Michael Cohen SDNY sentencing memo recommends 'substantial prison,' and Individual-1 is in deep trouble
Federal prosecutors in New York request a "substantial" prison sentence for Michael Cohen, who pled guilty to violating campaign finance laws. Sentencing guidelines suggest that could mean 46 to 63 months.
The Southern District of New York's sentencing memo for the President's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has been filed, and it is 30 pages long.
READ IT HERE: [DOCUMENT LINK].
SDNY sentencing memo: Link to PDF.
Things are not looking bright for Michael Cohen, despite having cooperated with the federal investigation into Trump's activities.
'A substantial term of imprisonment is warranted,' writes the Southern District of New York.
The guidelines from Michael Cohen's plea agreement call for a prison term of between 46 and 63 months.
The real news right now is not about Cohen's sentence. It is about the conclusion by federal prosecutors that Donald J. Trump has committed a serious felony.
- Neal Katyal (@neal_katyal) December 7, 2018
SDNY really not holding back here when it comes to Michael Cohen's sentence. pic.twitter.com/TWjS0EcwuY
- Shawna Thomas (@Shawna) December 7, 2018
This is new. Federal prosecutors have said for the first time in a court filing that Cohen committed campaign finance crimes "in coordination with and at the direction of" President Trump. pic.twitter.com/mOYvdMqHS7
- Brad Heath (@bradheath) December 7, 2018
Federal prosecutors in Manhattan have filed their sentencing memo on Michael Cohen.
- Shimon Prokupecz (@ShimonPro) December 7, 2018
MUELLER says he "does not take a position with respect to a particular sentence to be imposed" for Cohen, says he has gone to "significant lengths" to assist the special counsel probe.
- Natasha Bertrand (@NatashaBertrand) December 7, 2018
This is the submission from prosecutors in SDNY, *not* special counsel Robert Mueller's office. That's also due today, so stay tuned https://t.co/8yg59T7wTv
- Zoe Tillman (@ZoeTillman) December 7, 2018
2. Does not start out well for Cohen pic.twitter.com/EFGQTahrbK
- Yashar Ali
(@yashar) December 7, 2018
3. "To be clear: Cohen does not have a cooperation agreement and is not receiving a Section 5K1.1 letter either from this Office or the SCO, and therefore is not properly described as a "cooperating witness," as that term is commonly used in this District."
- Yashar Ali
4. "As set forth in the submission being filed by the SCO in 18 Cr. 850 (WHP), this Office understands that the information provided by Cohen to the SCO was ultimately credible and useful to its ongoing investigation."
- Yashar Ali
5. "Cohen repeatedly declined to provide full information about the scope of any additional criminal conduct in which he may have engaged or had knowledge."
- Yashar Ali
6. "Cohen only met with the Office about the participation of others in the campaign finance crimes to which Cohen had already pleaded guilty. Cohen specifically declined to be debriefed on other uncharged criminal conduct, if any, in his past."
- Yashar Ali
SDNY calls out Cohen's post-election hustle. pic.twitter.com/xdhJH9ifyY
- Philip Bump (@pbump) December 7, 2018
today in footnotes pic.twitter.com/FBLocBgEcy
- Philip Bump (@pbump) December 7, 2018
From the SDNY memo, a summary of Michael Cohen's effort to become a creature of the swamp that Donald Trump pledged to drain pic.twitter.com/pvoWMx3DV5
- Chris Megerian (@ChrisMegerian) December 7, 2018
Referencing the payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with @realDonaldTrump, the SDNY sentencing memo says @MichaelCohen212 "acted with the intent to influence the 2016 presidential election."
- Steve Herman (@W7VOA) December 7, 2018
Reading the two memos: Cohen is more forthcoming about things he did that could get Trump in trouble and less forthcoming about things he did that could get himself in more trouble.
- Dr. Jennifer Mercieca (@jenmercieca) December 7, 2018