Judge Denies Michael Cohen’s Request To End Sentence Early

Manhattan District Judge John Koeltl denied a petition from former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen to end his home confinement sentence six months early.

Koeltl wrote in his decision that there was “no basis to conclude that Mr. Cohen’s service of his sentence violates his constitutional rights.” Cohen hoped to be credited for several hundred hours of work and courses he performed in prison before the COVID-19 pandemic caused his relocation to home confinement. Because of a 2018 law, however, prosecutors have no obligation to credit Cohen for work or training he did while still serving a sentence.

Cohen spent more than 12 months in an Otisville, New York prison before being transferred to home confinement. Since Koeltl has denied his request, Cohen’s expected home confinement end date is November 22.

Cohen plead guilty and was convicted of campaign finance violations and tax evasion in December 2018. Cohen has also been cooperating with Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance, who is building a case against former president Donald Trump regarding his tax record and financial dealings in the borough. Cohen has met with Vance and his team more than seven times in the case.