- Michael Cohen is accused of disseminating false information about Donald Trump
- The former president seeks significant punitive damages against Cohen
- Trump's former lawyer testified multiple times in front of the Manhattan grand
Former President Donald Trump is suing his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen for more than $500 million, alleging a breach of attorney-client confidentiality, unjust enrichment, and other offenses.
On Wednesday, Trump's legal team filed a 30-plus page federal lawsuit in the US District Court for the Southern District of Florida.
Trump Files Lawsuit Against Ex-Lawyer Michael Cohen
The lawsuit alleges that Cohen breached his attorney-client relationship by "spreading falsehoods" about Trump that were "likely to be embarrassing or detrimental" and engaged in other misconduct, in addition to violating the terms of a confidentiality agreement he signed as a condition of his employment with Trump.
According to Fox News, the lawsuit alleged that Cohen disseminated fraudulent information about Trump "with malice and for his benefit alone."
It also details Cohen's "vast array of public statements, including the publication of two books, a podcast series, and countless appearances in the mainstream media" despite receiving "cease and desist" orders. It is asserted that Cohen has, in recent months, "increased the frequency and hostility of the illegal acts" and "appears to have become emboldened and continues to make false and misleading statements" about Trump across multiple platforms.
Christopher Kise, an attorney representing Trump in a civil case brought by the New York attorney general and instigated in part by Cohen's testimony, lashed out at Cohen, alleging that he had lied to various officials in the past.
Trump's lawsuit seeks significant punitive damages against Cohen, but it was possible that the case would backfire. Some members of his legal team objected when the former president filed the lawsuit against New York Attorney General Letitia James, who sued Trump and his family business last year.
Similar disagreement existed among his attorneys regarding whether or not to sue Cohen, according to persons familiar with the matter. Per NY Times, Trump ultimately withdrew the lawsuit against James before US District Judge Donald M. Middlebrooks.
Before this, Judge Middlebrooks fined Trump and one of his attorneys nearly $1 million for filing a frivolous lawsuit against several political adversaries, including Trump's 2016 opponent Hillary Clinton.
Trump seeks restitution for any "profits, payments, compensations, advances, royalties," and other earnings Cohen receives from publishing his books and podcast. He also desires the return of the $74,000 plus interest, as per NY Post.
Cohen Claims Former President's Lawsuit is 'Harassment'
Cohen testified multiple times in front of the Manhattan grand jury investigating a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election. The grand jury indicted Trump on 34 counts of falsifying business records. Cohen paid Daniels to guarantee her secrecy regarding a ten-year-old alleged sexual affair with the real estate mogul.
Cohen pleaded guilty to violating federal election law in 2018 and was sentenced to three years in federal prison for the Daniels payment. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and participation in the payment. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels and participation in the payment. At his April 4 arraignment in Manhattan's criminal court, he pled not guilty to the offenses in the indictment.
Cohen's counsel, Lanny Davis, described Trump's lawsuit as "harassment" and an "attempt at intimidation." According to a source close to Trump's legal team, the lawsuit against Cohen "has nothing to do with the Manhattan DA's lawless and fact-free case and is an entirely separate matter."
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