Ex-President of the United States Donald Trump is suing his former attorney Michael Cohen for $500 million (£400 million) for violation of contract.
According to him, Cohen violated his duty as an attorney to act in the best interests of his client.
Cohen is a vital witness in a New York investigation of Mr. Trump centred on the payment of hush money to a pornstar.
Cohen’s lawyer and spokesman, Lanny Davis, told the BBC that he is “confident that the suit will fail based on the facts and the law.”
The lawsuit, which was submitted in federal court in Florida, additionally accuses Cohen of making “improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family, and his business.”
Cohen served as Mr. Trump’s lawyer for more than a decade. As vice-president of the Trump Organization, he was frequently referred to as Mr. Trump’s mediator.
After the 2016 election, however, the two had a significant falling out as investigators began looking into several of Mr. Trump’s aides.
Cohen was given a three-year prison term and a fine in 2018 after pleading guilty to fraud and campaign finance violations.
Cohen has become a prominent critic of Mr. Trump and a frequent guest on news programmes since his release from prison.
Mr. Trump references both his book and podcast in his lawsuit.
Mr. Davis continued, “Mr. Trump appears to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen.” “It appears that he is petrified of his impending legal perils and is trying to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him. Mr. Cohen will not be deterred and is confident that the case will be dismissed on the basis of the facts and the law.”
The lawsuit follows intensifying assaults on Cohen from Mr. Trump’s inner circle, as the former president defends himself against a criminal case.
New York prosecutors have charged Mr. Trump with 34 felonies for allegedly falsifying business documents in an attempt to conceal payments made to Stormy Daniels to keep her quiet about her alleged affair with Mr. Trump.
Mr. Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court on April 4 as the first former US president ever to face criminal proceedings. He entered an alibi plea.
Cohen has acknowledged that, as Trump’s fixer, he facilitated the payment of $130,000 to Ms Daniels.
Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes to criticise his former employer as Mr. Trump’s court date approached.
Cohen told CNN following Mr. Trump’s indictment, “He is not thick-skinned.” He actually has a very fragile ego and a very thin epidermis.
