Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump, has struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors, NBC News reported on Tuesday.
Cohen came under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York City earlier this year. They had received a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors had been eyeing Cohen's business dealings. The New York Times reported that federal authorities were looking into $20 million in loans for taxi businesses linked to Cohen.
By Tucker Higgins and Kevin Breuninger
August 21, 2018 "Information Clearing House" - Michael Cohen, the former personal lawyer and fixer for President Donald Trump, agreed to plead guilty on Tuesday to eight charges related to tax fraud, excessive campaign contributions, making false statements to a financial institution, and unlawful corporate contributions at a court hearing in New York on Tuesday.Two of those charges appear to relate to Trump directly. Cohen admitted on Tuesday to making payments to two women at the direction of an unidentified candidate for political office. Those payments, Cohen said, were made to influence the outcome of the election.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
Cohen had surrendered to the FBI on Tuesday afternoon. The president's former confidant came under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York City earlier this year after they received a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors had been eyeing Cohen's business dealings for months, and in April seized thousands of items from Cohen's New York office and hotel room. The New York Times reported Sunday that federal authorities were looking into $20 million in loans for taxi businesses owned by Cohen and his family.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
Cohen had surrendered to the FBI on Tuesday afternoon. The president's former confidant came under investigation by federal prosecutors in New York City earlier this year after they received a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the probe of Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
Prosecutors had been eyeing Cohen's business dealings for months, and in April seized thousands of items from Cohen's New York office and hotel room. The New York Times reported Sunday that federal authorities were looking into $20 million in loans for taxi businesses owned by Cohen and his family.
Experts have said that any deal could have dramatic implications for the president, who has worked closely with Cohen for more than a decade. The deal Cohen reached, however, does not appear to include cooperation with investigators, The New York Times reported, citing two people familiar with the matter. Cohen could still choose to cooperate.Prosecutors have an incentive to seek plea bargains — even without a cooperation agreement — because they conserve substantial resources by striking deals, said Nick Gravante, a partner of New York-based law firm Boies Schiller.
"If a defendant is willing to admit guilt, why bother taking him to trial and proving it?" Gravante said in an email.
On the flip side, Gravante said, Cohen's plea has no real effect on Trump's legal situation if he doesn't cooperate — aside from the bad optics it creates.
News of the plea deal comes as the president's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort awaits a verdict on bank fraud and tax charges in the first trial brought by the special counsel.
A spokesperson for Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis declined a request for comment from CNBC.
Cohen, a longtime friend and advisor to the president, once said he would take a bullet for Trump. But in recent months, Cohen began to signal that he could cooperate with investigators. In an interview with ABC News in July, Cohen said he put "family and country" before Trump.
Investigators were examining whether the payment could constitute a campaign finance violation.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which is leading the inquiry, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
"If a defendant is willing to admit guilt, why bother taking him to trial and proving it?" Gravante said in an email.
On the flip side, Gravante said, Cohen's plea has no real effect on Trump's legal situation if he doesn't cooperate — aside from the bad optics it creates.
News of the plea deal comes as the president's former campaign chairman Paul Manafort awaits a verdict on bank fraud and tax charges in the first trial brought by the special counsel.
A spokesperson for Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis declined a request for comment from CNBC.
Cohen, a longtime friend and advisor to the president, once said he would take a bullet for Trump. But in recent months, Cohen began to signal that he could cooperate with investigators. In an interview with ABC News in July, Cohen said he put "family and country" before Trump.
Moments ago: Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen seen entering FBI New York office as NBC News reports that he's reached a plea deal. cnb.cx/2nXGEOg
Investigators were examining whether the payment could constitute a campaign finance violation.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, which is leading the inquiry, did not immediately respond to a request for comment from CNBC.
This article was originally published by "CNBC" -
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