Cohen suing Trump
NEW YORK: Longtime Trump fixer Michael Cohen is ready to bite the hand that won’t cover his legal costs.
Cohen, in a Manhattan Supreme Court filing, yesterday charged that the Trump Organisation reneged on a July 2017 agreement to cover his multimilliondollar attorneys’ fees and costs in connection with investigations of President Donald Trump.
He’s seeking close to $US4 million ($NZ5.9 million) from the president’s business operation.
The lengthy legal filing maintains the deal remains in effect even through Trump and his associate of 13 years are now on opposite sides of the ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller.
‘‘The indemnification agreement imposes on each party a duty of good faith and fair dealing in its performance and enforcement,’’ the court papers state.
‘‘After it became clear that Mr Cohen would cooperate . . . the Trump Organisation took steps to thwart Mr Cohen’s ability to receive amounts he was entitled to.’’
Cohen pleaded guilty in August to tax crimes, lying to Congress and campaign finance violations.
Cohen maintains the agreement should cover an estimated $US1.9 million in legal fees and another $US1.9 million in forfeitures or payments as part of his criminal sentence in the probe.
‘‘All of these amounts were subject to the Trump Organisation’s indemnification agreement,’’ Cohen’s papers state.
‘‘By failing to pay . . . the Trump Organisation has breached the agreement,’’ the papers from Cohen note.
The complaint was filed after the Trump Organisation ignored a letter on January 25 this year from Cohen asking for reimbursement owed under the deal — TCA