President Donald Trump reacted to the news on Friday evening that the federal prosecutors have recommended a \u201csubstantial\u201d prison sentence for his former lawyer, Michael\u2026<\/b>
\nPresident Donald Trump reacted to the news on Friday evening that the federal prosecutors have recommended a \u201csubstantial\u201d prison sentence for his former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Trump tweeted, \u201cTotally clears the president. Thank you!\u201d
Totally clears the President. Thank you!
\u2014 Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 7,2018
The president opted not to elaborate on how he thinks the documents exonerate him.
The Manhattan prosecutors came down with their recommendation for Cohen, 52, who pleaded guilty in August to tax evasion, bank fraud and illegal campaign contributions on Friday. (RELATED: Prosecutors Recommend \u2018Substantial\u2019 Prison Sentence For Michael Cohen)
Cohen\u2019s attorneys were seeking a sentence of time served for his cooperation with the New York investigators, as well as with the special counsel. But the prosecution said that his \u201cpattern of deception\u201d professionally warrants additional time spent in jail.
NEW YORK, NY \u2013 AUGUST 21: Michael Cohen, former lawyer to U. S. President Donald Trump, exits the Federal Courthouse on August 21,2018 in New York City. (Photo by Yana Paskova\/Getty Images)
The government did, however, leave wiggle room for a \u201cmodest downward variance\u201d in their filing from the suggested 51-to-63-month sentence.
Robert Mueller, in a different court filing, opted to recommend no additional jail time for the former Trump lawyer citing his cooperation with the Mueller probe.
Mueller\u2019s file read in part:
In recent months, however, the defendant has taken significant steps to mitigate his criminal conduct. He chose to accept responsibility for his false statements and admit to his conduct in open court. He also has gone to significant lengths to assist the Special Counsel\u2019s investigation. He has met with the SCO on seven occasions, voluntarily provided the SCO with information about his own conduct and that of others on core topics under investigation by the SCO, and committed to continuing to assist the SCO\u2019s investigation. The information he has provided has been credible and consistent with other evidence obtained in the SCO\u2019s ongoing investigation.
In response to the news, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told the pool reporters, \u201cThe government\u2019s filings in Mr. Cohen\u2019s case tell us nothing of value that wasn\u2019t already known. Mr. Cohen has repeatedly lied and as the prosecution has pointed out to the court, Mr. Cohen is no hero.\u201d
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