Donald Trump on Wednesday filed a $500 million lawsuit against his former personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, a week after the former president was indicted over payments that Cohen facilitated to porn star Stormy Daniels before the 2016 presidential election.
Cohen testified before a Manhattan grand jury that indicted Trump on 34 criminal counts of falsifying business records and could be a key witness in a criminal trial. Trump, who has pleaded not guilty, has denied involvement in the scheme.
In the lawsuit, Trump accuses Cohen of violating attorney-client privilege by sharing confidential information and spreading falsehoods about him “with malice and for self-serving purposes.”
“Plaintiffs have suffered substantial reputational harm as a direct result of Defendant’s violations,” the lawsuit filed by Trump’s attorney Alejandro Brito in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of the state of Florida.
The lawsuit alleges the most serious “breach of fiduciary duty” includes two books written by Cohen, a podcast, and other public statements about Trump.
“The Defendant obtained a significant benefit, to the detriment of the Plaintiff and in the Plaintiff
expenses, as a direct result of the publication of fiduciary duties, including, without limitation, the realization of substantial monetary benefits in the form of compensation, advances, royalties, profits and / or profits received for the role in the writing, publication, promotion, and / or sale of the Book, ” said the suit.
Trump is seeking more than $500 million in “actual, compensatory, incidental, and punitive damages” from Cohen, and any profits he made through his book and podcast.
Cohen’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, predicted Trump’s lawsuit would fail. In a statement, the lawyer described the lawsuit as an attempt by Trump “to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him.”
Cohen, who arranged Daniels’ payments and was jailed for campaign finance violations, has vowed to continue to fight for the truth.
“Despite Trump’s attempts to intimidate and harass me, I will not stop fighting and continue to take responsibility for his dirty deeds,” Cohen wrote on Twitter Wednesday, linking to a GoFundMe page raising money for his legal defense.
Manhattan prosecutors alleged Cohen handled three hush money payments to Trump involving Daniels, model Karen McDougal, and a former Trump Tower doorman who claimed Trump had a child out of wedlock.
Trump has a long history of attacking perceived opponents in court. Earlier this year, a Florida judge ordered Trump and his lawyer Alina Habba to pay just $1 million for bringing a “completely frivolous” lawsuit against former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and other defendants.