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Michael Cohen released from federal prison over coronavirus concerns Michael Cohen released from federal prison over coronavirus concerns
(32 minutes later)
Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former personal attorney, was released from federal prison to home confinement Thursday as part of the Justice Department’s push to stem the spread of coronavirus among the inmates it houses, his lawyer said. Michael Cohen, a former personal lawyer to President Trump, was released from federal prison to home confinement Thursday as part of the Justice Department’s push to stem the spread of the coronavirus among inmates, his attorney said.
The lawyer, Jeffrey Levine, said he had spoken with Cohen around 9 a.m. He said he would likely issue a statement later in the day, after speaking further with Cohen. Jeffrey Levine said he had spoken with Cohen about 9 a.m. The lawyer said he probably would issue a statement later in the day, after speaking further with Cohen.
The move, though expected, is likely to rile Trump, who has derided his former attorney as a “rat.” Cohen, 53, once affectionately considered himself Trump’s “fixer,” but as he became ensnared in multiple federal investigations, Cohen turned on his former client — cooperating with federal investigators scrutinizing the president, and airing out in federal court and before Congress what he saw as Trump’s misconduct. The move, although expected, is likely to rile Trump, who has derided his former lawyer as a “rat.” Cohen, 53, once affectionately considered himself Trump’s “fixer,” but as he became ensnared in multiple federal investigations, Cohen turned on his former client — cooperating with federal investigators scrutinizing the president, and airing out in federal court and before Congress what he viewed as Trump’s misconduct.
Michael Cohen will be allowed to leave prison due to pandemic Michael Cohen will be allowed to leave prison because of pandemic
Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 in two separate criminal cases. In the first, he admitted to campaign finance violations stemming from payments made before the 2016 election to women who alleged having affairs with Trump years earlier. The president has denied their claims. In the second, Cohen admitted to lying to Congress about a Moscow real estate project Trump and his company pursued while Trump was trying to secure the Republican nomination to become president. Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 in two separate criminal cases. In the first, he admitted to campaign finance violations stemming from payments made before the 2016 election to women who alleged having affairs with Trump years earlier. The president has denied their claims. In the second, Cohen admitted to lying to Congress about a Moscow real estate project Trump and his company pursued while Trump was trying to secure the Republican presidential nomination.
Cohen blamed the president for his wrongdoing, saying he arranged the payments at Trump’s direction to keep the women quiet, and that he lied to lawmakers about the real estate project to protect his boss. Trump has disputed his account. Cohen blamed Trump for his wrongdoing, saying that he arranged the payments at Trump’s direction to keep the women quiet, and that he lied to lawmakers about the real estate project to protect his boss. Trump has disputed his account.
U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III sentenced Cohen to three years in prison, and he reported to the institution in Otisville, N.Y. on May 6, 2019. In March, Pauley rejected Cohen’s bid to be released early because of the pandemic. U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III sentenced Cohen to three years in prison, and Cohen reported to the institution in Otisville, N.Y. on May 6, 2019. In March, Pauley rejected Cohen’s bid to be released early because of the pandemic.
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But the coronavirus-relief legislation passed by Congress gave Attorney General William P. Barr authority to declare an emergency and allow prison officials to release inmates to home confinement without judicial approval. That gave Cohen another chance. But the coronavirus-relief legislation Congress passed gave Attorney General William P. Barr the authority to declare an emergency and allow prison officials to release inmates to home confinement without judicial approval. That gave Cohen another chance.
Cohen’s attorney and a Justice Department official said last month that Cohen had been cleared to go, and he was placed in a mandatory, pre-release quarantine, meant to ensure he did not have coronavirus before he was let out. Cohen’s attorney and a Justice Department official said last month that Cohen had been cleared to go, and he was placed in a mandatory prerelease quarantine, meant to ensure that he did not have the coronavirus before he was released.
‘Come on, we’re human beings’: Judges question response to coronavirus pandemic in federal prisons‘Come on, we’re human beings’: Judges question response to coronavirus pandemic in federal prisons
But on May 1, the day he was expecting to return home, officials changed course. Cohen, they decided, would have to meet new Bureau of Prisons’ criteria that inmates prioritized for release must first have served 50 percent of their sentence, or have served 25 percent and have 18 months or less remaining. Cohen remained isolated and in quarantine, expecting to cross the latter threshold later in the month. A Justice Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Cohen would now be released “on furlough” pending his formal processing for home confinement. But on May 1, the day he was expecting to return home, officials changed course. Cohen, they decided, would have to meet new Bureau of Prisons criteria that inmates prioritized for release must first have served 50 percent of their sentence, or have served 25 percent and have 18 months or less remaining. Cohen remained isolated and in quarantine, expecting to cross the latter threshold later in the month. A Justice Department official, speaking on the condition of anonymity, said Cohen would now be released “on furlough” pending his formal processing for home confinement.
Legal advisers complained publicly about the reversal, fueling some speculation that Cohen was being singled out for harsh treatment because of his soured relationship with Trump.Legal advisers complained publicly about the reversal, fueling some speculation that Cohen was being singled out for harsh treatment because of his soured relationship with Trump.
“As I write this letter Mr. Cohen remains in solitary with no change of clothing, showers once every three days, drinking dirty water from a rusty faucet in his cell, inedible food and his blood pressure/hypertension is not well controlled by medication prescribed by the prison physician,” Levine wrote in a letter on the day Cohen was not released as expected.“As I write this letter Mr. Cohen remains in solitary with no change of clothing, showers once every three days, drinking dirty water from a rusty faucet in his cell, inedible food and his blood pressure/hypertension is not well controlled by medication prescribed by the prison physician,” Levine wrote in a letter on the day Cohen was not released as expected.
Since Barr directed in late March that the Bureau of Prisons prioritize the use of home confinement to stem the spread of coronavirus, officials have released thousands of people. Thousands of federal inmates have contracted coronavirus, and more than 50 have died. Since Barr directed in late March that the Bureau of Prisons prioritize the use of home confinement to stem the spread of the coronavirus, officials have released thousands of people. Thousands of federal inmates have contracted the coronavirus, and more than 50 have died.
Inmates in several institutions have complained, though, that the Bureau of Prisons has issued shifting, sometimes contradictory directives about who should get out, and applied the rules inconsistently. Inmates in several institutions have complained, though, that the Bureau of Prisons has issued shifting, sometimes contradictory directives about who should be released, and applied the rules inconsistently.
Amid coronavirus pandemic, federal inmates get mixed signals about home-confinement releasesAmid coronavirus pandemic, federal inmates get mixed signals about home-confinement releases
Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, for example, was released from prison last week without having served either 50 percent of his more than seven-year term, or having reached 25 percent with 18 months or less left. He had been imprisoned since 2018, when he was indicted by special counsel Robert S. Mueller III on a charge of witness tampering while awaiting trial on bank and tax fraud charges, for which he was convicted that summer. He also later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice related to his undisclosed lobbying for a pro-Russian politician and political party in Ukraine. Former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, for example, was released from prison last week without having served either 50 percent of his more than seven-year term, or having reached 25 percent with 18 months or less left. He had been imprisoned since 2018, when special counsel Robert S. Mueller III indicted him on a charge of witness tampering while awaiting trial on bank and tax fraud charges, for which he was convicted that summer. Manafort also later pleaded guilty to conspiracy to defraud the United States and obstruct justice related to his undisclosed lobbying for a pro-Russian politician and political party in Ukraine.
A Justice Department official said though Manafort, 71, had not served enough time to be granted priority release, the Bureau of Prisons felt it was necessary because of his age and vulnerability, given his underlying health issues. Prison officials have discretion to deviate from the requirements on time served, the official said. A Justice Department official said that although Manafort, 71, had not served enough time to be granted priority release, the Bureau of Prisons thought it was necessary because of his age and vulnerability, given his underlying health conditions. Prison officials have discretion to deviate from the requirements on time served, the official said.
Cohen has similarly asserted he has health problems, including “a history pulmonary embolisms, respiratory deficiencies, cardiac concerns, and high blood pressure,” according to information provided by a legal adviser. Cohen has similarly said that he has health problems, including “a history pulmonary embolisms, respiratory deficiencies, cardiac concerns and high blood pressure,” according to information provided by a legal adviser.