前总统唐纳德·特朗普周三起诉了他前律师兼调解人迈克尔·科恩，寻求至少5亿美元的所谓违反信托责任。
“被告违反了他对原告的信托责任，因为他们的律师-客户关系，既泄露了原告的秘密，又传播了关于原告的虚假信息，可能是令人尴尬或有害的，并参与了其他不当行为，”诉讼中说。
该诉讼在迈阿密联邦法院提起，指控科恩通过在书籍、播客和媒体露面中对特朗普进行大量“煽动性和虚假的陈述”，对信托和合同违约进行“猛烈攻击”。
2023年4月8日，前总统唐纳德·特朗普参加了在迈阿密Kaseya中心举行的UFC 287。
chandan Khan na/法新社
“被告似乎变得胆大妄为，不断通过各种平台对原告做出错误和虚假的陈述。被告的这种持续和不断升级的不当行为已经达到了众所周知的高潮，并使原告别无选择，只能通过这一行动寻求法律救济，”诉讼称。
“被告选择利用他与原告之间的保密关系来追求经济利益，并修复因他对原告及其家庭成员的敌意而导致的多次虚假陈述和欺骗行为而受损的声誉。他的行为严重违反了他对原告的合同义务和信托义务，被告必须承担责任。”
特朗普的发言人在一份声明中说，“这起诉讼和被定罪的重罪犯迈克尔·科恩的许多错误行为是不言自明的，科恩本人也通过他充满谎言的书籍、播客和不断的媒体露面承认了这一点。”
福克斯新闻频道是第一举报诉讼。
特朗普现在提起诉讼，可能会被视为试图在科恩成为纽约针对特朗普的刑事案件的重要证人之际，摧毁科恩的可信度。
前任总统上周对34项重罪不认罪伪造商业记录，其中包括在2016年竞选的最后几周向科恩偿还封口费支付给色情女演员斯托米·丹尼尔斯的费用。
上个月，在被起诉之前，科恩在美国广播公司的“早安美国”节目中说，他愿意在任何可能的情况下作证。
“事实就是事实。真相就是真相，真相总会浮出水面，所以我不担心他们想用什么来攻击我，”他说。
科恩坐过牢在他对包括与封口费相关的竞选财务违规在内的联邦指控认罪后。他被判三年徒刑，但于2021年11月提前获释。
Donald Trump sues former lawyer Michael Cohen for $500 million
Former PresidentDonald Trumpon Wednesday sued hisformer lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen, seeking at least $500 million for alleged breaches of fiduciary duty.
"Defendant breached his fiduciary duties owed to Plaintiff by virtue of their attorney-client relationship by both revealing Plaintiff's confidences, and spreading falsehoods about Plaintiff, likely to be embarrassing or detrimental, and partook in other misconduct," the lawsuit said.
The lawsuit, filed in Miami federal court, accused Cohen of "an onslaught of fiduciary and contractual breaches" through numerous "inflammatory and false statements" about Trump in books, his podcast and media appearances.
"Defendant appears to have become emboldened and repeatedly continues to make wrongful and false statements about Plaintiff through various platforms. Such continuous and escalating improper conduct by Defendant has reached a proverbial crescendo and has left Plaintiff with no alternative but to seek legal redress through this action," the lawsuit said.
"Defendant chose to capitalize on his confidential relationship with Plaintiff to pursue financial gain and repair a reputation shattered by his repeated misrepresentations and deceptive acts, fueled by his animus toward the Plaintiff and his family members. His actions constitute grave violations of his contractual and fiduciary duties to the Plaintiff, and Defendant must be held accountable."
A Trump spokesperson said in a statement, "The lawsuit and the many wrongdoings by Michael Cohen -- a convicted felon -- stand for themselves, and have been admitted to by Cohen himself through his falsehood-filled books, podcasts, and constant media appearances.”
Fox News wasfirstto report the lawsuit.
In filing his lawsuit now, Trump could be seen as trying to dismantle Cohen's credibility at a time when Cohen has become an important witness in the criminal case against Trump in New York.
The former presidentpleaded not guilty last week to 34 felony countsof falsifying business records, which involve reimbursements to Cohen for hush money paid to porn actress Stormy Daniels in the closing weeks of the 2016 campaign.
Cohen told ABC's "Good Morning America" last month -- prior to the indictment -- that he was willing to testify in any possible case.
"The facts are the facts. The truth is the truth and the truth will always rise so I'm not worried about anything that they want to come at me with," he said.
Cohenserved prison timeafter he pleaded guilty to federal charges that included campaign finance violations related to the hush payment. He was sentenced to three years but received early release in November 2021.
