Cohen’s Pitch To Uber: I’m The President’s Lawyer

The Wall Street Journal reports:

Mr. Cohen’s pitch was blunt. He would tell prospective clients — large corporations worried about their lack of connections to President Donald Trump’s administration — that he didn’t know who was advising them, but that the companies “should fire them all,” a person familiar with Mr. Cohen’s approach said. “I have the best relationship with the president on the outside, and you need to hire me,” Mr. Cohen told them, according to this person.

Mr. Cohen repeatedly pitched Uber, which said no, citing Mr. Cohen’s ownership of New York taxi medallions as a potential conflict of interest with the ride-hailing firm, a person close to the company said. He modified his pitch in response those objections, reminding the company he was “the president’s lawyer,” this person said. The company, this person said, was “bemused.”

Severe losses on his New York City taxi investments had, in fact, fueled Mr. Cohen’s desire to make money from his ties to the president. A friend described his financial situation as “precarious” and said Mr. Cohen was having trouble maintaining his family’s upscale Manhattan lifestyle.

Michael Cohen repeatedly pitched Uber, which said no, citing his ownership of NYC taxi medallions as a potential conflict of interest. He modified his pitch in response and reminded the company he was “the president’s lawyer.” https://t.co/CRXQC9Zymq

— Rebecca Ballhaus (@rebeccaballhaus) May 14, 2018