Allies of President Donald Trump sought to discredit his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen after he said last week he was willing to divulge information about Trump.
After Cohen recently claimed Trump knew in advance of a 2016 Trump Tower meeting with Russians, the President’s current lawyer Rudy Giuliani attacked Cohen, calling him “a liar” and a “pathological manipulator.” He also brought into question Cohen’s credibility, saying he cannot be trusted.
The meeting in question was attended by President Trump’s eldest son, Donald Trump Jr., who allegedly sought compromising information on then-presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
The President’s former lawyer has only widened the rift between him and Trump, indicating he is willing to cooperate with investigators and share with them details about Trump’s personal and professional dealings. This has triggered the President’s attorneys and associates to try to present Cohen as a flawed and unreliable witness.
Cohen was part of Trump’s team for over a decade but recent disclosures which led to accusations against the lawyer have led to a falling out between the two men. Cohen is currently facing an investigation for bank fraud and possible campaign-finance violations, as well as for trying to suppress negative publicity for Trump during the 2016 campaign.
His premises were raided in April during which 12 audio recordings were seized. One of those recordings was released last Monday and in it, Cohen and Trump appear to discuss a payment to a former Playboy model who alleged she had an affair with Trump.
Shortly after, Giuliani took aim at Trump’s former lawyer, saying he was “capable, I think, unfortunately, of doctoring tapes.” He further maintained the tapes will only prove the President did nothing wrong.
Chris Christie, a former New Jersey governor and a former adviser to the Trump campaign also condemned Cohen’s actions, saying it was not in his best interest to leak such recording “when he does not have a deal yet.”
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