohen pleaded guilty in August 2018 and was sentenced in December 2018, with a federal judge calling 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 subsequently became a key witness in Trump's 2024 criminal trial on charges related to the hush money scheme.

Summary

Michael Cohen's transformation from loyal Trump fixer to convicted felon to star prosecution witness represents one of the most dramatic personal reversals in modern American political history. For over a decade, Cohen served as Trump's attorney, dealmaker, and troubleshooter, handling sensitive matters that required discretion and a willingness to operate in ethical gray areas. He was known for his aggressive loyalty, once famously declaring that he would "take a bullet" for his boss. When federal investigators began examining his conduct, Cohen initially maintained his allegiance to 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 obtain 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 category of crime reflected a different aspect of Cohen's work for Trump and his own personal financial dealings.

The campaign finance violations proved particularly significant because Cohen directly implicated Trump, stating in court that he made the illegal payments "in coordination with and at the direction of" a candidate for federal office—an obvious reference to Trump. This testimony would later form the foundation for criminal charges against Trump himself, making Cohen's case not just a personal downfall but a pivotal 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 became involved in the taxi medallion business, among other ventures.

Work for Donald Trump

Cohen began working for Donald Trump and the Trump Organization in 2006, eventually becoming Trump's personal attorney and executive vice president of the Trump Organization. In this role, Cohen handled a wide range of sensitive matters, earning a reputation as Trump's "fixer"—someone who would solve problems and protect Trump's interests through whatever means necessary.

Cohen's work included managing public relations crises, dealing with legal threats, and handling transactions that required discretion. He was known for his aggressive, sometimes intimidating style when dealing with people who posed problems for Trump. This loyal service would continue for over a decade before Cohen's relationship with Trump collapsed.

Indictment, Prosecution, and Sentencing

The Hush Money Payments

In 2016, as Trump was running for president, Cohen arranged payments to two women who claimed to have had affairs with Trump. Adult film actress Stormy Daniels received $130,000 in exchange for her silence, while former Playboy model Karen McDougal received $150,000 through a "catch and kill" arrangement with American Media Inc., the publisher of the National Enquirer. 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. The fact that Cohen was reimbursed by Trump created a direct link between the candidate and the illegal conduct.

Tax and Bank Fraud

Separately from the campaign finance violations, federal investigators discovered that Cohen had evaded taxes on more than $4 million in income over several years. The unreported income came from various sources including his taxi medallion business and consulting work. Cohen also made false statements to financial institutions to obtain loans.

Lying to Congress

Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about the Trump Organization's efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow during the 2016 campaign. Cohen had told congressional committees that negotiations over the Moscow project ended in January 2016, when in fact they continued at least until June 2016. This lie was designed to minimize the appearance of Trump's business interests in Russia during his campaign.

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. In his plea allocution, Cohen stated that he made the campaign finance violations "in coordination with and at the direction of" a candidate for federal office.

In November 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to an additional count of lying to Congress, stemming 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 characterized Cohen's crimes as 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. He was disbarred from practicing law in New York in February 2019.

Prison Experience

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

Cohen's home confinement was briefly interrupted in July 2020 when he was returned to prison after a dispute over the conditions of his release. Cohen alleged that his return to prison was retaliation for his plan to publish a book critical of Trump. A federal judge agreed that there was evidence of retaliation and ordered Cohen's release back to home confinement. Cohen completed his sentence in November 2021.

Witness Against Trump

Following his conviction, Cohen became an outspoken critic of Trump and cooperated with multiple investigations into his former boss. He testified before Congress and spoke extensively to media outlets about his experiences working for Trump.

In May 2024, Cohen served as a key prosecution witness in Trump's criminal trial on charges of falsifying business records related to the hush money payment to Stormy Daniels. Cohen provided detailed testimony about Trump's alleged knowledge and direction of the hush money scheme, though defense attorneys vigorously attacked his credibility given his criminal record and his public statements against Trump.

Public Statements and Positions

Cohen's public statements about Trump have evolved dramatically. Before his conviction, he was one of Trump's most vocal defenders. After pleading guilty and especially after his sentencing, Cohen became one of Trump's harshest critics, describing him as a con man and criminal.

Cohen published a book, "Disloyal," in 2020 detailing his time with Trump and characterizing his former boss in unflattering terms. He has 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.