Michael Cohen gets out of prison early because of coronavirus

Donald Trump's lawyer and long-time fixer Michael Cohen will be released from prison early due to the risk of coronavirus.

Cohen will spend the remainder of his three-year-sentence in home detention, meaning he will be allowed to leave the house in November 2021.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons is releasing inmates early to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading behind bars.

Cohen is currently housed at the medium-security Otisville Satellite Camp, a federal prison in upstate New York.

He will spend two weeks in quarantine before his release on May 1.

Otisville is regarded as one of America's "cushiest" prisons, a regular destination for white collar criminals.

Other inmates serving alongside Cohen included Fyre Festival promoter Billy McFarland and Jersey Shore's Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino. The camp has a number of recreational activities: weights, cardio equipment, bocce ball and horseshoes.

It also has a basketball court, handball court, tennis area, baseball field, and running and walking areas.

Why was Michael Cohen jailed?

Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail after pleading guilty to illegal hush payments to Mr Trump's lovers.

The payments were made to porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal, so they would not disclose their affairs with Mr Trump.

Prosecutors said the payments were made at the direction of Mr Trump, who under federal law, cannot be indicted while president.

Cohen also pleaded guilty to lying to Congress about a deal Mr Trump was purported negotiating in 2016 to build a skyscraper in Moscow.

After Cohen pleaded guilty, Mr Trump labelled him "a weak person".

"Michael Cohen is lying and he's trying to get a reduced sentence," the president said.

He also pleaded guilty to bank fraud and tax charges.

Cohen was one of Mr Trump's longest-serving associates, dating back well before the property tycoon sought political office.

Many other Trump associates have been jailed in recent years, including campaign chair Paul Manafort, co-chair Rick Gates and advisers Roger Stone and George Papadopoulos.

Hundreds of federal prisoners have contracted COVID-19, putting great strain on the system's health care capacity.

Many more have contracted the virus in state-run jails, including Hollywood producer and convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein.