Michael Cohen: Why Trump’s former lawyer pleaded guilty to lying to Congress over Russia investigation

'He realises that he needs to move on with his life and that he’d like to begin that process as soon as possible'

Michael Cohen has pleaded guilty in federal court to lying to Congress over Trump property deal in Moscow and hush money paid to women who might have embarrassed the president (EPA)

Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen has entered another guilty plea in the federal Russia investigation, in what is alleged to be a surprising and risky legal strategy.

Mr Cohen has twice pleaded guilty in federal court in Manhattan to a litany of crimes, and he has volunteered information to the special counsel and other agencies investigating Mr Trump and his inner circle.

He did all this without first obtaining a traditional, iron-clad deal under which the government would commit to seeking leniency on Mr Cohen’s behalf when he is sentenced on 12 December.

Mr Cohen has said that his life has been utterly destroyed by his relationship with Mr Trump and his own actions, according to his friends and associates, and analysis of documents in the case.

Allegedly Mr Cohen believed that to begin anew, he needed to speed up the legal process by quickly confessing his crimes and serving any sentence he receives.

He has told friends that he is "mystified" that he is taking the fall for actions he carried out on behalf of Mr Trump, who remains unscathed. Still, he is resigned to accepting responsibility.

“He realises that he needs to move on with his life, and that he’d like to begin that process as soon as possible,” said Andrew W. Albstein, a lawyer and friend who wrote a letter of support on Mr Cohen’s behalf to the judge.

Mr Cohen, who once said he would “take a bullet” for Mr Trump, was for years Mr Trump’s do-it-all fixer who had a hand in several shady deals. He has admitted he lied to Congress to help Mr Trump and broke campaign finance laws by helping to arrange hush money for women who might have embarrassed Mr Trump with accusations of infidelity as he was running for president.

He has not explained his legal approach since he first pleaded guilty in August. But his lawyers, in a sentencing memorandum filed late Friday night, offered the fullest explanation yet for Mr Cohen’s motivation in switching sides and joining the government team.

Though he has talked extensively with prosecutors, it remains unclear if Mr Cohen possesses any information that could harm the president legally.

Mr Cohen’s approach drew a stinging reaction from Mr Trump, who tweeted angrily on Monday that Mr Cohen had “lied for this outcome and should, in my opinion, serve a full and complete sentence”.

The New York Times