Former President Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, took the stand this week to testify against his former boss in a New York fraud case. Trump’s legal team immediately sought to discredit Cohen by questioning him about the money he has made from hosting podcasts and writing books critical of Trump. While Cohen was reluctant to discuss his personal finances in court, he did admit to having monetary incentives to criticize Trump.
Cohen’s first book, “Disloyal: A Memoir,” spent four weeks on the New York Times best-seller list and sold 290,000 print copies. His second book, “Revenge: How Donald Trump Weaponized The Department of Justice Against His Critics,” spent one week on the best-seller list and sold 23,600 print copies. Forbes estimates that Cohen could have earned around $1 million from the two books, including sales of audiobooks and e-books. However, Cohen testified that he did not receive an advance for either book and had a “nontraditional contract” with the publisher.
In addition to his books, Cohen also hosts the “Mea Culpa” podcast, which has released almost 350 episodes and ranks among the top 350 most popular podcasts in the United States. Cohen’s ongoing legal disputes with Trump have likely consumed a significant portion of his earnings. In April, Trump sued Cohen for $500 million, alleging a violation of their attorney-client relationship based on Cohen’s books. Trump later withdrew the case, but Cohen had already retained five attorneys, indicating the ongoing legal battles between the two men.
Despite attempts by Trump’s legal team to discredit Cohen, the former president continues to be animated by their relationship. Trump showed up for Cohen’s testimony and his legal team sought an early end to the case based on their cross-examination of Cohen. However, the judge denied their request, prompting Trump to abruptly leave the courtroom. The ongoing legal drama between Trump and Cohen continues to play out, with Cohen’s media ventures providing a lucrative source of income amidst the legal turmoil.
