Cohen granted two-month delay to report to jail

Washington, Feb 21 (IANS) Michael Cohen, U.S. President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, on Wednesday was granted a two-month delay to surrender himself to federal prison.

Federal Judge William Pauley has approved Cohen's request to adjourn his surrender to prison from March 6 to May 6, a court document revealed.

Cohen recently had "a serious surgical procedure" and needs more time for recovery, according to his lawyer Michael Monico, reports Xinhua news agency.

Earlier, House Intelligence Committee postponed Cohen's closed-door testimony until February 28. The Senate Intelligence Committee has also subpoenaed Cohen for an appearance in a closed door session.

Cohen pleaded guilty last year to charges that included campaign-finance violations for paying hush money to women who claimed to have had sex with Trump and for lying to Congress about the extent of negotiations for a Trump Tower in Russia. He was sentenced in December to three years in prison.

Trump has slammed Cohen as "a weak person" and the Russia probe as a "witch hunt."
--IANS vc