Cohen, who is to be sentenced on Dec. 12, could have fought the government, «positioning himself perhaps for a pardon or clemency,» his lawyers said, noting he instead took responsibility for his wrongdoing
NEW YORK — Michael D. Cohen, President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer who has twice pleaded guilty to crimes that have implicated Trump in illegal or questionable conduct, asked a federal judge late Friday that he be allowed to avoid prison when he is sentenced in less than two weeks.
In a deeply personal memorandum that expressed Cohen’s contrition and shame and portrayed him as a man whose personal and professional lives had been shattered, his lawyers cited his cooperation with the investigation by the special counsel, Robert Mueller, whose legitimacy is regularly denounced by the president.
“In the context of this raw, full-bore attack by the most powerful person in the United States,” the lawyers wrote, “Michael, formerly a confidant and adviser to Mr. Trump, resolved to cooperate, and voluntarily took the first steps toward doing so even before he was charged.”
Arguing that Cohen could have fought the government, “positioning himself perhaps for a pardon or clemency,” the lawyers said he instead took personal responsibility for his wrongdoing “and is prepared to continue to contribute to an investigation that he views as thoroughly legitimate and vital.”
The lawyers, Guy Petrillo and Amy Lester, submitted their memo one day after Cohen entered a surprise guilty plea in federal court in Manhattan to a charge of lying to Congress in a case filed by Mueller, investigating Russian interference in the 2016 election and potential ties to Trump’s campaign. In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations and financial crimes in a case brought by the U. S. attorney in Manhattan. In that plea, Cohen implicated Trump in hush-money payments to two women during the 2016 campaign to conceal affairs they said they had with Trump.
