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| Trump sues former lawyer Michael Cohen for $500m | Trump sues former lawyer Michael Cohen for $500m |
| (31 minutes later) | |
| Ex-US President Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer for $500m (£400m), alleging breach of contract. | Ex-US President Donald Trump is suing his former lawyer for $500m (£400m), alleging breach of contract. |
| He says Michael Cohen breached his duty as attorney to act in his client's best interests. | He says Michael Cohen breached his duty as attorney to act in his client's best interests. |
| The lawsuit comes amid escalating attacks from Trump allies on Cohen, who is a key witness in a New York investigation into the ex-president. | The lawsuit comes amid escalating attacks from Trump allies on Cohen, who is a key witness in a New York investigation into the ex-president. |
| A Manhattan prosecutor last week charged Mr Trump with fraud in relation to hush money payments to a porn star. | A Manhattan prosecutor last week charged Mr Trump with fraud in relation to hush money payments to a porn star. |
| Cohen's spokesman and lawyer, Lanny Davis, told the BBC he was confident the lawsuit against his client would fail. | Cohen's spokesman and lawyer, Lanny Davis, told the BBC he was confident the lawsuit against his client would fail. |
| The legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, also accuses Cohen of making "improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family members, and his business". | The legal action, filed in a Florida federal court, also accuses Cohen of making "improper, self-serving, and malicious statements about his former client, his family members, and his business". |
| Cohen worked as Mr Trump's attorney for over a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization, and was often described as Mr Trump's fixer. | Cohen worked as Mr Trump's attorney for over a decade. He was also a vice-president at the Trump Organization, and was often described as Mr Trump's fixer. |
| But the two had a major falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trump's aides. | But the two had a major falling out after the 2016 election, as investigators began looking into several of Mr Trump's aides. |
| In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations. | In 2018, Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and campaign finance violations. |
| Now out of prison, Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump, and a frequent guest on news programmes. | Now out of prison, Cohen has become a high-profile critic of Mr Trump, and a frequent guest on news programmes. |
| He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Mr Trump cites in the lawsuit. | He has written a book and hosts a podcast, both of which Mr Trump cites in the lawsuit. |
| It says Cohen fabricated conversations and wrongfully called Mr Trump a "racist" in his 2020 book Disloyal. | It says Cohen fabricated conversations and wrongfully called Mr Trump a "racist" in his 2020 book Disloyal. |
| Cohen's lawyer, Mr Davis, said in a statement to the BBC: "Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen. | Cohen's lawyer, Mr Davis, said in a statement to the BBC: "Mr Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen. |
| "It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are co-operating with prosecutors against him." | "It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are co-operating with prosecutors against him." |
| New York prosecutors have charged Mr Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, in what they say was an effort to cover up payments intended to keep a porn star, Stormy Daniels, quiet about her alleged affair with him. | |
| What the 34 felony charges against Trump reveal | |
| On 4 April, Mr Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court - the first former US president ever indicted on criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty. | On 4 April, Mr Trump appeared in Manhattan criminal court - the first former US president ever indicted on criminal charges. He pleaded not guilty. |
| Cohen has admitted that as Trump's fixer, he facilitated a $130,000 pay-out to Ms Daniels. | Cohen has admitted that as Trump's fixer, he facilitated a $130,000 pay-out to Ms Daniels. |
| As Mr Trump's court date approached, Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes and criticised his former boss. | As Mr Trump's court date approached, Cohen made numerous appearances on major network news programmes and criticised his former boss. |
| "He's not thick-skinned," Cohen told CNN after Mr Trump's indictment. "He's actually very thin-skinned, and he has a very fragile ego." | "He's not thick-skinned," Cohen told CNN after Mr Trump's indictment. "He's actually very thin-skinned, and he has a very fragile ego." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Florida | Florida |
| Indictment of Donald Trump | Indictment of Donald Trump |
| Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
| United States | United States |
| Michael Cohen | Michael Cohen |