Former President Donald Trump’s disbarred attorney Michael Cohen thanked New York Attorney General Letitia James on Wednesday after she acknowledged his role in exposing the wrongdoing that is now the subject of a $250 million lawsuit. The subject is against the Trump Organization.
Ms. James’ office is suing Mr. Trump, his three eldest sons and the collection of namesake companies that make up his business empire, seeking $2.5 billion in damages and asking a judge to bar the Trumps from serving as corporate officials in the Empire State.
In a news conference announcing the lawsuit, she said the Trump Organization and its representatives made more than 200 false and misleading assessments of its assets over a 10-year period from 2011 to 2021.
She described multiple “statements of financial condition” prepared by his former accounting firm under his direction as “exaggerated, grossly exaggerated and objectively false and therefore fraudulent and illegal”.
The New York attorney general opened an investigation into Mr. Cohen, who was widely known as a combative defender of Mr. Trump, but turned against him after he was indicted for his alleged involvement in a cover-up of payments the former president made to conceal his affair. With adult film star Stormy Daniels told New York Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez that Trump told him at House Oversight Committee hearing of insurers provided inflated asset valuations.
Ms James pointed to Mr Cohen’s role in launching the three-year investigation.
“I will remind everyone that this investigation began after former attorney Michael Cohen testified before Congress, where his former attorney exposed this misconduct,” she said.
In response, Mr Cohen tweeted: “I would like to personally thank @TishJames for acknowledging my involvement and assisting in holding Mussolini’s Mandarin accountable”.
He said his “truth journey” over the past few years was “full of grief, pain and anger”, but said Ms James’ statement “made [all] worth”.
