Michael Cohen. Image by twitter

Michael Cohen, President Trump’s former lawyer, pleaded guilty Thursday morning to making false statements to Congress about his attempts at a Trump Tower deal in Moscow during the 2016 presidential campaign, the New York Times reported.

He wasn’t scheduled to appear in the Manhattan courtroom, where he confessed to the new criminal charge. It was part of a plea deal with special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating whether Russia interfered with the 2016 presidential election, according to Talking Points Memo.

Cohen pleaded guilty to one count of making false statements to the House and Senate Intelligence Committees. He said he submitted a false statement about building a Trump Tower in Russia.

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In August, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight counts campaign finance violations — where he said Trump directed him to make hush money payments to women during the 2016 campaign — tax evasion and bank fraud. The deal with Mueller comes two weeks before he was to be sentenced, Talking Points Memo reported. He faces 46 to 63 months in prison and a fine of up to $1 million, but his cooperation in the investigation may alleviate the punishment.

Alyssa Fisher is a news writer at the Forward. Email her at fisher@forward.com, or follow her on Twitter at @alyssalfisher

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