In a surprising turn of events, former attorney and one-time fixer for Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, has made a rather embarrassing admission. Cohen revealed that he unknowingly forwarded fake legal citations to his attorney, who then used them in an argument to request an early end to Cohen's supervised release. This revelation came to light when the judge in the case demanded an explanation for the questionable citations. In a recently unsealed court filing, Cohen claimed that these citations were obtained from Google's AI chatbot. He further stated that he was unaware that the chatbot could provide citations that appeared to be legitimate but were, in fact, fake. Cohen admitted to assuming that his attorney would verify the information.
Legal analysts and former federal prosecutors were quick to discuss this peculiar situation. They remarked that while Cohen may have done some preliminary research using the unreliable chatbot, it ultimately fell upon his lawyers to ensure the accuracy of the case citations. The responsibility lies with the attorneys who submit the papers to the court to verify the citations they present. However, there could be potential ramifications for Cohen himself, as his credibility is already in question due to his disbarment and previous admission of lying to Congress.
The revelation of these fake citations could have a significant impact on Cohen's upcoming involvement as a witness in the Manhattan Criminal Court trial involving Donald Trump. Defense lawyers often have the opportunity to challenge the credibility of government witnesses, and this incident might be added to their arsenal of evidence to undermine Cohen's trustworthiness.
While this revelation may not lead to legal consequences for Cohen, as he has already been disbarred, it nevertheless poses a challenge for the Manhattan District Attorney's Office, particularly as they prepare to put Cohen on the stand. Despite this setback, it is unlikely to deter them from proceeding with their plans; however, they will need to carefully strategize and prepare for the upcoming cross-examination, which promises to be eventful.
As for the lawyer who submitted these fake citations to the judge, there may be potential ramifications depending on the judge's decision. Sanctions, fines, or censures could be imposed, though it is uncertain at this point. Regardless, the lawyer involved is undoubtedly facing an embarrassing and undesirable situation, as no attorney wishes to find themselves in such a predicament.
Ultimately, this incident serves as a reminder to exercise caution when relying on sources, even AI chatbots. It underscores the importance of thorough vetting and verification to ensure the accuracy and legitimacy of legal citations.
