Michael Cohen's testimony before the House Oversight Committee on Wednesday included an allegation that, during his presidential campaign, President Trump directed his former lawyer to write letters to Trump's high school, colleges, and the College Board demanding that they not release his grades or SAT scores to anyone requesting them.
Below is a letter to Fordham University, in which Cohen threatens legal action if the school did not adhere to Trump's request to keep his transcripts under wraps — though Cohen was sure to let them know that the president greatly enjoyed his two years on campus.
The revelation is particularly enlightening considering how badly Trump wanted someone to leak former President Barack Obama's college records — albeit not to see his grades, but rather to prove the conspiracy he helped spread that Obama was born abroad. After offering $5 million for their release, Trump eventually admitted that he believes Obama was born in the United States.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
5 true blue cartoons about the 2025 electionsCartoon Artists take on election results blame game, a message for the billionaires, and more
-
Political cartoons for November 8Cartoons Saturday’s political cartoons include narco boats, and the new Lincoln monument
-
Why Trump pardoned crypto criminal Changpeng ZhaoIn the Spotlight Binance founder’s tactical pardon shows recklessness is rewarded by the Trump White House
-
Has Zohran Mamdani shown the Democrats how to win again?Today’s Big Question New York City mayoral election touted as victory for left-wing populists but moderate centrist wins elsewhere present more complex path for Democratic Party
-
Senate votes to kill Trump’s Brazil tariffSpeed Read Five Senate Republicans joined the Democrats in rebuking Trump’s import tax
-
Border Patrol gets scrutiny in court, gains power in ICESpeed Read Half of the new ICE directors are reportedly from DHS’s more aggressive Customs and Border Protection branch
-
Shutdown stalemate nears key pain pointsSpeed Read A federal employee union called for the Democrats to to stand down four weeks into the government standoff
-
Trump vows new tariffs on Canada over Reagan adspeed read The ad that offended the president has Ronald Reagan explaining why import taxes hurt the economy
-
NY attorney general asks public for ICE raid footageSpeed Read Rep. Dan Goldman claims ICE wrongly detained four US citizens in the Canal Street raid and held them for a whole day without charges
-
Trump’s huge ballroom to replace razed East WingSpeed Read The White House’s east wing is being torn down amid ballroom construction
-
Trump expands boat strikes to Pacific, killing 5 moreSpeed Read The US military destroyed two more alleged drug smuggling boats in international waters
