Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight counts. Two of these counts relate to the financing of election campaigns, in relation to money paid to two women claiming to have had an affair with the American president, in exchange for their silence.
The 51-year-old lawyer did not say the names of the two women, but the amounts – $130,000 and $150,000 – correspond to those paid to porn actress and director Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had liaison with Donald Trump in 2006, and Karen McDougal, an ex-playmate who also claims to have had an affair with the billionaire in 2006-2007.
Mr Cohen claimed to have acted “at the request of the candidate” and “with the intention of influencing the 2016 presidential election.”
He also pleaded guilty to one count of bank fraud and five counts of tax evasion, according to reports.
According to his agreement with federal prosecutors, he could be sentenced to four or five years in prison on 12 December.
He entered the Manhattan court shortly after 4 pm, wearing a jacket, a white shirt and a gold tie. He was followed by his lawyer, Guy Petrillo.
Mr. Cohen agreed to plead guilty to “his family moving on,” said Mr. Petrillo. If the payments made to influence an election are a crime for his client, “why should not they be for Donald Trump? He asked.
Such guilty agreements, with or without collaboration with investigators, are common in the United States when prosecutors have sufficient evidence to hope for a conviction in the event of a trial.
This deal is a blow to President Donald Trump. Mr. Cohen has rendered ten years of loyal service to the former New York real estate mogul. He was so loyal that he once said he would be ready to “take a ball for the president.”
It comes the same day that Paul Manafort, the former US President’s campaign chairman, was convicted of eight counts in his financial fraud case.
Kevin has been contributing to multiple news websites since 2015. He started his blog back in 2016 tackling technology and business tips. His passion towards journalism and sharing relevant information with global readers pushed his to take journalism major at Boston University. He is now a full-time contributor to Kev’s Best.