Michael Cohen says Attorney General Bill Barr has replaced him as Trump's 'new fixer'


President Trump's former fixer says there's a simple explanation for his tax return runaround.
Trump has done everything in his power to avoid disclosing his tax returns. He has constantly appealed court rulings allowing investigators and Congress a window into his finances and even sicced the Justice Department on them, inviting countless questions about just what he's hiding.
But Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer turned enemy, suggested to CNN on Wednesday that it's a whole bunch of little things Trump is hiding. Specifically, Trump "doesn't report the income that he claims, his wealth is not as significant," and he has probably taken some "lenient" deductions over the years. "His biggest fear is that if in fact the tax return was released ... he will end up with a massive tax bill, fraud penalties, fines, and possibly even tax fraud," Cohen continued.
Subscribe to 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.
In a tweet, CNN's Jim Sciutto seemed surprised Cohen's explanation could be "that simple." "Everything" with the president "is simple," Cohen responded.
Of course, Cohen isn't Trump's right-hand man anymore, but Cohen says Trump has had no problem finding a replacement. Rudy Giuliani has partly taken over, but "for the most part" it's Attorney General William Barr who has "tak[en] an illustrious career and throw[n] it right down the toilet" by becoming Trump's toady, Cohen said.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Kathryn is a graduate of Syracuse University, with degrees in magazine journalism and information technology, along with hours to earn another degree after working at SU's independent paper The Daily Orange. She's currently recovering from a horse addiction while living in New York City, and likes to share her extremely dry sense of humor on Twitter.
-
How to create a healthy 'germier' home
Under The Radar Exposure to a broad range of microbes can enhance our immune system, especially during childhood
-
George Floyd: Did Black Lives Matter fail?
Feature The momentum for change fades as the Black Lives Matter Plaza is scrubbed clean
-
National debt: Why Congress no longer cares
Feature Rising interest rates, tariffs and Trump's 'big, beautiful' bill could sent the national debt soaring
-
Crypto firm Coinbase hacked, faces SEC scrutiny
Speed Read The Securities and Exchange Commission has also been investigating whether Coinbase misstated its user numbers in past disclosures
-
Starbucks baristas strike over dress code
speed read The new uniform 'puts the burden on baristas' to buy new clothes, said a Starbucks Workers United union delegate
-
Warren Buffet announces surprise retirement
speed read At the annual meeting of Berkshire Hathaway, the billionaire investor named Vice Chairman Greg Abel his replacement
-
Trump calls Amazon's Bezos over tariff display
Speed Read The president was not happy with reports that Amazon would list the added cost from tariffs alongside product prices
-
Markets notch worst quarter in years as new tariffs loom
Speed Read The S&P 500 is on track for its worst month since 2022 as investors brace for Trump's tariffs
-
Tesla Cybertrucks recalled over dislodging panels
Speed Read Almost every Cybertruck in the US has been recalled over a stainless steel panel that could fall off
-
Crafting emporium Joann is going out of business
Speed Read The 82-year-old fabric and crafts store will be closing all 800 of its stores
-
Trump's China tariffs start after Canada, Mexico pauses
Speed Read The president paused his tariffs on America's closest neighbors after speaking to their leaders, but his import tax on Chinese goods has taken effect