Trump responds to Michael Cohen in new legal battle.

Former President Trump is fighting back against Michael Cohen’s attempt to dismiss a lawsuit accusing his former lawyer of breaching his fiduciary duty by spreading falsehoods. Trump’s attorney, Alejandro Britto, filed a complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, alleging that Cohen engaged in egregious breaches of fiduciary duty and contract in connection to a podcast and books that are intended to be embarrassing or detrimental to Trump.

“Despite Cohen’s arguments to the contrary, the Complaint alleges that Cohen was conferred substantial benefits during his representation of the Plaintiff and utilized such benefits for purposes of obtaining selfish, financial profit at the expense of Plaintiff.”

Trump’s lawyers are seeking $500 million in damages, claiming that Cohen broke confidentiality agreements with Trump. The lawsuit, filed in Miami in April, may offer a preview of arguments that are sure to be featured in Trump’s defense against charges that he allegedly falsified internal business records to disguise payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign.

Cohen’s attorneys argued that Trump’s lawsuit failed to properly state a claim and said it was a bid to silence a government witness in the prosecution of Trump. However, Trump’s attorneys contended that Cohen presented poor legal arguments.

Cohen, who spent several years in federal prison on fraud charges, pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, lying to Congress, and campaign finance violations regarding the payments in 2016. He was sentenced to three years in a prison in Otisville, New York, although the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic enabled him to serve the majority of the sentence under house arrest.

Despite the lawsuit, Cohen’s spokesman, attorney Lanny Davis, said that it will not deter Cohen’s cooperation with prosecutors. “Mr. Trump appears once again to be using and abusing the judicial system as a form of harassment and intimidation against Michael Cohen,” Davis said. “It appears he is terrified by his looming legal perils and is attempting to send a message to other potential witnesses who are cooperating with prosecutors against him.”