Trump says former lawyer Michael Cohen did ‘a brave thing’ by recanting his testimony

WASHINGTON, DC: President Donald Trump on Sunday, August 23, praised his former lawyer Michael Cohen, calling his decision to recant earlier testimony against the president “a brave thing.”

Trump said Cohen had been pressured by prosecutors and government officials before reversing his account, while also acknowledging that the reversal made Cohen unpopular with some people.

The appearance marked a notable public reunion after eight years, following the deterioration of their relationship and Cohen becoming a key witness in cases involving Trump.

Trump praises Michael Cohen’s testimony reversal

During the interview on Cohen’s WABC 77 radio program, Trump accused Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James of using Cohen against him as part of what he described as a politically motivated prosecution.

“Look, you took back, you recanted your testimony,” Trump said.

“Look, Tish James and Alvin Bragg, they threatened you with jail, they threatened you with everything if you didn't go against Trump, and you took it back. I wouldn't even be talking to you right now if you didn't, to be honest. You did something very few people have done."

Trump also recalled the 2018 FBI search of Cohen’s office and said he believed Cohen had been subjected to intense pressure.

“A lot of people wouldn't have been able to take it. You took it for a while, in all fairness, then they broke you down, but you came back,” Trump said. “What you did was actually a brave thing."

Trump also said Cohen was respected for speaking publicly about his experience. “I think it's so amazing that you came out and you told the story and people respect you for doing it,” Trump said.

However, Cohen responded that the reaction had not been universally positive, stating that some people disliked him because of his reversal.

Michael Cohen says relationship with Trump is ‘resuscitated’

The interview came after years of hostility between Trump and Cohen, who was once one of Trump's closest lawyers and advisers before becoming a central witness in legal proceedings involving the president.

Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to eight criminal counts, including campaign finance violations.

He later testified against Trump in the New York criminal case involving payments to adult film actor Stormy Daniels. Trump was convicted on 34 counts of falsifying business records in that case.

Cohen agreed with Trump's characterization of the events, stating that he felt pressured into doing what the prosecutors wanted.

In a Substack post, he wrote, “I felt pressured and coerced to only provide information and testimony that would satisfy the government’s desire to build the cases against and secure a judgment and convictions against President Trump.”

Ahead of the radio interview, he also told CNN that the relationship had been “resuscitated” and that he believed there was forgiveness between them. “I truly believe that there is forgiveness between Donald Trump and myself, and that to me is what is important right now,” Cohen said.