President Donald Trump’s longtime personal attorney Michael Cohen surrendered to the FBI today, and admitted to violating campaign finance laws in relation to payments made to porn performer Stormy Daniels on Donald Trump’s orders.
Michael Cohen, who once imagined himself as chief of staff or White House counsel, became a felon in the last hour, and implicated the president in the process.
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) August 21, 2018
In his guilty plea, Michael Cohen said the hush money payments to various women were made “at the direction” of Trump.
Michael Cohen in a courtroom in SDNY, under oath, declared that the President directed him to commit a federal crime.
— Preet Bharara (@PreetBharara) August 21, 2018
Cohen’s plea deal includes a possible prison sentence of up to 5 years and 3 months.
Cohen will be walking out today on $500,000 bond.
Sentencing set for December 12. It’s over.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
And no mention of a cooperation agreement so far.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
Cohen admits to working “at direction of the candidate” Trump and national enquirer to silence Karen McDougal. He also admits to Stormy Daniels payment that he made “with and at direction of the same candidate.”
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
“For the first time, a Trump aide has been found guilty of an offense directly related to the campaign,” points out TheFix’s Aaron Blake.
Michael Cohen agreed to a deal after prosecutors claimed he risked more than a dozen years in prison, one person told the Washington Post.
Deputy U.S. Attorney Robert Khuzami on Cohen charges: "These are very serious charges, and reflect a pattern of lies and dishonesty over an extended period of time."
"Mr. Cohen…decided that he was above the law, and for that he is going to pay a very, very serious price." pic.twitter.com/6ZNyAb4Wdi
— ABC News Politics (@ABCPolitics) August 21, 2018
A legal & political bombshell. The Michael Cohen plea agreement names a “candidate for federal office” who directed him to violate campaign finance law. There is no other reading: President Trump is an unindicted criminal co-conspirator.
— Richard Blumenthal (@SenBlumenthal) August 21, 2018
COHEN DETAILS. NEW.
Prosecutors say he failed to report over $4 million in income on taxes. (Over five years.)
And that he pleaded guilty to lying about bank loan applications, hiding $14 million in debt.
Also, pleaded guilty to two cmpgn finance violations re: 2016 elex.
— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) August 21, 2018
COHEN, prosecutors say:
– He submitted false invoices to Trump Org. for "personal services" when it was really for the hush money he paid to women.
– He performed no legal services (for Trump) in 2017, though was paid as if he did.— Lisa Desjardins (@LisaDNews) August 21, 2018
*COHEN SAYS HE VIOLATED CAMPAIGN LAW AT DIRECTION OF CANDIDATE
*COHEN DOESN'T NAME CANDIDATE WHO DIRECTED CAMPAIGN VIOLATIONhint: it's @realDonaldTrump
— Jennifer Epstein (@jeneps) August 21, 2018
Cohen shaking his head as he signs some papers. Taking deep breaths and winking at a few reporters.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
Plea agreement is regarding 8 counts.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
Cohen says he had a glass of Glenlivet 12 on the rocks last night. He’s sober now tho and says he knows what’s he’s doing.
— Stephen Brown (@PPVSRB) August 21, 2018
Per CNN’s @LauraAJarrett – the IRS and the tax division at the Justice Department both had to sign off on Michael Cohen's plea deal. The public integrity division at the Justice Department was consulted on the plea deal as well.
— Yashar Ali ? (@yashar) August 21, 2018
That is a lot of counts for a plea agreement. Usually federal prosecutors don’t require a defendant to plead to more counts than is necessary to cover the sentence they intend to recommend. https://t.co/gYcV0JyaFn
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 21, 2018
Cohen is in the courtroom. Looks surprisingly calm and confident.
— Benjamin Adams (@BenAdamsO_O) August 21, 2018
UPDATE: Cohen in court was asked “how are you?” to which he responded with a loud sigh as he reviewed and signed paperwork https://t.co/U8zlPnGMR3
— The Daily Beast (@thedailybeast) August 21, 2018
Wow. Michael Cohen just stated, under oath, that he committed a crime at the direction of Donald Trump. https://t.co/Cb9R8ijJdX
— Renato Mariotti (@renato_mariotti) August 21, 2018
On Stormy Daniels, Michael pleaded guilty to making an excessive campaign contribution of $130k in coordination with and at the direction of a federal candidate in October 2016; “Money that was later paid back by the same candidate.”
— Ali Velshi (@AliVelshi) August 21, 2018
Prosecutor: Michael Cohen submitted fake invoices for non-existent legal services to the Trump Organization for reimbursement of hush money payments
— Lachlan Markay (@lachlan) August 21, 2018
In retrospect maybe we shouldn't have made the presidency immune to prosecutionhttps://t.co/frO8AbSFfh
— Ken Klippenstein (@kenklippenstein) August 21, 2018