Internet blasts Michael Cohen as ex-Trump lawyer slams DOJ for lack of transparency in NY hush-money case

NEW YORK CITY, NEW YORK: Michael Cohen, former personal attorney to ex-President Trump, expressed frustration over the Department of Justice's handling of the New York hush-money case, citing a lack of transparency ahead of a pivotal hearing scheduled for Monday, March 25.

Cohen, once labeled Trump's "fixer," aired his grievances during an appearance on MSNBC's 'The Weekend' on Saturday, March 23. He criticized the apparent silence regarding his requests for case documents, contrasting it with the swift response to Trump's inquiries, which Cohen claimed magically produced relevant paperwork.

Calls for disclosure

"I’d like to know what’s going on with the SDNY, which is problematic, I’d like to know what’s going on with the DOJ," Cohen exclaimed, referring to the Southern District of New York.

“What’s going on here? Those documents belong to the people and they should have been released on the FOIA because, I’ll tell you what, those documents are going to show,” he continued. “It’s going to show that Donald Trump, through a willing and complicit bloviating Attorney General, went ahead, weaponized the United States Department of Justice and unconstitutionally remanded the United States Constitution.”

Originally slated to commence on Monday, the trial faced delays due to the emergence of significant new evidence. Despite the setback, Judge Juan Merchan scheduled a hearing to address the eleventh-hour evidence brought forth by Trump's legal team. 

The defense requested a 90-day postponement to sift through over 100,000 pages of records recently handed over by federal prosecutors.

In a recent ruling, Judge Merchan adjudicated on several motions filed by both parties, allowing pivotal figures like Cohen and adult film star Stormy Daniels to testify.

Daniels, known for her alleged affair with Trump, had previously received hush money from Cohen, a fact now central to the case. Daniels had expressed fears for her safety, justifying her acceptance of the funds. Trump, facing 34 counts of falsifying business records in connection to reimbursements made to Cohen, maintained his innocence.

Despite objections from the defense, Judge Merchan's ruling ensures that Daniels' testimony will be included, further complicating Trump's legal predicament, The Hill reported.

In a discussion on Cohen's podcast, 'Mea Culpa', CNN commentator Bakari Sellers pondered whether Trump, if an average citizen, would already be incarcerated.

"I don't know if he would be incarcerated by now, that's tough to say, everyone is entitled to a bond. The two reasons you don't have a bond are because, one you are a danger to the community, or two you are a flight risk. Is Donald Trump a flight risk? The answer is no, he's one of the more infamous people in the entire world," Sellers said.

Cohen, drawing on his legal experience, highlighted the potential flight risk posed by Trump.

"The flight risk scenario in my estimation has nothing to do with whether or not you're famous, whether or not people know who you are and recognize you. My understanding of a flight risk is that you have the ability to go to a foreign location because of one of many different things. One he has multiple aircraft that can take him overseas. Two, he has properties overseas in Ireland and Scotland, not that they would let him in, but he has properties. He has overseas bank accounts and he has these four criminal trials right now...That's how I look at the concept of being a flight risk," he said.

It's important to note Cohen's own criminal past, including a three-year prison sentence for various crimes - including tax evasion, lying to banks and Congress, and violating campaign finance laws - and his subsequent disbarment from practicing law in New York in 2019.

Social media slams Cohen

Cohen's criticism of the DOJ's transparency drew backlash on social media.

"Sit down you felon," one posted on X.

"Um, he’s a witness. You don’t owe discovery to a witness," another offered.

"What a goofball... Total goofball," someone else wrote.

"@MichaelCohen212 is a convicted criminal who also lied to Congress. Why would anyone even listen to a lying convict?" another chimed in.

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.