Alan Dershowitz argued Friday that federal prosecutors seeking a “substantial term of imprisonment” for former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen is bad news for special counsel Robert Mueller.
“There are two possibilities,” the lawyer told Fox News’ “The Five.” “One, that Cohen hasn’t really provided them very much or hasn’t been completely cooperative. Or two, by recommending a very, very harsh sentence, they are putting more pressure on Cohen, maybe to come up with even more information because the government has the power to get the sentence reduced afterward if they can tell a court that there was cooperation.”
“Right now, it does not sound like it’s good news for Mueller. It doesn’t sound like in Cohen they have found a witness that will give them the key to the kingdom,” he said.
Federal prosecutors in New York recommended a “substantial” prison sentence Friday after Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts of campaign finance violations. Cohen implicated the president in two hush-money payments to women who allege they had affairs with President Trump.
“The crimes committed by Cohen were more serious than his submission allows and were marked by a pattern of deception that permeated his professional life (and was evidently hidden from the friends and family members who wrote on his behalf),” the New York prosecutors said in their sentencing memo.
The case was referred to New York prosecutors by Mueller earlier this year.
“So far, the only solid evidence that he has provided is the campaign contribution issue,” Dershowitz said. “It’s a very, very weak case because the president is entitled to pay off women in order to help his family, help his brand.”
In a separate case brought my Mueller, Cohen pleaded guilty last month to lying to Congress about plans for a Trump Tower project in Moscow. The special counsel recommended no additional prison time for the guilty plea.
Cohen “has gone to significant lengths to assist the special counsel’s investigation,” the special counsel said.
Cohen is scheduled to be sentenced in both cases on Tuesday.
