Former President Donald Trump on Thursday unexpectedly dismissed a $500 million lawsuit against his former lawyer Michael Cohen while vowing to revisit it later.
In a two-page document filed in federal court in Miami, an attorney for the former president said Trump was “voluntarily dismissing” the lawsuit, which alleged breaches of attorney-client privilege.
Trump had accused Cohen of “disparaging” him “through myriad public statements, including the publication of two books, a podcast series, and innumerable mainstream media appearances,” the complaint said.
A spokesperson for Trump said in a statement Thursday that Trump would pursue the lawsuit after he “has prevailed in dealing with the witch hunts against him,” adding that Cohen “will be held accountable for his unlawful words and actions.”
Trump faces numerous cases and trials, both civil and criminal, including four indictments.
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Trump had been scheduled to sit for a deposition in the Cohen case Monday, when he’s also scheduled to hold a campaign event in New Hampshire.
In a statement Thursday night, Cohen said: “This case was nothing more than a retaliatory intimidation tactic, and his attempt to hide from routine discovery procedures confirms as much. Mr. Trump’s cowardly dismissal spells the end of this latest attempt to deter me from providing truthful testimony against him.
“My legal team and I now look forward to turning our full attention to holding Mr. Trump accountable for his latest abuse of the legal system,” Cohen added.
Cohen has frequently been called to testify about his dealings with Trump. He was the key witness to testify this year before a grand jury in New York City, which approved a 34-count indictment against Trump, who has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Cohen is listed among 28 witnesses the New York Attorney General’s Office intends to call in a civil fraud trial that kicked off this week against Trump, his two adult sons and the family’s business. Trump has denied any wrongdoing.
Source: | This article originally belongs to Nbcnews.com
