U.S. President Donald Trump’s former lawyer apologized Wednesday for covering up the “dirty deeds” of his ex-boss as he was sentenced to three years for multiple crimes including hush money payments implicating the U.S. president.

Pleading for leniency in a packed Manhattan courtroom before U.S. District Court Judge William H. Pauley III, Michael Cohen said he had been led astray by misplaced admiration for Trump.

An emotional Cohen, 52, Trump’s longtime “fixer,” told the court he accepted responsibility for his personal crimes and “those involving the President of the United States of America.”

Cohen’s lawyers had argued for no jail time after he admitted charges brought by federal prosecutors in New York of tax evasion, providing false statements to a bank and illegal campaign contributions.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to making false statements to Congress — a charge stemming from Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s probe into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign colluded with Russia to get him elected.

However, Pauley said Cohen — as a lawyer — “should have known better” and sentenced him to three years in federal prison, ordering him to surrender to custody by March 6.

He was also ordered to pay US$2 million in fines and restitution.

“Each of these crimes standing alone warrants considerable punishment,” Pauley said, adding that Cohen was “motivated by personal greed and ambition.”

“A significant term of imprisonment is fully justified in this highly publicized case to send a message,” the judge said. (SD-Agencies)