Michael Cohen scrubs 'Trump lawyer' Twitter bio
5 July 2018
Michael Cohen has deleted a line in his Twitter bio saying he is the "personal attorney to President Donald J Trump".
He scrubbed the reference from his account just days after he told ABC News that he put "family and country" before his loyalty to the president.
Mr Cohen, whose home and office were raided by the FBI in April, is currently under criminal investigation.
He has reportedly suggested to friends that he would be willing to give prosecutors information on Mr Trump.
In an interview last week with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, Mr Cohen said: "My wife, my daughter and my son have my first loyalty and always will. I put family and country first."
In addition to his Twitter bio, he also changed his LinkedIn profile to remove reference to Mr Trump.
By Thursday, what appeared to be his LinkedIn page also noted that he had terminated his employment as Mr Trump's personal attorney and a special counsel at the Trump Organization.
The lawyer - who has not been charged - is under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as possible violation of election law.
The latter is understood to relate to Mr Cohen paying off porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, which could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign.
Mr Trump admitted the money had exchanged hands in May.
There has been speculation that Mr Cohen - who denies any wrongdoing - might co-operate with prosecutors.
In the ABC interview, Mr Cohen said he would consult his newly appointed lawyer - former New York federal prosecutor Guy Petrillo - before deciding where his loyalties lie.
"I will not be a punching bag as part of anyone's defence strategy," he said when asked how he would respond if he is attacked by Mr Trump's legal team.
"I am not a villain of this story, and I will not allow others to try to depict me that way."
Once Mr Petrillo has settled into his role, the joint defence agreement between Mr Trump and Mr Cohen will end.
Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer in her lawsuit against the president, said Mr Cohen would "eventually flip" and turn against Mr Trump, but only to "save himself".
On Twitter, he said Mr Cohen was "playing games" and trying to salvage his image in the public eye.
Skip Twitter post by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr. Cohen is trying to get Trump to pay his legal bills & is playing games. If he has info & truly loves this country then he needs to come forward NOW. There is nothing stopping him. If not, it will be obvious he lied to the public in an effort to paint himself as a good guy.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 2, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @MichaelAvenatti
Skip Twitter post 2 by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr. Cohen will eventually flip but not for “love of country.” He will do it to only when he has to - in order to save himself. The @GMA “interview” was a weak publicity stunt meant to try and rehabilitate his image. #Basta https://t.co/thzwnjcEtF
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 3, 2018
End of Twitter post 2 by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr Avenatti also said on Wednesday that he plans on running for president in 2020 if Mr Trump goes up for re-election - but only if there are no other candidates with "a real chance" of winning.
Skip Twitter post 3 by @MichaelAvenatti
IF (big) he seeks re-election, I will run, but only if I think that there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him. We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed. #FightClub #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 4, 2018
End of Twitter post 3 by @MichaelAvenatti
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44727696
5 July 2018
Michael Cohen has deleted a line in his Twitter bio saying he is the "personal attorney to President Donald J Trump".
He scrubbed the reference from his account just days after he told ABC News that he put "family and country" before his loyalty to the president.
Mr Cohen, whose home and office were raided by the FBI in April, is currently under criminal investigation.
He has reportedly suggested to friends that he would be willing to give prosecutors information on Mr Trump.
In an interview last week with ABC News' George Stephanopoulos, Mr Cohen said: "My wife, my daughter and my son have my first loyalty and always will. I put family and country first."
In addition to his Twitter bio, he also changed his LinkedIn profile to remove reference to Mr Trump.
By Thursday, what appeared to be his LinkedIn page also noted that he had terminated his employment as Mr Trump's personal attorney and a special counsel at the Trump Organization.
The lawyer - who has not been charged - is under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as possible violation of election law.
The latter is understood to relate to Mr Cohen paying off porn star Stormy Daniels during the 2016 election, which could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign.
Mr Trump admitted the money had exchanged hands in May.
There has been speculation that Mr Cohen - who denies any wrongdoing - might co-operate with prosecutors.
In the ABC interview, Mr Cohen said he would consult his newly appointed lawyer - former New York federal prosecutor Guy Petrillo - before deciding where his loyalties lie.
"I will not be a punching bag as part of anyone's defence strategy," he said when asked how he would respond if he is attacked by Mr Trump's legal team.
"I am not a villain of this story, and I will not allow others to try to depict me that way."
Once Mr Petrillo has settled into his role, the joint defence agreement between Mr Trump and Mr Cohen will end.
Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer in her lawsuit against the president, said Mr Cohen would "eventually flip" and turn against Mr Trump, but only to "save himself".
On Twitter, he said Mr Cohen was "playing games" and trying to salvage his image in the public eye.
Skip Twitter post by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr. Cohen is trying to get Trump to pay his legal bills & is playing games. If he has info & truly loves this country then he needs to come forward NOW. There is nothing stopping him. If not, it will be obvious he lied to the public in an effort to paint himself as a good guy.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 2, 2018
Report
End of Twitter post by @MichaelAvenatti
Skip Twitter post 2 by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr. Cohen will eventually flip but not for “love of country.” He will do it to only when he has to - in order to save himself. The @GMA “interview” was a weak publicity stunt meant to try and rehabilitate his image. #Basta https://t.co/thzwnjcEtF
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 3, 2018
End of Twitter post 2 by @MichaelAvenatti
Mr Avenatti also said on Wednesday that he plans on running for president in 2020 if Mr Trump goes up for re-election - but only if there are no other candidates with "a real chance" of winning.
Skip Twitter post 3 by @MichaelAvenatti
IF (big) he seeks re-election, I will run, but only if I think that there is no other candidate in the race that has a REAL chance at beating him. We can't relive 2016. I love this country, our values and our people too much to sit by while they are destroyed. #FightClub #Basta
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 4, 2018
End of Twitter post 3 by @MichaelAvenatti
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-44727696
