Michael Cohen, who once said he’d take a bullet for Trump, now says his family and country have ‘my first loyalty’ – as he praises FBI agents who raided his office, decries President’s ‘witch hunt’, and denies Russian collusion
Michael Cohen sat for an interview with ABC’s George Stephanopoulos
Cohen was Trump’s longtime fixer and a key player in the Trump Organization
‘I don’t like the term witch hunt’
He said his ‘first loyalty’ is to his family and country
Says he ‘shook hands’ with FBI agents after they raided his hotel room and office
Tweeted earlier that ‘my silence is broken’
Says he is ‘not a villain of this story’
Confirms that former criminal division prosecutor Petrillo is representing him
By GEOFF EARLE
DAILYMAIL.COM
2 July 2018
President Donald Trump’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen has given an explosive interview where he put distance between himself and Trump, saying his first loyalty is to his family and the country.
‘To be crystal clear, my wife, my daughter and my son, and this country have my first loyalty,’ Cohen told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in his first sit-down interview since coming under criminal investigation.
And he says in pugnacious terms he will hit back if allies of the president end up coming after him.
‘I will not be a punching bag as part of anyone’s defense strategy,’ Cohen said. ‘I am not a villain of this story, and I will not allow others to try to depict me that way,’ he said.
Amid increasing reports Trump’s longtime lawyer and fixer might ‘flip,’ Cohen rejected Trump’s favorite term for the ‘witch hunt’ Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation, praised the professional conduct of FBI agents, and blasted any Russian interference in U.S. elections.
It was among several cases where the loyalist who once said he would ‘take a bullet’ for Trump’ gave indications their interest may no longer align.
‘I don’t like the term witch hunt,’ Cohen said.
But he wouldn’t answer when asked whether Trump asked him to make a $130,000 payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with Trump, as part of a non-disclosure agreement.
‘I want to answer. One day I will answer,’ Cohen said. ‘But for now, I can’t comment further on advice of my counsel.’
As he has in prior comments, Cohen said the FBI agents who carried out the April raid of his home, office, and a hotel where he was staying were professional in their conduct – even though Trump himself blasted the move as a violation of attorney-client privilege when it happened.
‘I don’t agree with those who demonize or vilify the FBI. I respect the FBI as an institution, as well as their agents,’ Cohen said, following weeks where the president went after the ‘FBI lovers’ and others involved in the Russia and Hillary Clinton probes.
‘When they searched my hotel room and my home, it was obviously upsetting to me and my family. Nonetheless, the agents were respectful, courteous and professional. I thanked them for their service and as they left, we shook hands,’ Cohen said.
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