Michael Cohen, former lawyer to Donald Trump, has taken the stand in a New York fraud case against his ex-boss. Trump’s defense team has attempted to discredit Cohen by questioning his financial incentives for criticizing the former president through media ventures such as podcast hosting and book writing. Cohen admitted in court that he does have monetary incentives to criticize Trump, but did not provide specific details on his earnings. However, his books, including “Disloyal” and “Revenge,” have been successful, with “Disloyal” selling 290,000 print copies and spending four weeks on the New York Times best-seller list.
Forbes estimates that Cohen may have earned around $1 million from his book deals, but he has denied receiving an advance for either book and has a “nontraditional contract” with Skyhorse Publishing. Cohen did not confirm the $1 million figure and declined to provide additional details about his earnings from his media ventures. In addition to his books, Cohen’s podcast, “Mea Culpa,” has released almost 350 episodes and ranks among the top 350 most popular podcasts in the United States, according to Chartable.
Cohen, who is involved in multiple legal disputes with Trump, may have already spent a significant amount of his earnings. Trump previously sued Cohen for $500 million, alleging a violation of their attorney-client relationship related to Cohen’s books. The case was later withdrawn, but Cohen had already incurred legal expenses, with five attorneys representing him. The animosity between Trump and Cohen was evident during the trial, with Trump appearing in court and his legal team seeking to end the case promptly after cross-examining Cohen. However, the judge denied the request, prompting Trump to leave the courtroom abruptly.
The contentious relationship between Trump and Cohen continues to play out in the legal arena, with Cohen testifying against his former boss in the fraud case. Despite attempts by Trump’s defense team to undermine Cohen’s credibility by focusing on his financial incentives for criticizing the former president, Cohen’s success with his books and podcast indicates that he has indeed found a lucrative business in speaking out against Trump. The details of Cohen’s earnings remain unclear, but his media ventures have been profitable, with his books performing well and his podcast attracting a substantial audience. The ongoing legal disputes between Cohen and Trump add to the drama surrounding the case, with both men engaged in a public battle that shows no signs of ending soon.
