'Accountability matters': Michael Cohen reacts to Donald Trump indictment
Shortly after former President Donald Trump was indicted on Thursday afternoon by a New York grand jury regarding an alleged hush money payment to adult film entrepreneur Stormy Daniels before the 2020 election, his ex-lawyer Michael Cohen appeared on Deadline: White House and shared his reaction to this historic and controversial development.
"Someone who has been central to the story that we've tried to bring to our viewers, and the story that was brought to this grand jury is Michael Cohen. He joins us by phone. Michael, your first reaction?" asked MSNBC host Nicolle Wallace.
Cohen urged caution.
READ MORE: Donald Trump indicted in New York
"My first reaction is I wish that people would have taken a few moments and not jumped the gun the way that we've been watching the media, many of the talking heads worrying about what's happening in a month from now and tomorrow," he said. "I think we all need to, just as I had put out in my statement, you know, today's indictment, is not the end of the chapter, right? That it's just rather the beginning and now that the charges have been filed, it's better for the case to let the indictment speak for itself."
Cohen also came to the defense of Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, whom Trump has viciously berated, disparaged, and threatened on social media.
"But there are two things that I want to say. One is that accountability matters – something, Nicolle, you and I have talked about on virtually every appearance that I've been on your show – that I stand by my testimony and the evidence that I provided to the district attorney of New York. So Alvin Bragg, first and foremost, should receive at least some acknowledgment for doing the great job that they have done," Cohen opined. "But more important than even that, it's extremely important that we let the process work out and that people do still understand that there is a presumption of innocence in this country. And while the indictment is significant in the fact that it's the first time ever that a United States President, former or past has been indicted, there is still the presumption of innocence in this country."
Watch below or at this link.
\u201c"Today's indictment is not the end of the chapter... it's rather the beginning. Now that the charges have been filed, it's better for the case to let the indictment speak for itself" - @MichaelCohen212 reacts to Trump's indictment w/ @NicolleDWallace\u201d— Deadline White House (@Deadline White House) 1680213540
