Who is Michael Cohen? Michael Dean Cohen, born on August 25, 1966, is a name that has become synonymous with legal drama and political intrigue. Known primarily as Donald Trump's personal attorney and fixer, Cohen's career spans from personal injury law to high-stakes political maneuvering. He served as vice president of the Trump Organization and co-president of Trump Entertainment, earning a reputation as Trump's "pit bull." However, his loyalty came at a cost. Cohen pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including campaign finance violations and lying to Congress, leading to his disbarment. His story is a complex tapestry of ambition, loyalty, and legal battles.
Key Takeaways:
- Michael Cohen's early life in Long Island and his legal career, including his role as Trump's "fixer," led to significant legal troubles and disbarment, shaping his complex public image.
- Cohen's aggressive tactics on behalf of Trump, his involvement in various legal issues, and his colorful early career have been extensively covered by media, revealing a multifaceted and controversial figure.
Early Life and Education
Michael Cohen's journey began in Long Island, New York. His early life and education set the stage for his future career.
- Michael Cohen was born in Long Island, New York, to a Jewish family.
- He attended Long Beach High School and later graduated from Long Island University.
- Cohen earned his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from Thomas M. Cooley Law School in 1993.
Career in Law
Before becoming a household name, Cohen started his career in law, focusing on personal injury cases.
- Cohen began practicing personal injury law in New York in 1992, working for Melvyn Estrin in Manhattan.
- In 2006, he was a partner at the law firm Phillips, Nizer, Benjamin, Krim & Ballon. He practiced law at the firm for about a year before joining The Trump Organization.
Joining The Trump Organization
Cohen's career took a significant turn when he joined The Trump Organization, where he became known as Trump's "fixer."
- Cohen joined The Trump Organization in 2006, where he served as an executive and personal counsel to Donald Trump.
- During his tenure, he was often described as Trump's "pit bull" due to his aggressive and loyal approach to resolving issues on behalf of his employer.
Roles and Responsibilities
Cohen held several important roles within The Trump Organization and beyond.
- Cohen served as vice president of the Trump Organization and co-president of Trump Entertainment.
- He was also a board member of the Eric Trump Foundation, a children's health charity.
Deputy Finance Chairman of the RNC
Cohen's influence extended into political circles, including a significant role within the Republican National Committee.
- In April 2017, Cohen was appointed as one of three national deputy finance chairmen of the Republican National Committee (RNC), alongside Elliott Broidy and Louis DeJoy.
Legal and Lobbying Counsel
Cohen's legal expertise was sought after for various purposes, including lobbying efforts.
- In April 2017, Cohen formed an alliance with Squire Patton Boggs for legal and lobbying counsel on behalf of Trump.
Testimony Before Congress
Cohen's testimony before Congress revealed many details about his time working for Trump and various allegations.
- In February 2019, Cohen testified before the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, providing detailed accounts of his time working for Trump and various allegations against the former president.
Campaign Finance Violations
Cohen's legal troubles included serious charges related to campaign finance violations.
- In August 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts including campaign-finance violations, tax fraud, and bank fraud.
- He admitted to violating campaign-finance laws at Trump's direction "for the principal purpose of influencing" the 2016 presidential election.
Lying to Congress
Cohen's honesty came into question when he admitted to lying to Congress.
- In November 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to U.S. congressional committees about efforts to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.
Disbarment
Cohen's legal career faced a significant setback following his felony convictions.
- Following his 2018 felony convictions, Cohen was disbarred in New York.
Threats and Intimidation
Cohen's aggressive tactics included making threats on behalf of Trump.
- Cohen estimated he had made threats on behalf of Trump more than 500 times over a decade, often using coded language to instruct him to lie about various matters.
Trump International Hotel Overcharging Allegations
Cohen's testimony included allegations of financial misconduct involving the Trump International Hotel.
- During his testimony, Cohen alleged that the Trump International Hotel in Washington overcharged the Trump inaugural committee, which was reported by the “Trump, Inc.” podcast.
Asset Valuation Manipulation
Cohen revealed that Trump would manipulate the value of his assets for various purposes.
- Cohen testified that Trump would overstate or understate the value of his assets when it suited his interests, typically to make himself look wealthier or improve his position in Forbes magazine’s rankings.
Tax Evasion
Cohen's testimony also included allegations of tax evasion by Trump.
- Cohen claimed that Trump would downplay the value of his assets when it came time to pay taxes on them, thereby avoiding higher tax liabilities.
Stormy Daniels Payment
One of the most publicized aspects of Cohen's legal troubles involved payments to suppress stories of affairs.
- One of the focal points of the FBI search of Cohen’s office and home was his payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels to suppress her story of an affair with Donald Trump.
Karen McDougal Payment
Another payment under scrutiny involved a former Playboy model.
- Another payment under scrutiny was Cohen’s payment to former Playboy model Karen McDougal for her story of an affair with Donald Trump, which may have been illegal.
BBC News Controversy
Cohen was involved in a controversy with BBC News over false reporting.
- In May 2018, BBC News falsely reported that Cohen had received a secret payment from intermediaries for Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko to arrange a meeting between Poroshenko and Trump. Cohen and Poroshenko’s office denied the allegations, leading to an apology and deletion of the article by BBC News.
Rudy Giuliani’s Announcement
Cohen's professional relationship with Trump ended publicly in 2018.
- In May 2018, Rudy Giuliani announced that Cohen was no longer Trump’s lawyer, marking an end to their professional relationship.
FBI Search of Office
The FBI's search of Cohen's office was a significant event in his legal troubles.
- The FBI searched Cohen’s office and home in April 2018, focusing on his payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal. The search warrant was signed off by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, a Trump appointee.
Attorney-Client Privilege
The search raised questions about attorney-client privilege.
- The search of Cohen’s office raised concerns about attorney-client privilege, but the Justice Department emphasized that the crime-fraud exception allows for searches if there is evidence of illegal activities.
Crime-Fraud Exception
The crime-fraud exception played a key role in the FBI's search.
- The crime-fraud exception to attorney-client privilege allows prosecutors to search an attorney’s office if there is evidence that the attorney is involved in criminal activities. This exception is narrowly applied and requires high-level approvals.
Legal Representation
Cohen's role as Trump's lawyer was complex and nuanced.
- Despite serving as a consultant lawyer for Trump, Cohen later testified that Trump never made him his personal lawyer to the President.
Trump’s Reaction
Trump's reaction to the FBI search was swift and vocal.
- When news broke about the FBI search of Cohen’s office, President Trump tweeted “Attorney–client privilege is dead!” and called it an attack on the country.
ACLU’s Stance
The ACLU defended the search as part of upholding the rule of law.
- The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) defended the search as part of upholding the rule of law and protecting civil liberties. They emphasized that no one, including the President or his lawyer, is above the law.
Protection of Privilege
The Justice Department took steps to protect attorney-client privilege during the search.
- To protect attorney-client privilege during searches, the Justice Department follows strict guidelines, including designating a “privilege team” to minimize intrusion into privileged material.
Burden of Proof
Prosecutors had to meet a high burden of proof to conduct the search.
- Prosecutors must show that they made no use of privileged material and that their investigation was not influenced by it. This burden ensures that searches are conducted within legal boundaries.
High Hurdles for Search Warrant
Obtaining a search warrant for an attorney's office involves significant legal hurdles.
- Obtaining a search warrant for an attorney’s office involves overcoming high hurdles, indicating that such actions are not taken lightly. The warrant issued in Cohen’s case was a sign that the rule of law is alive and functioning.
Cohen’s Early Career
Cohen's early career included work in personal injury law and taxi medallions.
- Before joining The Trump Organization, Cohen worked in personal injury law and represented over 100 plaintiffs who claimed they were injured in auto collisions. A distinctive pattern emerged early in his career: many people who crossed paths with Cohen were disciplined, disbarred, accused, or convicted of crimes.
Taxi Medallions
Cohen's involvement in the taxi industry was a significant part of his early career.
- Cohen was known for holding millions of dollars’ worth of New York City taxi medallions, which he used to generate income through taxi leases.
Executive Roles
Cohen held several executive roles within The Trump Organization and beyond.
- In addition to his roles at The Trump Organization and RNC, Cohen also served as an executive at Trump Entertainment and a board member of the Eric Trump Foundation.
Personal Life
Cohen's personal life includes a strong focus on family.
- Cohen married Laura Shusterman in 1994, and they have two children together. He is known for his strong family ties and has often spoken about the importance of his family in his life.
Public Perception
Cohen's public image has been complex and multifaceted.
- Cohen’s public image has been complex, ranging from being seen as a loyal and effective fixer for Trump to being viewed as a dishonest and corrupt individual due to his involvement in various legal issues.
Media Coverage
Cohen has been extensively covered by various media outlets.
- Cohen has been extensively covered by media outlets such as ProPublica and WNYC through their “Trump, Inc.” podcast. This coverage has provided detailed insights into his career and the allegations against him.
Cohen’s Testimony Dissected
The "Trump, Inc." podcast has analyzed Cohen's testimony in detail.
- The “Trump, Inc.” podcast has also dissected Cohen’s testimony, offering a comprehensive analysis of his statements and their implications.
Mob Operation Allegations
Cohen described a way of doing business at the Trump Organization that many likened to a mob operation.
- During his testimony, Cohen described a way of doing business at the Trump Organization that many likened to a mob operation. He detailed instances where Trump would use coded language to instruct him to lie about various matters.
Fabrications of a Perjurer
The White House dismissed Cohen's testimony as fabrications.
- The White House dismissed Cohen’s testimony as the fabrications of a perjurer, denying many of the allegations he made against Trump and his organization.
Code Orders to Lie
Cohen testified that Trump would use code to instruct him to lie.
- Cohen testified that Trump would often use code to instruct him to lie about specific issues, including the Trump Organization’s plans for a tower in Moscow.
Threats Received by Opponents
Cohen's aggressive tactics included making threats on behalf of Trump.
- There have been numerous reports of menacing statements allegedly made at the behest of Trump, which were reported in different publications. These threats were often directed at Trump’s opponents and were not directly related to Cohen’s activities.
Carmine’s Threats
One notable example of a threat involved someone claiming to be Carmine.
- One notable example is the threat made by someone claiming to be Carmine, which was traced to a payphone outside the “Late Show With David Letterman.” The caller threatened a lawyer representing Trump Atlantic City casino creditors, warning them not to “fuck with Mr. Trump.”
Cohen’s Colorful Early Career
Cohen's early career included various colorful and controversial activities.
- An article by Andrea Bernstein and Ilya Marritz of WNYC for the “Trump, Inc.” podcast explores much of Cohen’s colorful early career, taking readers from taxi garages in Queens to his days representing plaintiffs injured in auto collisions.
Disciplined, Disbarred, Accused, or Convicted Individuals
Many individuals who crossed paths with Cohen faced legal troubles.
- Many of the people who crossed paths with Cohen when he worked in Queens and Brooklyn were disciplined, disbarred, accused, or convicted of crimes. This pattern emerged early in his career and continued throughout his professional life.
Should Trump Run? Website
Cohen co-founded a website to draft Trump into the 2012 presidential race.
- In late 2011, when Trump was speculating about running for the 2012 Republican Party presidential nomination, Cohen co-founded the website “Should Trump Run?” to draft Trump into entering the race.
Interview with ABC News
Cohen's aggressive approach to resolving issues on behalf of Trump was evident in a 2011 interview.
- In a 2011 interview with ABC News, Cohen stated, “If somebody does something Mr. Trump doesn’t like, I do everything in my power to resolve it to Mr. Trump’s benefit. If you do something wrong, I’m going to come at you, grab you by the neck and I’m not going to let you go until I’m finished.” This statement reflects his aggressive approach to resolving issues on behalf of Trump.
Email to The Onion
Cohen's aggressive tactics extended to demanding the removal of a satirical article.
- In 2013, Cohen sent an email to The Onion demanding that an article mocking Trump be removed with an apology, claiming it was defamatory.
Michael Cohen's Complex Journey
Michael Cohen's life has been a rollercoaster. From his early days as a personal injury lawyer to becoming Donald Trump's "fixer," Cohen's career has seen it all. His aggressive tactics and loyalty to Trump earned him a reputation, but also led to significant legal troubles. Cohen's involvement in campaign finance violations, lying to Congress, and payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal brought him under intense scrutiny. His testimony before Congress revealed a lot about Trump's business practices, including asset valuation manipulation and tax evasion. Despite his fall from grace, Cohen's story is a testament to the complexities of power, loyalty, and the consequences of one's actions. His journey serves as a reminder that no one is above the law, and the rule of law is essential for protecting civil liberties and civil rights.
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