NEW YORK (AP) — 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.
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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.
Campaign finance charges related to his efforts to arrange payouts during the 2016 presidential race to keep the porn actress Stormy Daniels and model Karen McDougal from making public claims of extramarital affairs with Trump. Trump has denied the affairs.
WOW THATS INSANE HE MUST OF HAVE SOME DEEP CONNECTION TO GET OUT OF JAIL.
unreal…the guy deserves what he gets for being a key henchman of the mobster in chief…but to jail someone to stop him from speaking or publishing a book?…in America?
He’s a frum judge.
I hate Cohen and his new anti trump mission. I think this all just self promotion and nothing altruistic about his mission.
However prison for white collar criminals is cruel. I hope this judges has comapssion and Shelly silver who is older and has more at risk. he also suffered plenty already
“You guys investigate him..” Wrong. Its the Republican Justice Dept investigates him. We guys will start in Jan 21 when we take over the Govt. Can’t wait for the Whitchhunt to start. 6 more month.
Coihen has already said his book has dozens of antisemitic Jew hating slurs used by the President on a daily basis, in his office, at home and when traveling, in front of corroborating witnesses. Its a chillul hashem! Oy, our leader has done this. Help!
So this bum gets out and Shelly Silver has to stay?
He is a non-violent, first-time offender who has show remorse. He has a stable home situation to return to.