Trump: Michael Cohen Recanted Testimony Behind NY Cases

Authored by Luis Cornelio via Headline USA,

Michael Cohen, a key witness in the New York criminal and civil cases against President Donald Trump, has "fully recanted" his testimony in both cases, the Republican president announced Friday via Truth Social.

Previously known as Trump's longtime fixer, Cohen was used by New York Attorney General Letitia James in her controversial civil lawsuit against the Trump Organization and by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg in his so-called hush money case against Trump.

The civil case against the Trump Organization culminated in a $364 million fine over claims Trump inflated his asset values to secure more favorable loans for his business. The fine was tossed by the New York Appellate Division, which ruled the amount violated Trump's Eighth Amendment rights.

In his Truth Social post, Trump said Cohen was "pressured" and "coerced" into saying "things that were not true."

The fallout between Trump and Cohen began after the 2016 election, after Cohen started cooperating with federal prosecutors.

Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison and served more than a year behind bars after pleading guilty to multiple charges, including making false statements to Congress.

Trump and Cohen have made amends in recent months, particularly after Cohen came forward saying he was pressured by New York prosecutors to testify against Trump.

Trump thanked Cohen "for having the Wisdom and Courage to step forward and do the right thing!"

"His Act of Bravery is a Great Credit to the Justice System in New York City and State," Trump added, before demanding that the cases be dismissed.

"I am sure it was not easy for him! Now we are asking that any remnant of those Politically Weaponized Cases against me be immediately terminated and dismissed."

The president said that James and Bragg "broke the law in order to do this in order to prevent me from becoming the President of the United States. Such a thing can never be allowed to happen again!"

Trump appeared to be referring to a Jan. 16, 2026, Substack post in which Cohen accused prosecutors from James' and Bragg's offices of pressuring and coercing him to provide testimony that would help them build their cases against Trump.

TRUMP: Reposts Michael Cohen article claiming political power corrupts justice, citing insider warning pic.twitter.com/FlydWGDuBI

— Trump Truths (@trumptruthsbot) September 4, 2026

Cohen wrote at the time:

"From the time I first began meeting with lawyers from the Manhattan DA's Office and the New York Attorney General's Office in connection with their investigations of President Trump, and through the trials themselves, I felt pressured and coerced to only provide information and testimony that would satisfy the government's desire to build the cases against and secure a judgment and convictions against President Trump."

He later added:

"I experienced a similar dynamic in the Attorney General's civil case. Letitia James made it publicly known during her 2018 campaign for attorney general that, if elected, she would go after President Trump. Her office made clear that the testimony they wanted from me was testimony that would help them do just that. Again, I felt compelled and coerced to deliver what they were seeking."