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View Full Version : Michael Cohen sues Trump Organization for millions in legal fees




Zippyjuan
03-07-2019, 06:47 PM
https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michael-cohen-sues-trump-organization-for-millions-in-legal-fees


Michael Cohen sued the Trump Organization in New York Supreme Court on Thursday for millions of dollars in legal fees and costs, claiming the company must pay him for “matters arising” from his work for the company -- including “multiple congressional hearings” and costs related to Special Counsel Robert Mueller’s investigation.

Cohen, who is slated to report to prison to serve three years in May, worked for the organization for more than a decade as an attorney. In his suit, he claimed the company violated an agreement that it would compensate him for his work related to the organization and its officers.

“As is common practice in most corporations, the Trump Organization agreed to indemnify me for legal fees and costs incurred in connection with my employment there. When it was publicly reported that I might be cooperating with prosecutors, the Trump Organization breached its agreement and stopped paying fees and costs. My counsel contacted the Trump Organization and asked them to fulfill their obligations to me. They did not respond, so we filed this lawsuit and will pursue it vigorously,” Cohen said in a statement.

“This action arises from the Trump Organization’s failure to meet its indemnification obligations under a contractual agreement between the Trump Organization and Mr. Cohen, pursuant to which the Trump Organization agreed to indemnify Mr. Cohen and to pay attorneys’ fees and costs incurred by Mr. Cohen in connection with various matters arising from Mr. Cohen’s work with and on behalf of the Organization and its principals, directors, and officers,” Cohen’s attorneys wrote in a court filing Thursday. “These matters included multiple congressional hearings, Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller III’s investigation, and others.”

They added that Cohen has “incurred millions of dollars in unreimbursed attorneys’ fees and costs” in addition to other amounts, which he “continues to incur … in connection with various ongoing investigations and litigation.”

The lawsuit comes as Cohen, on the heels of his explosive testimony to Congress last week, prepares to report to prison for his sentence related to bank and tax fraud charges, campaign-finance violations and more.

Cohen’s attorneys claimed that the Trump Organization initially honored its agreement through at least May of 2018. According to the court filing, by Jan. 25, 2019, Cohen’s balance of unreimbursed attorneys’ fees and other costs incurred in connection with Cohen’s work “exceeded $1.9 million.” Cohen’s attorneys said he continues to accrue legal fees and costs.

Zippyjuan
03-07-2019, 06:49 PM
https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/trump-offers-to-cover-legal-fees-for-staff-questioned-in-russia-probe

From November, 2017:


Trump offers to cover legal fees for staff questioned in Russia probe


President Trump has offered to foot the bill for members of his staff who are facing mounting legal fees related to the special counsel probe of Russia's election interference, according to White House lawyer Ty Cobb.

"The president has assumed responsibility for his own legal fees and while he isn't involved directly in the creation of a mechanism to take care of staffers, it is important to him that they be taken care of and whatever approach is agreed upon by [the Office of Government Ethics] and relevant tax authorities be bulletproof," Cobb told Bloomberg News in a report published Friday.

Trump's team of lawyers is weighing how to navigate several ethical questions related to a legal fund for West Wing staffers, including the question of whether aides would be less forthright while testifying if Trump were to cover their legal expenses.

Special counsel Robert Mueller has already interviewed several former and current Trump aides, including former White House press secretary Sean Spicer, ex-chief of staff Reince Priebus and National Security Council chief of staff Keith Kellogg. Other aides have been forced to retain legal representation ahead of time to prepare for their depositions.

According to Bloomberg, a single interview with Mueller or one of the congressional committees investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 election could cost more than $30,000 in legal fees.

One former Trump campaign staffer, Michael Caputo, told the Washington Examiner he had to empty his children's college funds to pay for his legal expenses.


More at link.

Danke
03-07-2019, 06:51 PM
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9y3muQfmNw