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Donald Trump sues former attorney Michael Cohen for $500 million

Updated Apr 12, 2023, 4:14pm EDT
politicsNorth America
Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen stands behind Trump as he runs for president while a group of supporters lay hands on Trump in prayer during a campaign stop at the New Spirit Revival Center church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio, U.S. September 21, 2016.
REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo
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Former President Donald Trump sued his former personal attorney Michael Cohen on Wednesday for $500 million, accusing him of “multiple breaches of fiduciary duty, unjust enrichment, conversion, and breaches of contract.”

Trump filed the lawsuit in federal court in Florida. The 32-page lawsuit accuses Cohen of breaching a confidentiality agreement and “spreading falsehoods” about Trump “with malicious intent and to wholly self-serving ends.” It also claims Trump “suffered vast reputational harm” due to Cohen’s admissions in books, podcasts, and media appearances.

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The lawsuit comes as Trump faces a 34-county felony indictment related to hush-money payments made allegedly on his behalf to a porn star and two others before the 2016 election. Trump has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

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Cohen, now a vocal critic of his former boss, is a key witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s case.

Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis accused the former president of “abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen.”

“It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him,” Davis said in a statement shared with Semafor.

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“Mr. Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law,” he added. “Is there anyone in America, aside from a shrinking minority base of believers, who takes Mr. Trump seriously when he files these frivolous lawsuits?”

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