• Evgeny Freidman, center, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, Freidman has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Photo: NATHANIEL BROOKS, New York Times / NYTNS
Photo: NATHANIEL BROOKS, New York Times
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Evgeny Freidman, center, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, Freidman has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. less
Evgeny Freidman, center, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, ... more
Photo: NATHANIEL BROOKS, New York Times
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Evgeny Freidman, center, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, Freidman has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. less
Evgeny Freidman, center, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, ... more
Photo: NATHANIEL BROOKS, New York Times
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Evgeny Freidman, second from right, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, Freidman has quietly agreed to cooperate with the government as a potential witness, a development that could be used as leverage to pressure Cohen to work with the special counsel examining Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. less
Evgeny Freidman, second from right, leaves court after pleading guilty and promising his cooperation in state and federal investigations, in Albany, N.Y., May 22, 2018. A significant business partner of Michael ... more
Photo: NATHANIEL BROOKS, New York Times
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NEW YORK, NY - MAY 11: Michael Cohen, former personal attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump, walks with his children as he exits the Loews Regency Hotel, May 11, 2018 in New York City. AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson said this week that it was a mistake to hire Cohen as a consultant it was revealed they paid him $600,000 last year. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images) less
NEW YORK, NY - MAY 11: Michael Cohen, former personal attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump, walks with his children as he exits the Loews Regency Hotel, May 11, 2018 in New York City. AT&T CEO Randall ... more
Photo: Drew Angerer
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Timeline of the Stormy Daniels scandal.

Timeline of the Stormy Daniels scandal.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
Image 7 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels
Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels: Actress Stormy Daniels in 2008 in Las Vegas. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, reached a $130,000 deal a month before the 2016 election to keep silent on an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump, according to the Wall Street Journal. less
Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels: Actress Stormy Daniels in 2008 in Las Vegas. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, reached a $130,000 deal a month before the 2016 election to keep silent on an ... more
Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/Getty Images
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January 2005

Trump marries his current wife, Melania.
January 2005

Trump marries his current wife, Melania.
Photo: JOE AMON, AP
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March 2006 

The couple's son, Barron, is born.
March 2006 

The couple's son, Barron, is born.
Photo: CHRIS PIZZELLO, REUTERS
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July 2006

According to Daniels, she and Trump began an "intimate relationship" and it continued "well into the year 2007."
July 2006

According to Daniels, she and Trump began an "intimate relationship" and it continued "well into the year 2007."
Photo: Mary Altaffer, AP
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November 2016

Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pays Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence.
November 2016

Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen, pays Daniels $130,000 in exchange for her silence.
Photo: Hector Retamal / AFP/Getty Images
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Feb. 13, 2018

Cohen acknowledges he paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to Daniels, saying he was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. He notably does not say whether the president personally reimbursed him.

"The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone," he says in a statement.
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Feb. 13, 2018

Cohen acknowledges he paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to Daniels, saying he was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. He notably does not say whether the
... more
Photo: Mary Altaffer, Associated Press
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March 7, 2018


Daniels files a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Trump has "made very well clear that none of these allegations are true." less
March 7, 2018


Daniels files a lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court seeking to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement. White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders says Trump has "made very well ... more
Photo: Carolyn Kaster, AP
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March 25, 2018

In a highly anticipated interview with CBS' "60 Minutes," Daniels says she was threatened to keep silent. White House spokesman Raj Shah declines to say whether the president watched the interview but says Trump does not believe any of the claims she made.

"The president strongly, clearly and has consistently denied these underlying claims, and the only person who's been inconsistent is the one making the claims," Shah says.
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March 25, 2018

In a highly anticipated interview with CBS' "60 Minutes," Daniels says she was threatened to keep silent. White House spokesman Raj Shah declines to say whether the president watched the
... more
Photo: /Associated Press
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April 5, 2018

In his first public comments about Daniels, Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One that he didn't know about Cohen's payment.
April 5, 2018

In his first public comments about Daniels, Trump tells reporters aboard Air Force One that he didn't know about Cohen's payment.
Photo: DOUG MILLS, NYT
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April 9, 2018

Federal agents in New York raid Cohen's office and a hotel room, seizing records on topics including the payment made to Daniels. Cohen is now facing a criminal investigation in New York.
April 9, 2018

Federal agents in New York raid Cohen's office and a hotel room, seizing records on topics including the payment made to Daniels. Cohen is now facing a criminal investigation in New York.
Photo: Drew Angerer
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April 18, 2018

Trump responds to Daniels releasing an artist's sketch of a man she says threatened her. "A sketch years later about a nonexistent man," Trump tweets. "A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!"
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April 18, 2018

Trump responds to Daniels releasing an artist's sketch of a man she says threatened her. "A sketch years later about a nonexistent man," Trump tweets. "A total con job, playing the Fake News
... more
Photo: Trump Tweet
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April 26, 2018

In a phone interview with "Fox & Friends," Trump muddies his earlier comments that he didn't know about the Cohen payments, saying Cohen represented him in the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal."

"From what I see he did absolutely nothing wrong," Trump said. "There were no campaign funds going into this which would have been a problem."
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April 26, 2018

In a phone interview with "Fox & Friends," Trump muddies his earlier comments that he didn't know about the Cohen payments, saying Cohen represented him in the "crazy Stormy Daniels deal."
... more
Photo: Richard Drew /Associated Press
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May 2, 2018

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a new addition to Trump's legal team, tells Fox News host Sean Hannity that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 paid to Daniels. Giuliani says the money to repay Cohen had been "funneled ... through the law firm and the president repaid it."

Giuliani said the payment "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal. That money was not campaign money."

Asked if Trump knew about the arrangement, Giuliani said: "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know. But he did know about the general arrangement that Michael would take care of things like this."
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May 2, 2018

Former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, a new addition to Trump's legal team, tells Fox News host Sean Hannity that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the $130,000 paid to Daniels. Giuliani says the money to
... more
Photo: Mark J. Terrill, STF / Associated Press
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May 3, 2018

On Twitter, Trump acknowledges he repaid Cohen after claiming previously he didn't know about the payments. He said the money "had nothing to do with the campaign."

Trump said Cohen received a monthly retainer, which he used to pay Daniels to sign an agreement not to talk about her allegations and "stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair."

Sanders later told reporters that she had tried to give them "the very best information we had at the time." She said she first learned that Trump had repaid Cohen while watching Giuliani's interview.
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May 3, 2018

On Twitter, Trump acknowledges he repaid Cohen after claiming previously he didn't know about the payments. He said the money "had nothing to do with the campaign."

Trump said Cohen received a
... more
Photo: Trumptweet
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May 4, 2018

Despite sending tweets the previous day acknowledging that he had repaid Cohen, Trump further muddied the story line by insisting that "virtually everything" reported about the payment to Daniels was wrong. He declined to elaborate. Trump said Giuliani had "just started a day ago" and was still "learning the subject matter" and insisted that "we're not changing any stories."
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May 4, 2018

Despite sending tweets the previous day acknowledging that he had repaid Cohen, Trump further muddied the story line by insisting that "virtually everything" reported about the payment to Daniels
... more
Photo: TOM BRENNER, NYT
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Image 26 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

Actress Stormy Daniels in 2008 in Las Vegas.

Actress Stormy Daniels in 2008 in Las Vegas.

Photo: Chris Farina/WireImage
Image 27 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

Donald Trump at the Lake Tahoe golf event in 2006 where the alleged encounter took place.

Donald Trump at the Lake Tahoe golf event in 2006 where the alleged encounter took place.

Photo: DINO VOURNAS/AP
Image 28 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

Stormy Daniels at a Trump Vodka launch party in 2007.

Stormy Daniels at a Trump Vodka launch party in 2007.

Photo: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage
Image 29 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

Adult film actresses Stormy Daniels and Jessica Drake. In 2016, Drake also accused then-candidate Donald Trump with unwanted sexual contact during the same Lake Tahoe event in 2006.

Adult film actresses Stormy Daniels and Jessica Drake. In 2016, Drake also accused then-candidate Donald Trump with unwanted sexual contact during the same Lake Tahoe event in 2006.

Photo: Gabe Ginsberg/FilmMagic
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Image 31 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels
Jessica Drake (R), who works for an adult film company, stands with a photo of her meeting with Donald Trump, beside attorney Gloria Allred as they talk about allegations of sexual misconduct against the Republican presidential hopeful during a press conference in Los Angeles on October 22, 2016. less
Jessica Drake (R), who works for an adult film company, stands with a photo of her meeting with Donald Trump, beside attorney Gloria Allred as they talk about allegations of sexual misconduct against the ... more
Photo: Mark Ralston / AFP /Getty Images
Image 32 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

In the 2005 "Access Hollywood" video uncovered in October 2016, Trump could be heard telling Billy Bush that “when you’re a star” you can “grab them by the p—y.”

In the 2005 "Access Hollywood" video uncovered in October 2016, Trump could be heard telling Billy Bush that “when you’re a star” you can “grab them by the p—y.”

Photo: Getty Images
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Rachel Crooks, left, Jessica Leeds, center, and Samantha Holvey attend a news conference, Monday in New York to discuss their accusations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump. 
Rachel Crooks, left, Jessica Leeds, center, and Samantha Holvey attend a news conference, Monday in New York to discuss their accusations of sexual misconduct against Donald Trump. 
Photo: Mark Lennihan, STF
Image 34 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels

Summer Zervos (R), a former contestant on the TV show The Apprentice, who previously accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, during a press conference with attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles, California on November 11, 2016. (Photo by Ronen Tivony/NurPhoto via Getty Images)

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Summer Zervos (R), a former contestant on the TV show The Apprentice, who previously accused Donald Trump of sexual misconduct, during a press conference with attorney Gloria Allred in Los Angeles, California

... more
Photo: NurPhoto/NurPhoto Via Getty Images
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Image 36 of 37 | Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels
Karena Virginia, right, accompanied by lawyer Gloria Allred, addresses a news conference in New York, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. Virginia accused Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of inappropriate sexual conduct, a day after he said all such allegations are fiction. (AP Photo/Richard Drew) less
Karena Virginia, right, accompanied by lawyer Gloria Allred, addresses a news conference in New York, Thursday, Oct. 20, 2016. Virginia accused Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump of inappropriate ... more
Photo: Richard Drew, Associated Press
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ALBANY, N.Y. – New York City attorney and businessman Evgeny "Gene" Freidman, an associate of President Donald J. Trump's longtime attorney Michael Cohen, pleaded guilty Tuesday to felony tax fraud in Albany County Court to resolve allegations he stole more than $5 million from the state and evaded taxes.

Freidman, the chief executive officer of Taxi Club Management, managed more than 800 medallion taxicabs through four companies. He pleaded guilty before Judge Peter Lynch, according to the attorney general's office.

The plea deal was first reported by the New York Times, which cited an unnamed source who said Friedman had agreed to assist in state and federal investigations.

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He was charged last year with failing to pay the state $5 million between 2012 and 2015, then-state Attorney General Eric Schneiderman's office said at the time.

On Tuesday, he agreed to pay restitution and judgments totaling $5 million to New York State.

"Today, the 'Taxi King' admitted that he built his empire by stealing from New Yorkers," said Attorney General Underwood in a statement. "Freidman pocketed money that should have provided much-needed investment in our transit system – and he'll now have to pay back every cent. Our office will continue to hold accountable those who cheat the system."

Cohen is under investigation by federal prosecutors, who last month conducted searches on his office and other locations. Material seized in those searches is currently being processed by a special master to prevent the disclosure of information covered by attorney-client privilege.

Cohen's duties for Trump included setting up a $130,000 non-disclosure agreement with porn star Stephanie Clifford, aka Stormy Daniels, who has alleged she had a sexual encounter with the then-real estate mogul in 2006.