President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen said in his first in-depth interview since the FBI raided his home and offices in April that his “first loyalty” is to family and his country, an indication he may be prepared to provide damaging information to his former client, President Trump.
“To be crystal clear, my wife, my daughter and my son, and this country have my first loyalty,” he told ABC in excerpts the network broadcast Monday.
Cohen made that comment when pressed over why he wasn’t repeating some of his earlier defenses of Trump, such as his willingness to “take a bullet” and “do anything” to protect Trump.
The lawyer, who could face charges related to his yearslong work with Trump, made it clear in the interview that he would be acting based on his lawyer’s legal advice and not on any previous loyalty he had to Trump.
“Once I understand what charges might be filed against me, if any at all, I will defer to my new counsel, Guy Petrillo, for guidance,” he said.
One of the biggest subjects investigators are looking into is a possible violation of campaign finance law where Cohen made a payment of $130,000 to porn star Stormy Daniels right before the 2016 presidential election, in exchange for her silence on her alleged extramarital affair with Trump.
When asked if he made the payment on the direction of Trump, Cohen said he wanted to answer the question, but couldn’t right now. In the past, Cohen has said he acted by himself and on his own volition.
“I want to answer. One day I will answer,” Cohen told ABC. “But for now, I can’t comment further on advice of my counsel.”
