Report: Cohen Faced 15-Year Prison Sentence for Embezzling From Trump

Legal experts have revealed that Michael Cohen could have faced up to 15 years in jail if he had been charged and found guilty of stealing $60,000 from former President Donald Trump, as reported by the New York Post.

In the trial regarding Trump’s legal expenses, Cohen, the ex-attorney of Trump, confessed to the jury that he embezzled money from Trump’s company. Defense attorneys used this confession to challenge his credibility, according to the Associated Press.

The trial resumed with the defense questioning Cohen about his involvement in the payment to conceal an alleged extramarital affair, which directly linked Trump to the reimbursement of the funds.

Defense attorneys aimed to portray Cohen as a habitual liar seeking revenge against the former president by highlighting his criminal past and lies.

During questioning by defense attorney Todd Blanche, Cohen admitted to keeping money that was intended for reimbursing a $50,000 payment to a technology firm. However, he revealed that he had only given the firm $20,000.

Politico reported that the total theft amounted to $60,000 due to the $30,000 difference covering Cohen’s tax obligations.

The Post mentioned that Cohen could have been prosecuted for second-degree grand larceny for stealing over $50,000, a class C felony with a potential sentence ranging from probation to 15 years in prison.

Jeremy Saland, a criminal defense attorney and former Manhattan prosecutor, stated that the charges would have required Trump’s cooperation, but the statute of limitations for grand larceny has since expired.

Michael Bachner, another former Manhattan prosecutor, pointed out that getting Cohen to admit to the theft was still beneficial for Trump’s defense.

Jeffrey Rodack, a seasoned news editor with nearly 50 years of experience, has covered politics for Newsmax for almost seven years. For more information, contact Jeffrey Rodack at ✉