In a startling revelation, Michael Cohen, the former attorney and "fixer" for ex-President Donald Trump, has disclosed plans to acquire a foreign passport and adopt a new identity.
This contingency plan is in response to the potential re-election of Trump in November. As reported by The Independent, Cohen, who was instrumental in Trump's conviction during his hush money criminal trial, fears retaliation from the former president.
In 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to lying to Congress and later testified against Trump in his criminal trial. His testimony was pivotal in Trump's conviction on all 34 felony counts of falsifying business records related to $130,000 hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The payments, made through Cohen, were allegedly to conceal an affair, a claim Trump continues to vehemently deny.
Cohen expressed his concerns during an interview on MSNBCs Deadline: White House, stating that he would likely leave the country if Trump secures a second term. "Im out of here," he declared to host Nicolle Wallace. "Im already working on a foreign passport with a completely different name." He did not disclose his potential destination but confirmed his departure would be inevitable.
During Trump's first term, he frequently sought to use his presidential powers to investigate or punish perceived adversaries, including former FBI Director James Comey and his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton. Cohen, after serving jail time, was asked to sign a document prohibiting him from publishing a memoir about his experiences with Trump. He refused and was subsequently returned to prison. However, a federal judge ruled his imprisonment was a "retaliatory" act by the government and ordered his release.
Cohen also warned of potential threats to senior executives in liberal media, including MSNBCs president Rashida Jones and Wallace herself. He expressed concern about the Supreme Courts July ruling granting Trump, and other presidents, immunity from official acts undertaken in office. "Now he thinks its not only can I do whatever I want, but I cant even be prosecuted. Its a get out of jail free card solely for the president," Cohen stated.
Stormy Daniels, the recipient of the hush money payments, has also voiced plans to leave the US if Trump was acquitted in the criminal trial. "I think if its not guilty, we got to decide what to do. Good chance well probably vacate this country," her husband Barrett Blade told CNN in May. Daniels has been the target of violent threats from Trump supporters since his indictment in March 2023. She recently told Rolling Stone that she believes there is a "strong possibility" that the former president will have her tried for treason if he is re-elected in November.
This narrative underscores the deep-seated fears and concerns of those who have previously crossed paths with Trump. It also raises questions about the potential misuse of presidential powers and the implications of the Supreme Court's ruling on presidential immunity. As the November election approaches, these concerns are likely to intensify, adding another layer of complexity to an already contentious political landscape.
Login