Trump returns to New York for deposition, sues Michael Cohen

Former President Donald Trump returned to New York Thursday, April 13 for a deposition following last week’s historic arraignment related to a hush money payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels. The deposition was for a different case, specifically the lawsuit filed against former President Trump and three of his children by New York Attorney General Letitia James.

James accused Trump and his children of misstating the values of real estate properties to obtain favorable loans and tax benefits. Trump responded to the lawsuit with one of his own against James.

Wednesday’s deposition was Trump’s second related to the James lawsuit. At the first, the former president invoked his Fifth Amendment protection against self-incrimination.

Ahead of the New York deposition, Trump filed suit against his former lawyer Michael Cohen Wednesday, April 12. The lawsuit seeks at least $500 million in damages, accusing Cohen of breaking his fiduciary duty to the former president.

“Defendant breached his fiduciary duties owed to plaintiff by virtue of their attorney-client relationship by both revealing plaintiff’s confidences, and spreading falsehoods about plaintiff, likely to be embarrassing or detrimental, and partook in other misconduct,” the lawsuit states. “Defendant chose to capitalize on his confidential relationship with Plaintiff to pursue financial gain and repair a reputation shattered by his repeated misrepresentations and deceptive acts, fueled by his animus toward the Plaintiff and his family members.”

Cohen spent time in prison for campaign finance violations related to the hush money payment, which he carried out for trump. Trump’s lawsuit could be a way to dismantle Cohen’s credibility, as he will likely be a key witness for the prosecution in Trump’s criminal case related to the Daniels hush money payment.