Michael Cohen Affirms He May Run for Congress During Trump Trial Testimony, Citing His ‘Name Recognition’

Esme Mazzeo

20 May 2024 at 3:01 pm·2-min read

The defense asked Cohen — a former Trump lawyer — during cross-examination on Monday, May 20, whether it's correct to say that he's considered running for public office

<p>Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty</p> Michael Cohen and Donald Trump — Yuki Iwamura/Bloomberg via Getty; Steven Hirsch-Pool/Getty
Michael Cohen and Donald Trump

Donald Trump's former "fixer" Michael Cohen says he is considering a run for Congress.

During cross-examination by Trump's lawyers in court for the former president's "hush money" case on Monday, May 20, Cohen affirmed that he might run for office because he has “the best name recognition out there," per The New York Times, Associated Press and USA Today.

When pressed by defense lawyer Todd Blanche to clarify if that name recognition was due to attacking Trump, Cohen, 57, said, "I wouldn't characterize it that way," per USA Today.

"My name recognition is because of the journey that I've been on. Is it affiliated with Mr. Trump? Yes. Not because of Mr. Trump." he added.

Per the Times, Cohen also confirmed he's working on a third book.

<p>Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty</p> Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump — Michael Nagle/Bloomberg via Getty
Michael Cohen, former personal lawyer to Donald Trump

In 2018, Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, was sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to tax evasion, lying to Congress about Trump’s prior business dealings with Russia, and illegal “hush money” he said he paid during the 2016 presidential election to silence pornstar Stormy Daniels and former Playboy playmate Karen McDougal — who have both claimed they had affairs with Trump.

Cohen was released from prison in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and remanded to serve the remainder of his sentence from his home.

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<p>AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File</p> Cohen and Trump in 2016 — AP Photo/ Evan Vucci, File
Cohen and Trump in 2016

"I am so glad to be home and back with my family," Cohen wrote on X (formerly Twitter) upon being released. "There is so much I want to say and intend to say. But now is not the right time. Soon. Thank you to all my friends and supporters."

Cohen is a key witness for the prosecution in Trump's Manhattan criminal case, in which Daniels, 45, has already testified.

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