Ex-lawyer Cohen reports to prison, blasts Trump for 'injustice and lies'

[May 07, 2019]  By Brendan Pierson

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, took a parting shot at his former boss - denouncing "xenophobia, injustice and lies" - before reporting to a U.S. federal prison on Monday to begin a three-year sentence.

Cohen, who once vowed to "take a bullet" for Trump but now calls him a "con man," checked into the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, New York, about 70 miles (110 km) northwest of New York City, to serve his sentence for arranging hush payments to two women who said they had sexual encounters with Trump, financial crimes and lying to Congress.

Cohen, 52, hinted he had more secrets to divulge as he made brief remarks to a crush of camera crews and reporters gathered on the sidewalk outside his Manhattan residence - the Trump Park Avenue apartment building - before being driven to the prison.

"I hope that when I rejoin my family and friends that the country will be in a place without xenophobia, injustice and lies at the helm of our country," Cohen said, without uttering Trump's name. "There still remains much to be told, and I look forward to the day that I can share the truth."

Cohen was driven to the prison in a black SUV, arriving shortly after 11:30 a.m. (1530 GMT), some 2-1/2 hours before his deadline to report. Aerial TV news video showed Cohen stepping out of the SUV, then removing his jacket and leaving it inside the vehicle before walking with two men, apparently prison officials, into a building entrance.

The U.S. Bureau of Prisons, which runs the facility, confirmed by email Cohen was in its custody. Cohen is expected to stay at the prison's minimum security camp.

Cohen's prison term completes a stunning fall for the native of New York's Long Island whose career was tethered to Trump as he evolved from wealthy real estate developer to reality TV personality to politician. For more than a decade, Cohen served as Trump's personal lawyer and self-described "fixer."

Trump has blasted Cohen, calling him a "rat" as well as a "bad lawyer and fraudster."

Cohen, who has been disbarred as an attorney, was dressed in jeans, sneakers, a white shirt and a navy blue blazer as he exited his apartment building, with a doorman holding the door.

Several dozen bystanders stopped to take pictures, and one shook his hand. After Cohen made his remarks, the scene became chaotic, with equipment and people falling to the ground. Cohen helped one journalist to get back on his feet. Cohen then climbed into the SUV.

FBI agents in April 2018 raided Cohen's Rockefeller Center office and Park Avenue hotel room as part of an investigation that grew out of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election. That set in motion events that caused Cohen's dramatic split with Trump.

Michael Cohen, U.S. President Donald Trump's former lawyer, leaves his apartment to report to prison in Manhattan, New York, U.S., May 6, 2019. REUTERS/Jeenah Moon

'TELL THE TRUTH'

Lanny Davis, spokesman for Cohen, issued a statement saying Cohen "will continue to be accessible to Congress and to federal, state and local law enforcement."

"I will continue questioning why Michael is the only person within the Trump Organization to be prosecuted for crimes committed at the direction of and for the benefit of Mr. Trump," Davis added.

Davis praised Cohen's "courageous decision ... to tell the truth about why Donald Trump represented a danger to our Constitution, our freedoms, and our nation's fundamental values."

Cohen had originally been due to report to prison on March 6, but was granted an extension to recover from shoulder surgery and testify before Congress.

Cohen broke with Trump in July 2018, telling ABC News he intended to put family and loyalty to his country ahead of the president. Cohen and his wife, Laura Shusterman, 49, have two adult children, Samantha and Jake.

In February congressional testimony, Cohen said, "I am ashamed that I chose to take part in concealing Mr. Trump's illicit acts rather than listening to my own conscience. I am ashamed because I know what Mr. Trump is. He is a racist. He is a con man. He is a cheat."

During his December sentencing in New York, Cohen said, "My weakness can be characterized as a blind loyalty to Donald Trump, and I was weak for not having the strength to question and to refuse his demands."
 

Cohen pleaded guilty to violating campaign finance law, bank fraud and tax evasion. Prosecutors said Trump himself directed illegal hush payments orchestrated by Cohen of $130,000 to adult film star Stormy Daniels and $150,000 to Playboy model Karen McDougal to avert a scandal shortly before the 2016 election.

Trump has denied sexual relationships with them and said he never directed Cohen to do anything illegal.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about a proposed Trump tower project in Russia that was being negotiated at the same time he was running for president.

His prison time could be reduced by about 15 percent for good behavior.

(Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Noeleen Walder and Will Dunham)

[© 2019 Thomson Reuters. All rights reserved.]

Copyright 2019 Reuters. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.  Thompson Reuters is solely responsible for this content.