Michael Cohen Warns Jack Smith Over Trump Threats

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Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s former personal attorney, warned special counsel Jack Smith on Saturday that he should take seriously the former president’s attempts to incite his MAGA base when he makes threats against his rivals.

The former president repeatedly went after Smith, who was chosen by the Department of Justice (DOJ) to lead its investigations into Trump, on Truth Social. On Thursday, Trump wrote: “FOR THE FIRST TIME IN USA’S HISTORY, THE LAWYERS, AND THE LEGAL SYSTEM ITSELF, ARE UNDER CONSTRUCTION…ALL GIFTS FROM CROOKED JOE BIDEN, MERRICK GARLAND, AND DERANGED PROSECUTOR, JACK SMITH!!!”

Trump also called Smith a “terrorist” during an appearance on The Mark Levin Show in January and said, “The prosecutor [Smith] should resign, he has a conflict. He is a terrorist. He is a Trump hater. His best friend is Weissmann and all these characters, Lisa Monaco in the Justice Department, one of the top officials. This is a shameful situation. He should resign!”

Smith is reportedly close to issuing another indictment against Trump, according to the former president who this week said he received a targeted letter from the DOJ regarding Smith’s investigation into Trump’s role in the Capitol riots on January 6, 2021. Smith also led the Mar-a-Lago classified documents investigation that resulted in Trump’s indictment on 37 federal ex-criminal charges, making him the first grand jury in American history. Meanwhile, Trump has pleaded not guilty and maintains his innocence.

Former President Donald Trump delivers remarks during the Georgia state GOP convention on June 10 in Columbus, Georgia. Michael Cohen, former personal attorney for Trump, warned special counsel Jack Smith on Saturday that he should take seriously the former president’s attempts to galvanize his MAGA base. (Photo by Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images)

While speaking on MSNBC’s The Katie Phang Show on Saturday, Cohen was asked by host Katie Phang about Trump’s history of making veiled threats against his political opponents and rivals.

“I see a lot on television today, ‘Oh Jack Smith, he shouldn’t be concerned or worried about Donald Trump making these outright threats against him’ and so on. I’m going to say I disagree. I disagree wholeheartedly and I’m going to tell you, I don’t care what anybody says, it’s sitting in the back of Jack Smith’s head—because I know.”

Cohen continued: “I consider myself pretty resilient and I can tell you it’s in the back of your head. Because you never know what one of these MAGA maniacs is going to do. You never know who is and who isn’t. So, every time you walk down the street, every time you go to a restaurant you never know if someone wants to shake your back or what Donald wants.”

Trump’s former lawyer said the former president “wanted to create that chaos” and “this appearance of strength and power that he has over others.”

“I say this all the time, he is a real danger to our country and our democracy,” Cohen added.

Newsweek has reached the Trump campaign by email for comment.

“[Trump] using words to get others to do his bidding.” @MichaelCohen212 on how Trump has previously threatened to harm anyone who dares cross him.”[He] knows how to talk like a mob to anger his MAGA base.” pic.twitter.com/muyhvsJBjv

— The Katie Phang Show (@katiephangshow) July 22, 2023

When asked about the seriousness of Trump’s words to Smith, Palm Beach County State Attorney Dave Aronberg told Newsweek on Saturday, “Jack Smith has security because of threats like this. He clearly takes them seriously. If the threats continue, I expect the DOJ to request a partial gag order from the court, which should be granted.”

On Saturday, Phang also mentioned in his interview with Cohen that Trump’s motive operandi is “plausible deniability.”

“He [Trump] lets other people do his dirty work for him,” the MSNBC host said. “Hiring thousands of lawyers who, you know, don’t pay…and then throw them under the bus. MAGA rioters are being called to attack the Capitol on 1/6, even this video he reposted on Truth Social—its calls for violence. This is nothing new, but he wants to say plausible deniability.”

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