Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and ‘fixer’, should serve a
Ben Riley-Smith
December 8 2018 2:30 AM
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer and ‘fixer’, should serve a “substantial” prison sentence despite cooperating with special counsel Robert Mueller, prosecutors said.
Prosecutors in New York asked a judge to sentence Cohen to a “substantial term of imprisonment” for paying an adult film star hush money on Mr Trump’s behalf, and for evading taxes.
Cohen pleaded guilty to the charges in August.
He has been cooperating with Mr Mueller’s probe into possible collusion between Russia and Mr Trump’s 2016 election campaign.
Cohen also pleaded guilty last week to a separate charge brought by Mr Mueller’s office that he lied to Congress about discussions over the construction of a proposed Trump Organisation skyscraper in Moscow.
In a separate recommendation yesterday, Mr Mueller said Cohen should serve no extra jail time for that offence.
Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced next Wednesday.
Meanwhile, Mr Trump announced he will nominate William Barr as attorney general after he fired Jeff Sessions last month.
The role includes overseeing the investigation into Russian election meddling that continues to blight his presidency.
Mr Barr (68) held the position for two years under George W Bush, the former US president, and has voiced views on the Russia probe and other key areas which chime with Mr Trump’s stances.
