Michael Cohen, former Trump's lawyer, sentenced to 3 years in prison

Michael Cohen jailed for his misdeeds while working for Donald Trump's "fixer" for ten years.

Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and bank fraud, was sentenced to 36 months in a federal prison by Judge William Pauley on December 12, 2018.

Cohen, a one-time member of Trump's coterie, lashed out openly at the man he had once so admired. The lawyer had claimed he would take a bullet for Trump ,and he has; a bullet that is still ricochetting and may yet bring down other members of the Trump administration.

"My weakness was a blind loyalty to Donald Trump."

Michael Cohen, BBC, December 12, 2018.

A TEN YEAR CAREER AS DONALD TRUMP'S "FIXER" ENDS IN FEDERAL PRISON

Cohen, 52, who was once part of the inner circle of the President of the most powerful nation on earth, is now facing an uncertain future as a convicted felon, and has seen the man he blames for his disgrace label him as "not very smart."

The lawyer, who joined the Trump organization in 2006, and was involved in all sorts of shenanigans - including paying off porn-star Stormi Daniels - told Judge Pauley that his former boss had led him to "follow a path of darkness rather than light".

Cohen's other convictions for tax evasion and bank fraud charges concerned his private finances and are unrelated to the president.

COHEN'S SENTENCE AGGRAVATED FOR LYING TO CONGRESS

Robert Mueller, who was appointed to serve as special counsel for the United States Department of Justice investigation into a connection between the Russian government and Trump's campaign questioned Cohen. The lawyer was uncooperative and evasive and later made statements to Congress that were proved to be false.

THREE YEARS IN PRISON AND A HEFTY FINE

Michael Cohen must bitterly regret his stubborn refusal to testify, which has cost him not just three years of his life, but a $ 2 million fine.

The three years were attributed for campaign finance violations, tax evasion, bank fraud and for making hush money payments to women who allegedly had affairs with Donald Trump. Cohen's other convictions for tax evasion and bank fraud charges concerned his private finances and are unrelated to the president.

A two-month sentence for lying to Congress will run concurrently with the first.

MICHAEL COHEN IS GUILTY OF CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS AND TAX FRAUD

Michael Cohen may have pleaded guilty to eight counts of campaign finance violations, tax fraud, and bank fraud, but he placed the blame squarely at Donald Trump's door:

"In coordination with and at the direction of a candidate for federal office for the principal purpose of influencing the election for president in 2016."

Cohen also admitted to making false and misleading statements to Congress about the investigation into Russian interference into the 2016 Presidential elections. Cohen had been questioned by special counsel in charge of the investigation, Robert Mueller, and had presented him with an affidavit that was little more than a tissue of lies:

"In truth and in fact, and as Cohen well knew, Cohen's representations about the Moscow Project he made to (House and Senate intelligence committees) were false and misleading."

Robert Mueller

President Donald Trump was confronted with Cohen's admission of malfeasance which implicated him and responded by characterizing his former lawyer as "weak" and "not a very smart person."

President Trump accused Michael Cohen and of making deals with Robert Mueller in order "to get a reduced sentence for things that have nothing to do with me."