“‘If you really want to get to Donald, the way to do it is through his bankbook.’”
That’s Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s onetime attorney, talking about how his former boss might be reacting to the New York judicial ruling that the ex-president defrauded banks, insurers and others by overstating the value of his assets.
The case could result in Trump having to pay at least $250 million in fines if New York Attorney General Letitia James has her way.
Perhaps even more significant is the fact that Tuesday’s ruling from Judge Arthur Engoron calls for some of Trump’s business licenses to be rescinded. That would make “it difficult or impossible for [Trump and his company] to do business in New York,” according to the Associated Press.
Cohen told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins on Tuesday that the ruling is a “massive” one and that it showed that Judge Engoron had “had enough” of the former president’s legal tactics.
Cohen added that Trump is effectively done in New York, at least as far as his businesses are concerned. That means Trump may not be able to even manage his iconic Trump Tower building in the city, according to Cohen.
It’s the financial aspect that matters most to Trump, Cohen said, adding that the former president is not as bothered by those who fault his character or personality or those who challenge his claims about his weight.
“Once you start hitting that bankbook, that’s what really gets to him,” Cohen said.
Cohen, who stood by Trump for many years and was considered his “fixer,” served a three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to crimes related to his work for Trump.
Trump issued a statement on his Truth Social platform decrying Judge Engoron’s ruling, calling it attack on his presidential reelection campaign.
“It is a terrible reminder that the Radical Left Democrats will stop at nothing in trying to prevent me, and the American people, from winning the 2024 Presidential Election,” he wrote.
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