In a complaint filed in federal court in Miami, former US President Donald Trump accused his former lawyer Michael Cohen of failing to keep confidential attorney-client communications private and profiting by"spreading falsehoods" about him in books and podcasts. FILE PHOTO
Lanny Davis, a lawyer for Cohen, called Trump's lawsuit "frivolous." Trump often over the years has filed suits against various adversaries. Trump, who is running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records. It marked the first time a former US president was charged with a crime.
"The timing of Disloyal's release, just prior to the November 3, 2020 Presidential Election, suggests that intended to improperly disclose confidences when it would be most lucrative to do so - and while Disloyal would be sure to have the most damaging reputational effect," the lawsuit said.Cohen was a top executive at Trump's real estate company and then worked as his personal lawyer when Trump became president in 2017.
Referring to Daniels by her real name Stephanie Clifford, Trump's lawyers said Trump intended the payment to her "to protect his family from the malicious and false claims made by Clifford."