Michael Cohen, former President Donald Trump’s disbarred attorney who has become a vocal critic of his former boss, thanked New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday as she acknowledged her role in exposing misconduct that is now the subject of a $250 million lawsuit. Against the Trump Organization.
Ms. James’ office is suing Mr. Trump, his three eldest children and the collection of unnamed companies that make up his business empire, and is asking a judge to bar Mr. Trump from serving as a corporate officer in the Empire State.
At a press conference to announce the lawsuit, he said the Trump Organization and its representatives made more than 200 false and misleading valuations of its assets over a 10-year period from 2011 to 2021.
He described multiple “statements of financial condition” prepared by his former accounting firm – at his direction – as “exaggerated, grossly inflated objective lies, and therefore fraudulent and invalid”.
New York’s attorney general opened an investigation into Mr. Cohen, who became widely known as a staunch defender of Mr. Trump but turned against the former president after he was accused of his role in a payment scheme to cover up an affair. Along with adult film star Stormy Daniels, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said Mr. Trump inflated asset valuations to his insurance company during a hearing before the House Oversight Committee.
Ms. James cited Mr. Cohen’s role in closing the three-year investigation.
“I would like to remind everyone that this investigation only began after former lawyer Michael Cohen, his former lawyer, testified before Congress had shed light on this misconduct,” he said.
In response, Mr Cohen wrote on Twitter, “I would like to personally thank @TishJames for recognizing my participation and assistance in bringing Mandarin Mussolini to justice”.
He said his “journey to the truth” over the past few years had been “filled with sadness, pain and anger”, but commented that Ms James’ announcement “made it”. [all] It’s worth it”.
