Sun Sentinel Broward Edition

Bradford Cohen

- — Rafael Olmeda

The attorney and reality show contestant is no stranger to the spotlight, serving as defense counsel to numerous high-profile clients in less than highprofil­e cases.

Cohen’s client list includes rappers Vanilla Ice (Robert Van Winkle) in a burglary case and DMX (Earl Simmons) in a drug possession case, NFL player Plaxico Burress for traffic infraction­s, NBA player Dennis Rodman for neglecting child support payments and record producer Scott Storch in a drug case. He also represente­d a Fort Lauderdale police officer whowas cleared of filing false reports in a misconduct case in 2013.

Nowhe’s adding Donald Trump campaign manager Corey Lewandowsk­i’s battery case to his catalog.

Cohen, 45, has maintained a friendship with Trump ever since appearing as a contestant on the 2004 season of “The Apprentice.”

Hewas fired by Trump in the second week, not just for losing theweek’s competitio­n, but for giving up a precious exemption that would have kept him in the running.

Cohen said he surrendere­d the exemption to show his team hewas willing to lead by example and take responsibi­lty. Trump sawit as a “stupid” move and an unforgivab­le sign of weakness, and fired Cohen. “Don’t give anything away for free if there’s no upside to it,” Trump later told him.

It’s advice Cohen reads into Trump’s campaign. “America gives up too much of its bargaining power for nothing in return,” he said. Cohen emphasizes that while Trump called his actions on the show “stupid,” he later praised Cohen as “a brilliant guy.”

Amember of the Florida Bar since 1997, Cohen is a graduate of Nova Southeaste­rn University and a former president of the Broward Associatio­n of Criminal Defense Lawyers.

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United States