Trump derangement syndrome is very real.
Michael Cohen, once President Trump’s personal attorney, recently expressed his deep dissatisfaction with the sentencing in the hush money case involving Trump, which has captivated the nation. Cohen, speaking on MSNBC’s The Weekend, emphasized that many Americans share his frustration over the lack of meaningful accountability in Trump’s legal proceedings.
“I’m very unsatisfied, and I believe many Americans feel the same way,” Cohen said. “Either there should be accountability, or the case should have been dismissed as requested. If there is no accountability, there is no deterrence. Without deterrence, what’s the point of even having the case?”
Cohen’s comments come after Judge Juan Merchan chose to give Trump an unconditional discharge, essentially allowing him to avoid any direct consequences for his role in the illegal hush money payments made to silence allegations ahead of the 2016 presidential election. This decision was a major point of contention for Cohen, who feels that it is a glaring example of unequal justice.
He continued, “How can we as a nation accept that the leader of the free world, the incoming president, is a convicted felon? This should not be something we take pride in, regardless of political affiliation. Whether you’re Republican, Democrat, or independent, no one should celebrate the fact that a sitting president faces felony charges.”
Cohen, who served a three-year prison sentence for his role in the scandal, expressed his anger at what he sees as an unfair disparity in the legal outcomes between him and Trump. He spent six years—three in prison and three in supervised release—while Trump faces no punishment at all. Cohen proposed a more fitting punishment for the former president, suggesting that a conditional discharge could require Trump to give back to the community, such as doing volunteer work or community service.
“I did six years, and Trump gets off scot-free with no accountability,” Cohen remarked, underscoring his frustration with what he sees as a lack of justice. “It’s hard to accept when you’ve been held to such a high standard, yet the former president faces no real consequence.”
Cohen’s remarks highlight a growing concern among many conservatives and independents: that there are two sets of rules in America—one for the political elite and another for ordinary citizens. As the nation moves forward, the question of accountability looms large, especially as Trump prepares for a potential second term in office.