A federal judge ruled that Michael Cohen was denied home confinement because he is publishing a book that reveals unflattering details about the president
Photo: Spencer Platt/Getty Images Donald Trump is a right-wing demagogue in the tradition of Joe McCarthy, Pat Buchanan, Newt Gingrich, and Sarah Palin, who reflects his party’s long historical descent. But Trump also has several uniquely virulent qualities that set him apart: his personal criminality, his ambition to use the Justice Department as a personal weapon, and his desire to use state power to quash criticism. The case of Michael Cohen brings together all three.
Cohen was convicted of campaign finance violations for funneling hush money to keep Trump’s former paramours quiet. As the Justice Department charged at the time, “Cohen himself has now admitted, with respect to both payments, he acted in coordination with and at the direction of Individual-1.” Of course, Individual-1 is Donald Trump.
The most abusive aspect of Cohen’s treatment has surely been the Justice Department’s attempt to pressure him into giving up his book. “I make the finding that the purpose of transferring Mr. Cohen from furlough and home confinement to jail is retaliatory,” the judge said. “And it’s retaliation because of his desire to exercise his First Amendment rights to publish a book and to discuss anything about the book or anything else he wants on social media and with others.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Judge Orders Former Trump Lawyer Michael Cohen Released From PrisonA judge has ordered that Michael Cohen be released to home confinement, finding that his return to prison after his initial coronavirus-related release was retaliation for his plans to publish a tell-all about working with Trump.
Read more »
Judge rules Cohen target of retaliation for Trump book, orders release from prisonU.S. President Donald Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen was ordered released from prison and will go into home confinement on Friday after a federal judge found he was subjected to retaliation for planning to publish a book about the president ahead of November's election.
Read more »
Challenged over explosive new book, Mary Trump claims 'deep experience' inside Trump familyMary Trump insists on TheView that her explosive claims about Pres. Trump and his family in her new book come from “very deep experience within the family.”
Read more »
Trump Requested Help From U.S. Ambassador In Holding British Open At A Trump ResortA former diplomat at the U.S. embassy says Ambassador Robert Wood 'Woody' Johnson IV told him about the request. 'I advised him that doing so would violate federal ethics rules,' he tells NPR.
Read more »