President Donald Trumpâs former personal attorney Michael Cohen was taken into federal custody this week after balking at the gag order placed on him that required the former fixer to stay away from the media.
Cohen was released early from prison in late May over coronavirus concerns.
Cohenâs attorney Jeffrey Levine, said of the arrest, âItâs totally unnecessary, itâs totally outrageous,â according to CNBC.
Levine added, âIâve never seen any language like this in my life that would strip a person of their First Amendment rights to communicate with the media.â
Cohenâs lawyer said that the gag order requires that Cohen not speak with any reporters and that he avoid posting on social media and that he could not cooperate on any book or film.
But this week, as a judge ruled that Donald Trumpâs niece could publish a tell-all, Cohen tweeted, âFavorable ruling yesterday by the Court as I am close to the completion of my book.â
He said that the book would be released in late September.
When he was released from prison in late May, Cohen said âThere is so much I want to say and intend to say. But now is not the right time. Soon.â
Trumpâs lawyers have demanded that Cohen stop writing a tell-all, according to The Daily Beast. But Trump tell-alls are a cottage industry and thereâs no shortage of demand for them.
Cohen was sentenced to just under three years in federal prison for crimes related to Trump, including the hush money payoffs that he made to various women, most notably Stormy Daniels, on Trumpâs behalf.
Cohenâs sentence stemmed from special counsel Robert Muellerâs investigation. In addition to campaign finance laws, he was also charged with lying to Congress.
At the time, Trumpâs former lawyer said that it was âmy duty to cover up dirty deeds.â
