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Top Experts: DOJ's Bureau of Prison Blocking Michael Cohen Book about Trump Violates First Amendment
https://www.justsecurity.org/71370/top-experts-bureau-of-prisons-blocking-michael-cohen-book-about-trump-violates-first-amendment/On Thursday morning, Michael Cohen, the president’s former lawyer and fixer, was returned to prison. Many readers like myself may have passed over the headlines for this particular event thinking it was unsurprising. After all, Cohen’s reimprisonment followed his apparently being caught on camera at a NYC restaurant in violation of conditions of home confinement. Despite initial headlines, however, the news reports explained a very different and more ominous set of facts. As the New York Times’ Maggie Haberman described, “Cohen imprisonment wasn’t related to NY Post photo of him at restaurant. When he went to switch from furlough to home confinement, he had to sign papers saying no media or publishing a book, which he refused to sign.”
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A few items of background are worth noting. First, it is important to understand that Cohen’s book is widely expected to include numerous and specific allegations unfavorable to the president.
Second, the Trump Organization has reportedly attempted to block the book. They are not alone. When Cohen testified before Congress on Feb. 27, 2019, several Republican lawmakers cast aspersions on his writing a book. Rep. Virginia Ann Foxx’s (R-NC) asked Cohen to “commit, under oath, that you have not and will not pursue a book or movie deal based on your experiences working for the president.” Cohen flatly replied, “No.” On April 30 of this year, Cohen reportedly received a letter from Trump Organization lawyers demanding that he halt writing his “tell-all book” citing a non-disclosure agreement.
Third, Cohen recently flagged that the book is imminent. On July 2, Cohen retweeted news that a New York court held that Mary Trump’s book about President Trump could be released, and Cohen added a comment that his own book was “close to completion.” He also said his book had an anticipated release date of late September, which would be a few weeks before the presidential election. A week later, on Thursday, July 9, Cohen was reportedly presented with the surprise agreement as a condition for his remaining out of prison.
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A few items of background are worth noting. First, it is important to understand that Cohen’s book is widely expected to include numerous and specific allegations unfavorable to the president.
Second, the Trump Organization has reportedly attempted to block the book. They are not alone. When Cohen testified before Congress on Feb. 27, 2019, several Republican lawmakers cast aspersions on his writing a book. Rep. Virginia Ann Foxx’s (R-NC) asked Cohen to “commit, under oath, that you have not and will not pursue a book or movie deal based on your experiences working for the president.” Cohen flatly replied, “No.” On April 30 of this year, Cohen reportedly received a letter from Trump Organization lawyers demanding that he halt writing his “tell-all book” citing a non-disclosure agreement.
Third, Cohen recently flagged that the book is imminent. On July 2, Cohen retweeted news that a New York court held that Mary Trump’s book about President Trump could be released, and Cohen added a comment that his own book was “close to completion.” He also said his book had an anticipated release date of late September, which would be a few weeks before the presidential election. A week later, on Thursday, July 9, Cohen was reportedly presented with the surprise agreement as a condition for his remaining out of prison.
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The article goes on the quote all the experts consulted on how unconstitutional this was.
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