Michael Cohen Claims Prosecutorial Pressure as Appeals Court Reopens Trump Jurisdiction Fight

Former Trump attorney Michael Cohen has ignited fresh controversy after claiming he was pressured by New York prosecutors to cooperate in legal cases against former President Donald Trump.

In a recent Substack post, Cohen alleged that both Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg and New York Attorney General Letitia James pushed him to provide testimony that would strengthen their cases against Trump. Cohen wrote that he felt prosecutors were less interested in open-ended truth and more focused on securing convictions.

Cohen was a central witness in two major legal actions against Trump: James’s civil fraud case against the Trump Organization and Bragg’s criminal prosecution related to alleged hush-money payments. In May 2024, Trump was convicted on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records in the Manhattan case.

While Cohen’s claims have drawn attention, neither Bragg’s office nor James’s office has confirmed or acknowledged any improper conduct. As of now, Cohen’s allegations remain his personal account and have not been validated by any court findings.

Adding another layer to the legal battle, a federal appeals court has recently revived Trump’s effort to challenge the jurisdiction of his New York conviction. The court ordered a lower court to reconsider whether the business records case should have been heard in state court or moved to federal court, reopening a key procedural question in the case.

The appeals court decision does not overturn Trump’s conviction, nor does it vacate the jury’s verdict. Instead, it allows further review of whether the prosecution was properly handled under state authority, a move that could carry significant implications if jurisdiction is ultimately questioned.

As legal proceedings continue, Cohen’s allegations and the revived jurisdiction challenge ensure that Trump’s legal battles remain far from settled. What remains clear is that the courtroom drama surrounding the former president continues to ripple well beyond the original verdict.