A judge ordered the release from prison of President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer on Thursday, saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump.
Michael Cohen’s First Amendment rights were violated when he was ordered back to prison on July 9 after probation authorities said he refused to sign a form banning him from publishing the book or communicating publicly in other manners, U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein said.
Hellerstein ordered Michael Cohen released from prison by 2 p.m. on Friday.
Cohen, 53, sued federal prison officials and Attorney General William Barr on Monday, saying he was ordered back to prison because he was writing a book to be released before the November presidential election.
He has been in isolation at an Otisville, New York, prison camp.
The lawsuit said the book would address “Trump’s personality and proclivities, his private and professional affairs, and his personal and business ethics.”
The lawsuit said the government’s demand that Cohen agree not to speak to or through any media, including by publishing a book, violated his First Amendment rights.
Cohen had been furloughed in May along with other prisoners as authorities tried to slow the spread of the coronavirus in federal prisons.
He was one year into a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, among other crimes.
(AP)
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4 Responses
To me it seems the judge ought be imprisoned. The guy had a 3 year term. He was furloughed because of corona which means he is supposed to be in prison. If he’s returned to prison for whatever the reason – whatever the reason – he is to be imprisoned!
Absolutely should be released, and should have never been in prison:- Vacate the prison cell for Hillary.
I think the judge was saying that it’s unconditional for federal agents to use extortion to prevent Mr. Cohen from releasing details of Trump’s antisemitism.
147, That point is debatable but if he was convicted and sentenced for the crimes, he belongs is prison. No judge has the authority to vacate his sentence based on his personal distaste for the prez.