UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

x
INFORMATION
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
18 Cr.
- v. MICHAEL COHEN,
Defendant.

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - x
The Special Counsel charges:
Background
The Defendant
1.

From in or around 2007 through in or around January 2017,

MICHAEL COHEN,

the defendant,

was an attorney and employee of a

Manhatran-based real estate company

(the "Company").

COHEN held

the title of "Executive Vice President" and "Special Counsel" to
the owner of the Company

("Individual 1 " ) .

False Statements to the U.S. Congress
2.

On or about January 13,

2017,

the U.S.

Senate Select

Committee on Intelligence ("SSCI") announced that it would conduct
an investigation into Russian election interference and possible
links

between

campaigns.

Russia
On

Representatives
("HPSCI")

or

and

individuals

about

Permanent

January
Select

associated
25,

2017,

Committee

with political
the

on

House

of

Intelligence

announced that it also was conducting an investigation

 into

Russian

election

interference

and

possible

links

between

Russia and individuals associated with political campaigns.
3.

On or about August

28,

2017,

COHEN

caused a two-page

letter to be sent on his behalf to SSCI and HPSCI.

The letter

addressed his efforts at the Company to pursue a branded property
in

Moscow,

Russia

(the

"Moscow

Project").

COHEN

stated

the

purpose of the letter was "to provide the Committee with additional
information

regarding

the

proposal,"

referring

to

the

Moscow

Proj ect.
4.

In the

letter to SSCI

and HPSCI,

COHEN

knowingly and

deliberately made the following false representations:
a. The Moscow Project ended in January 2016 and was not
discussed

extensively

with

others

in

the

Company.

"The proposal was under consideration at the (Company]
from September

2015

By the

January

end of

until the end of January 2016.
2016,

I determined that

the

proposal was not feasible for a variety of business
reasons and should not be pursued further.
my business
the

determinations,

the

[Moscow Project] proposal.

Based on

[Company]

...

abandoned

To the best of

my knowledge,

[Individual 1] was never in contact with

anyone

this

about

occasions.

...

proposal

other

than me

I did not ask or brief

2

on three

[Individual

 1], or any of his family, before I made the decision
to terminate further work on the proposal."
b. COHEN never agreed to travel to Russia in connection
with the Moscow Project and "never considered" asking
Individual 1 to travel for the project.
communicated

with

the

company . . .

through

intermediary,

[Individual

a

"I primarily

Moscow-based

development

U.S.

third-party

citizen

2] . . . .

[Individual

2]

constantly asked me to travel to Moscow as part of
his

efforts

proposal.

to

push

forward

the

discussion

I ultimately determined that

of

the

the proposal

was not feasible and never agreed to make a trip to
Russia.

. . .

Despite overtures by [Individual 2], I

never considered asking

[Individual

1] to travel

to

Russia in connection with this proposal."
c. COHEN did not recall any Russian government response
or contact about the Moscow Project.
2016,
to

[Individual 2]

"In mid-January

suggested that I send an email

[Russian Official 1], the Press Secretary for the

President of Russia, since the proposal would require
approvals within the Russian government that had not
been issued.

Those permissions were never provided.

I decided to abandon the proposal less than two weeks

3

 later

for business

reasons

response to my email,

and do not

recall

any

nor any other contacts by me

with [Russian Official 1] or other Russian government
officials about the proposal."
5.

On or about September 19,

2017,

COHEN was scheduled to

appear before SSCI accompanied by counsel.
released to the public,
the

rejected proposal

Moscow

that

was

COHEN stated,

to build

terminated

in

a

In prepared remarks

"I assume we will discuss

[Company-branded]

January

of

2016;

property

which

in

occurred

before the Iowa caucus and months before the very first primary.
This was solely a real estate deal and nothing more.
my job.

I was doing

I would ask that the two-page statement about: the Moscow

proposal that I sent to the Committee in August be incorporated
into and attached to this transcript."
6.

On or about October 25,

2017,

COHEN gave testimony to

SSCI, which included testimony about the Moscow Project consistent
with his prepared remarks and his two-page statement.
7.

In truth and in fact,

and as COHEN well

knew,

COHEN's

representations about the Moscow Project he made to SSCI and HPSCI
were false and misleading.

COHEM made the false statements to (1)

minimize links between the Moscow Project and Individual 1 and (2)
give

the

false

impression that

"the Iowa caucus and

the Moscow

Project

ended before

. . . the very first primary," in hopes of

4

 limiting the ongoing Russia investigations.
conceal

or minimize

through

his

false

COHEN attempted to

statements

the

following

facts:
a. The Moscow Project was discussed multiple times within
the Company and did not end in January 2016.
as

late

as

Individual

approximately

2

discussed

June

efforts

2016,
to

Instead,
COHEN

obtain

Russian-

governmental approval for the Moscow Project.
discussed
Project

with

occasions
briefed

the

status

and

Individual

COHEN

family

1

claimed
members

progress
on

to
of

more

the

of
than

the
the

Committee,

Individual

and

COHEN
Moscow
three
and

1 within

he
the

Company about the project.
b. COHEN agreed to travel to Russia in connection with
the Moscow Project and took steps in contemplation of
Individual l's possible travel to Russia.
Individual

2

discussed

on

multiple

COHEN and
occasions

traveling to Russia to pursue the Moscow Project.
i.

COHEN asked Individual 1 about the possibility
of

Individual

1

traveling

to

Russia

in

connection with the Moscow Project, and asked a
senior

campaign

official

business travel to Russia.

5

about

potential
.

 ii.

On or about May 4, 2016, Individual 2 wrote to
COHEN, "I had a chat with Moscow.

ASSUMING the

trip does happen the question is before or after
the convention . . . Obviously the pre-meeting
trip (you only) can happen anytime you want but
the
said

2 big
I

guys

would

responded,

where

[sic]

confirm

"My

trip

and

the

question.

revert."

before

I

COHEN

Cleveland.

[Individual 1] once he becomes the nominee after
the convention."
iii.

On or about May 5, 2016,

Individual 2 followed

up with COHEN and wrote,

"[Russian Official 1]

would like to invite you as his guest to the
St.

Petersburg

Forum which

it's June 16-19.

is Russia's

Davos

He wants to meet there with

you and possibly introduce you to either
President of Russia]

or

[the

[the Prime Minister of

Russia], as they are not sure if 1 or both will
be there.

...

He said anything you want to

discuss including dates and subjects are on the
table to discuss."

6

 iv.

On

or

about

May

6,

2016,

Individual

2 asked

COHEN to confirm those dates would work for him
to travel.
V.

From

on

COHEN wrote back, "Works for me."

or

Individual

about

June

2 sent

about the travel,

to

numerous

June

14,

2016,

to

COHEN

messages

including forms for COHEN to

complete.

However,

COHEN

Individual

met

9

on or about June 14, 2016,
2

in

the

lobby

of

the

Company's headquarters to inform Individual

2

he would not be traveling at that time,
c. COHEN did recall that in or around January 2016, COHEN
received

a

response

from

the

office

of

Russian

Official 1, the Press Secretary for the President of
Russia,

and spoke to a member of that office about

the Moscow Project.
i.

On

or

about

Russian

Official

assistance
Project.

January

in

14,
1' s

2016,

COHEN

office

connection

with

On or about January 16,

emailed

asking
the
2016,

for

Moscow
COHEN

emailed Russian Official l's office again, said
he

was

Russian

trying

to

official,

reach
and

another

asked

spoke English to contact him.

7

for

high-level
someone

who

 ii.

On or about January 20, 2016, COHEN received an
email

from the personal

Official

1

("Assistant

assistant
1"),

to

stating

Russian
that

she

had been trying to reach COHEN and requesting
that

he

call

her

using

a Moscow-based

phone

number she provided.
iii.

Shortly after receiving the email, COHEN called
Assistant 1 and spoke to her for approximately
20 minutes.
position

On that call, COHEN described his

at

the

Company

proposed Moscow Project,

and

outlined

the

including the Russian

development company with which the Company had
partnered.
moving

the

COHEN
project

requested
forward,

assistance

both

m

in

securing

land to build the proposed tower and financing
the construction.

Assistant 1 asked detailed

questions and took notes, stating that she would
follow up with others in Russia,
iv.

The

day after COHEN's

call with Assistant

1,

Individual 2 contacted him, asking for a call.
Individual 2 wrote to COHEN,

"It's about

President of Russia] they called today."

8

[the

 COUNT 1
(False Statements)
8.

Paragraphs

1

through

7

of

this

Information

are

re­

alleged and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
9.

On or about August 28, 2017, the defendant MICHAEL COHEN,

in the District of Columbia and elsewhere, in a matter within the
jurisdiction of the legislative branch of the Government of the
United States,
fictitious,

knowingly and willfully made a materially false,

and fraudulent statement and representation,

to wit,

COHEN caused to be submitted a written statement to SSCI containing
material
false

false

statements

statements

discussions

about

with people

Moscow Project,

about
the

the

Moscow

timing

of

Project,

the

Moscow

including
Project,

in the Company and in Russia about the

and contemplated travel to Russia

in connection

with the Moscow Project.
(Title 18, United States Code,

R G o h jK t

Section 1001(a)(2).)

o

.

Special Counsel

9

±±±

 UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
-

v

.

-

MICHAEL COHEN,
Defendant.

INFORMATION
18 Cr.

ROBERT S. MUELLER, III
SPECIAL COUNSEL

 U.S. Department of Justice
The Special Counsel’s Office

Washington, D.C. 20530

November 29, 2018
Guy Petrillo, Esq.
Amy Lester, Esq.
Petrillo Klein & Boxer LLP
655 Third Avenue, 22nd Floor
New York, NY 10017
Re:

United States v. Michael Cohen

Dear Mr. Petrillo and Ms. Lester:
This letter sets forth the full and complete plea offer to your client, Michael Cohen
(hereinafter referred to as “your client” or “defendant”), from the Special Counsel's Office
(hereinafter also referred to as “the Government” or “this Office”). If your client accepts the terms
and conditions of this offer, please have your client execute this document in the space provided
below. Upon receipt of the executed document, this letter will become the Plea Agreement
(hereinafter referred to as “this Agreement”). The terms o f the offer are as follows:

1.

Charges and Statutory Penalties

Your client agrees to waive indictment and plead guilty to a Criminal Information, a copy
o f which is attached, charging your client with making false statements to the U.S. Congress, in
violation o f 18 U.S.C. § 1001(a)(2).
Your client understands that a violation of 18 U.S.C. § 1001 carries a maximum sentence
o f 5 years’ imprisonment; a fine of not more than $250,000, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3571(b)(3); a
term of supervised release of not more than 3 years, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3583(b)(2); and an
obligation to pay any applicable interest or penalties on fines and restitution not timely made.
In addition, your client agrees to pay a special assessment o f $100 per felony conviction to
the Clerk o f the United States District Court for the Southern District o f New York. Your client
also understands that, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. § 3572 and § 5E1.2 of the United States Sentencing
Commission, Guidelines Manual (2017) (hereinafter “Sentencing Guidelines,” “Guidelines,” or
“U.S.S.G.”), the Court may also impose a fine that is sufficient to pay the federal government the
costs of any imprisonment, term of supervised release, and period o f probation.

2.

Plea

Your client understands and acknowledges that this Agreement is contingent upon the entry
o f a guilty plea by the defendant in this case. If your client fails to enter a guilty plea, this

Page 1 of 9

 Agreement and any proceedings pursuant to this Agreement may be withdrawn or voided in whole
or in part at the option o f this Office.

3.

Factual Stipulations

Your client agrees that the factual allegations found within the Criminal Information fairly
and accurately describe your client’s actions and involvement in the offense to which your client
is pleading guilty.

4.

Additional Charges

In consideration of your client’s guilty plea to the above offense, your client will not be
further prosecuted criminally by this Office for the conduct set forth in the attached Criminal
Information; for any other false statements made by him to the U.S. Congress or to this Office in
connection with the conduct described in the Criminal Information; and for obstructing, aiding or
abetting in the obstruction of, or conspiring to obstruct or commit peijury before congressional or
grand jury investigations in connection with the conduct described in the Criminal Information.

5.

Sentencing Guidelines Analysis

Your client understands that the sentence in this case will be determined by the Court,
pursuant to the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), including a consideration o f the applicable
guidelines and policies set forth in the Sentencing Guidelines. Pursuant to Federal Rule of
Criminal Procedure 11(c)(1)(B), and to assist the Court in determining the appropriate sentence,
the parties agree to the following:

A.

Estimated Offense Level Under the Guidelines

The parties agree that the following Sentencing Guidelines sections apply:
U.S.S.G. § 2B1.1(a)(2)

B.

Base Offense Level:

6

Total:

6

Acceptance of Responsibility

The Government agrees that a 2-level reduction will be appropriate, pursuant to U.S.S.G.
§ 3E1.1, provided that your client clearly demonstrates acceptance o f responsibility, to the
satisfaction o f the Government, through your client’s allocution, adherence to every provision of
this Agreement, and conduct between entry of the plea and imposition of sentence.
Nothing in this Agreement limits the right o f the Government to seek denial o f the
adjustment for acceptance of responsibility, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3E1.1, and/or imposition of an
adjustment for obstruction of justice, pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 3C1.1, regardless of any agreement
set forth above, should your client move to withdraw your client’s guilty plea after it is entered, or
should it be determined by the Government that your client has either (a) engaged in conduct,

Page 2 of 9

 unknown to the Government at the time of the signing o f this Agreement, that constitutes
obstruction of justice, (b) engaged in additional criminal conduct after signing this Agreement, or
(c) taken any other action inconsistent with acceptance of responsibility.
In accordance with the above, the applicable Guidelines Offense Level will be at least 4.

C.

Estimated Criminal History Category

Based upon the information now available to this Office, your client was previously
convicted in United States v. Cohen, No. l:18-cr-602 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y. Aug. 21, 2018). As of
this date, your client has not been sentenced in that matter.
Pursuant to U.S.S.G. § 4 A l.l(c ) and 4A1.2(a)(4), your client is estimated to have one
criminal history point, and your client’s Criminal History Category is estimated to be I. Your
client acknowledges that if additional convictions are discovered during the pre-sentence
investigation by the United States Probation Office, your client’s criminal history points may
increase.

D.

Estimated Applicable Guidelines Range

Based upon the agreed total offense level and the estimated criminal history category set
forth above, your client’s estimated Sentencing Guidelines range is zero months to six months’
imprisonment (the “Estimated Guidelines Range”). In addition, the parties agree that, pursuant to
U.S.S.G. § 5E1.2, should the Court impose a fine, at Guidelines level 4, the estimated applicable
fine range is $500 to $9,500. Your client reserves the right to ask the Court not to impose any
applicable fine.
The parties agree that, solely for the purposes o f calculating the applicable range under the
Sentencing Guidelines, neither a downward nor upward departure from the Estimated Guidelines
Range set forth above is warranted. Accordingly, neither party will seek any departure or
adjustment to the Estimated Guidelines Range, nor will either party suggest that the Court consider
such a departure or adjustment, except as provided above. Moreover, your client understands and
acknowledges that the Estimated Guidelines Range agreed to by the parties is not binding on the
Probation Office or the Court. Should the Court determine that a different guidelines range is
applicable, your client will not be permitted to withdraw your client’s guilty plea on that basis, and
the Government and your client will still be bound by this Agreement.
Your client understands and acknowledges that the terms o f this section apply only to
conduct that occurred before the execution o f this Agreement. Should your client commit any
conduct after the execution of this Agreement that would form the basis for an increase in your
client’s base offense level or justify an upward departure (examples o f which include, but are not
limited to, obstruction o f justice, failure to appear for a court proceeding, criminal conduct while
pending sentencing, and false statements to law enforcement agents, the probation officer, or the
Court), the Government is free under this Agreement to seek an increase in the base offense level
based on that post-agreement conduct.

Page 3 of 9

 6.

Agreement under 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a)

Based upon the information known to the Government at the time o f the signing of this
Agreement, the parties further agree that a sentence within the Estimated Guidelines Range would
constitute a reasonable sentence in light of all o f the factors set forth in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), should
such a sentence be subject to appellate review notwithstanding the appeal waiver provided below.

7.

Reservation of Allocution and Cooperation

The Government and your client reserve the right to describe fully, both orally and in
writing, to the sentencing judge, the nature and seriousness of your client’s misconduct, including
any m isconduct not described in the charges to which your client is pleading guilty.
The Government agrees to bring to the Court’s attention at sentencing in this matter and in
United States v. Cohen, No. l:18-cr-602 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y.) the nature and extent of the
defendant’s cooperation with this Office, on the condition that your client continues to respond
and provide truthful information regarding any and all matters as to which this Office deems
relevant. The defendant must at all times give complete, truthful, and accurate information and
testimony, and must not commit, or attempt to commit, any further crimes.
The Government agrees not to oppose the transfer of this case in its entirety or for the
purposes of sentencing to the Judge in United States v. Cohen, No. 1:18-cr-602 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y.).
The parties also reserve the right to inform the presentence report writer and the Court o f
any relevant facts, to dispute any factual inaccuracies in the presentence report, and to contest any
matters not provided for in this Agreement. In the event that the Court considers any Sentencing
Guidelines adjustments, departures, or calculations different from any agreements contained in
this Agreement, or contemplates a sentence outside the Guidelines range based upon the general
sentencing factors listed in 18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), the parties reserve the right to answer any related
inquiries from the Court. In addition, if in this Agreement the parties have agreed to recommend
or refrain from recommending to the Court a particular resolution of any sentencing issue, the
parties reserve the right to full allocution in any post-sentence litigation. The parties retain the full
right o f allocution in connection with any post-sentence motion which may be filed in this matter
and/or any proceeding(s) before the Bureau of Prisons. In addition, your client acknowledges that
the Government is not obligated and does not intend to file any post-sentence downward departure
motion in this case pursuant to Rule 35(b) of the Federal Rules o f Criminal Procedure..

8.

Court Not Bound by this Agreement or the Sentencing Guidelines

Your client understands that the sentence in this case will be imposed in accordance with
18 U.S.C. § 3553(a), upon consideration of the Sentencing Guidelines. Your client further
understands that the sentence to be imposed is a matter solely within the discretion o f the Court.
Your client acknowledges that the Court is not obligated to follow any recommendation o f the
Government at the time of sentencing. Your client understands that neither the Government’s
recommendation nor the Sentencing Guidelines are binding on the Court.

Page 4 of 9

 Your client acknowledges that your client’s entry of a guilty plea to the charged offense
authorizes the Court to impose any sentence, up to and including the statutory maximum sentence,
which may be greater than the applicable Guidelines range. The Government cannot, and does
not, make any promise or representation as to what sentence your client will receive. Moreover,
it is understood that your client will have no right to withdraw your client’s plea of guilty should
the Court impose a sentence that is outside the Guidelines range or if the Court does not follow the
Government’s sentencing recommendation. The Government and your client will be bound by
this Agreement, regardless of the sentence imposed by the Court. Any effort by your client to
withdraw the guilty plea because of the length o f the sentence shall constitute a breach of this
Agreement.

9.

Waivers
A.

Venue

Your client waives any challenge to venue in the Southern District of New York.

B.

Statute of Limitations

Your client agrees that, should the conviction following your client’s plea of guilty
pursuant to this Agreement be vacated for any reason, any prosecution, based on the conduct set
forth in the attached Criminal Information, that is not time-barred by the applicable statute of
limitations on the date of the signing o f this Agreement (including any counts that the Government
has agreed not to prosecute or to dismiss at sentencing pursuant to this Agreement) may be
commenced or reinstated against your client, notwithstanding the expiration of the statute of
limitations between the signing o f this Agreement and the commencement or reinstatement o f such
prosecution. It is the intent of this Agreement to waive all defenses based on the statute of
limitations with respect to any prosecution o f conduct set forth in the attached Criminal
Information that is not time-barred on the date that this Agreement is signed.

C.

Trial Rights

Your client understands that by pleading guilty in this case your client agrees to waive
certain rights afforded by the Constitution o f the United States and/or by statute or rule. Your
client agrees to forego the right to any further discovery or disclosures o f information not already
provided at the time of the entry o f your client’s guilty plea. Your client also agrees to waive,
among other rights, the right to be indicted by a Grand Jury, the right to plead not guilty, and the
right to a jury trial. If there were a jury trial, your client would have the right to be represented by
counsel, to confront and cross-examine witnesses against your client, to challenge the admissibility
o f evidence offered against your client, to compel witnesses to appear for the purpose of testifying
and presenting other evidence on your client’s behalf, and to choose whether to testily. If there
were a jury trial and your client chose not to testify at that trial, your client would have the right to
have the jury instructed that your client’s failure to testily could not be held against your client.
Your client would further have the right to have the jury instructed that your client is presumed
innocent until proven guilty, and that the burden would be on the United States to prove your
client’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. If your client were found guilty after a trial, your client

Page 5 of 9

 would have the right to appeal your client’s conviction. Your client understands that the Fifth
Amendment to the Constitution of the United States protects your client from the use o f selfincriminating statements in a criminal prosecution. By entering a plea o f guilty, your client
knowingly and voluntarily waives or gives up your client’s right against self-incrimination.
Your client acknowledges discussing with you Rule 11(f) o f the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure and Rule 410 of the Federal Rules o f Evidence, which ordinarily limit the admissibility
of statements made by a defendant in the course of plea discussions or plea proceedings if a guilty
plea is later withdrawn. Your client knowingly and voluntarily waives the rights that arise under
these rules in the event your client withdraws your client’s guilty plea or withdraws from this
Agreement after signing it.
Your client also agrees to waive all constitutional and statutory rights to a speedy sentence
and agrees that the plea of guilty pursuant to this Agreement will be entered at a time decided upon
by the parties with the concurrence of the Court. Your client understands that the date for
sentencing will be set by the Court.

D.

Appeal Rights

Your client understands that federal law, specifically 18 U.S.C. § 3742, affords defendants
the right to appeal their sentences in certain circumstances. Your client agrees to waive the right
to appeal the sentence in this case, including but not limited to any term of imprisonment, fine,
forfeiture, award o f restitution, term or condition of supervised release, authority o f the Court to
set conditions of release, and the manner in which the sentence was determined, except to the
extent the Court sentences your client above the statutory maximum or guidelines range
determined by the Court or your client claims that your client received ineffective assistance of
counsel, in which case your client would have the right to appeal the illegal sentence or above­
guidelines sentence or raise on appeal a claim o f ineffective assistance of counsel, but not to raise
on appeal other issues regarding the sentencing. In agreeing to this waiver, your client is aware
that your client’s sentence has yet to be determined by the Court. Realizing the uncertainty in
estimating what sentence the Court ultimately will impose, your client knowingly and willingly
waives your client’s right to appeal the sentence, to the extent noted above, in exchange for the
concessions made by the Government in this Agreement.
E.

Collateral Attack

Your client also waives any right to challenge the conviction entered or sentence imposed
under this Agreement or otherwise attempt to modify or change the sentence or the manner in
which it was determined in any collateral attack, including, but not limited to, a motion brought
under 28 U.S.C. § 2255 or Federal Rule o f Civil Procedure 60(b), except to the extent such a
motion is based on newly discovered evidence or on a claim that your client received ineffective
assistance of counsel. Your client reserves the right to file a motion brought under 18 U.S.C.
§ 3582(c)(2), but agrees to waive the right to appeal the denial o f such a motion.

Page 6 of 9

 F.

Privacy Act and FOIA Rights

Your client also agrees to waive all rights, whether asserted directly or by a representative,
to request or receive from any department or agency o f the United States any records pertaining to
the investigation or prosecution o f this case, including and without limitation any records that may
be sought under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 U.S.C. § 552, or the Privacy Act, 5 U.S.C.
§ 552a, for the duration of the Office’s investigation.

10.

Restitution

Your client understands that the Court has an obligation to determine whether, and in what
amount, mandatory restitution applies in this case under 18 U.S.C. § 3663A. The Government and
your client agree that mandatory restitution does not apply in this case.

11.

Breach of Agreement

Your client understands and agrees that, if after entering this Agreement, your client fails
specifically to perform or to fulfill completely each and every one of your client’s obligations
under this Agreement, or engages in any criminal activity prior to sentencing, your client will have
breached this Agreement. In the event of such a breach: (a) the Government will be tree from its
obligations under this Agreement; (b) your client will not have the right to withdraw the guilty
plea; (c) your client will be fully subject to criminal prosecution for any other crimes, including
perjury and obstruction of justice; and (d) the Government will be free to use against your client,
directly and indirectly, in any criminal or civil proceeding, all statements made by your client and
any of the information or materials provided by your client, including such statements, information
and materials provided pursuant to this Agreement or during the course o f any debriefings
conducted in anticipation of, or after entry of, this Agreement, whether or not the debriefings were
previously characterized as “off-the-record” debriefings, and including your client’s statements
made during proceedings before the Court pursuant to Rule 11 o f the Federal Rules of Criminal
Procedure.
Your client understands and agrees that the Government shall be required to prove a breach
of this Agreejnent only by a preponderance o f the evidence, except where such breach is based on
a violation of federal, state, or local criminal law, which the Government need prove only by
probable cause in order to establish a breach o f this Agreement.
Nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to permit your client to commit perjury, to
make false statements or declarations, to obstruct justice, or to protect your client from prosecution
for any crimes not included within this Agreement or committed by your client after the execution
of this Agreement. Your client understands and agrees that the Government reserves the right to
prosecute your client for any such offenses. Your client further understands that any perjury, false
statements or declarations, or obstruction of justice relating to your client’s obligations under this
Agreement that takes place after execution o f this Agreement shall constitute a breach of this
Agreement. In the event of such a breach, your client will not be allowed to withdraw your client’s
guilty plea.

Page 7 of 9

 12.

Complete Agreement

Other than a proffer agreement executed on August 7, 2018 and continued on September
12, September 18, October 8, October 17, November 12, and November 20, 2018, no agreements,
promises, understandings, or representations have been made by the parties or their counsel other
than those contained in writing herein, nor will any such agreements, promises, understandings, or
representations be made unless committed to writing and signed by your client, defense counsel,
and the Office. The proffer agreement, with respect to the Government, is superseded as noticed
herein if the Agreement is breached.
This Office recognizes that, in connection with this Agreement, the defendant is entering
into an agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York
concerning the potential effect of this Agreement on the sentencing in United States v. Cohen, No.
l:18-cr-602 (WHP) (S.D.N.Y.).
Your client further understands that other than as set forth herein, this Agreement is binding
only upon the Office, and does not bind any other United States Attorney’s Office, nor does it bind
any other state, local, or federal prosecutor. It also does not bar or compromise any civil, tax, or
administrative claim pending or that may be made against your client.
If the foregoing terms and conditions are satisfactory, your client may so indicate by
signing this Agreement no later than November 29, 2018.

Sincerely yours,
ROBERT S. MUELLER, III
Special Counsel

Andrew D. Goldstein
L. Rush Atkinson
The Special Counsel’s Office

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 DEFENDANT’S ACCEPTANCE
I have read every page o f this Agreement and have discussed it with my attorneys, Guy
Petrillo and Amy Lester. I fully understand this Agreement and agree to it without reservation. I
do this voluntarily and o f my own free will, intending to be legally bound. No threats have been
made to me nor am I under the influence of anything that could impede my ability to understand
this Agreement fully. I am pleading guilty because I am in fact guilty of the offense identified in
this Agreement.
I reaffirm that absolutely no promises, agreements, understandings, or conditions have
been made or entered into in connection with my decision to plead guilty except those set forth in
this Agreement. I am satisfied with the legal services provided by my attorneys in connection with
this Agreement and matters related to it.

Michael Cohen
Defendant

ATTORNEY’S ACKNOWLEDGMENT
I have read every page o f this Agreement, reviewed this Agreement with my client, Michael
Cohen, and fully discussed the provisions o f this Agreement with my client. These pages
accurately and completely set forth the entire Agreement.

Date: M

2

/ V
Guy Petrillo, Esq.
Amy Lester, Esq.
Attorneys for Defendant

Page 9 of 9