Trump: N.Y. Cases Were Setup; Michael Cohen ‘Pressured, Coerced’ to Flip on Him
President Donald Trump on Friday accused what he called “Radical Left people” behind New York cases against him of orchestrating politically motivated prosecutions, saying those involved “should pay a big price,” as he responded on Truth Social to a New York Post report detailing new claims by Michael Cohen.
In his post, Trump described the cases as “a SET UP from the beginning,” and argued that the actions taken against him had tarnished the state’s judicial system. He wrote that “New York Courts, with many fair and wonderful Judges, are embarrassed by what has happened. We cannot let this pass,” according to a version of the post shared by Newsmax.
Trump’s remarks came after he linked to a New York Post article focusing on Cohen, his former attorney and fixer, who has alleged that New York prosecutors pressured him to provide testimony harmful to Trump.
According to the New York Post, Cohen said in a Substack post published Friday that he felt “compelled and coerced” by New York Attorney General Letitia James and Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg to “deliver what they were seeking” in both the civil fraud case and the criminal prosecution related to allegations that Trump made a payment.
“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,” Cohen wrote, as quoted by the New York Post.
The newspaper further reported that Cohen claimed prosecutors in Bragg’s office posed “inappropriate leading questions” when his testimony did not align with their objectives.
Cohen also alleged, according to the report, that officials in James’ office made it clear they wanted testimony “that would go after President Trump.”
Explaining why he chose to speak publicly now, Cohen said he has “witnessed firsthand the damage done when prosecutors pick their target first and then seek evidence to fit a predetermined narrative,” the New York Post reported.
Cohen added, “Justice must be more than effective; it must be credible,” according to the newspaper.
The New York Post reported that Trump is currently pursuing appeals in both matters, with his legal team challenging the hush-money conviction and continuing efforts to overturn the civil fraud judgment.
That civil fraud judgment totals $454 million, according to the New York Post.
Cohen’s Substack post also suggested that while appellate proceedings have not cleared Trump, they have drawn attention to what he described as a prosecutorial “rush” that can result in witnesses being “leaned on,” the paper reported.
Representatives for both Bragg and James did not immediately respond to the New York Post’s requests for comment, according to the report.
Cohen previously served more than a year in federal prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, bank fraud, and lying to Congress, and wrote that he hoped his cooperation in matters involving Trump would be viewed favorably, the New York Post reported.
Trump, in his Truth Social message, portrayed Cohen’s latest assertions as further confirmation that the cases against him were driven by politics and reiterated that those responsible “should pay a big price,” according to the post.
{Matzav.com}
