Michael Cohen says he believes Trump 'is petrified' after being indicted in New York

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Michael Cohen says he believes Trump 'is petrified' after being indicted in New York
Michael Cohen arrives for his 15th sit-down with Manhattan district attorney's office prosecutors.Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images
  • Michael Cohen said that "accountability matters" and "no one is above the law" after Trump was indicted in NY.
  • He went on to say that he stands by his testimony to the Manhattan DA's office.
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Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former fixer-turned-nemesis, said in a statement Thursday that "no one is above the law."

Cohen's statement came after a New York grand jury voted to indict Trump following a lengthy investigation by the Manhattan district attorney's office into a $130,000 hush-money payment to the adult film actress Stormy Daniels.

The indictment's specific contents have not yet been made public, even to the defense team, as is common in state criminal cases. It's also unknown if the indictment charges codefendants or just Trump.

"For the first time in our Country's history, a President (current or former) of the United States has been indicted," Cohen said in his statement, which was provided to Insider. "I take no pride in issuing this statement and wish to also remind everyone of the presumption of innocence; as provided by the due process clause."

He added: "However, I do take solace in validating the adage that no one is above the law; not even a former President. Today's indictment is not the end of this chapter; but rather, just the beginning. Now that the charges have been filed, it is better for the case to let the indictment speak for itself. The two things I wish to say at this time is that accountability matters and I stand by my testimony and the evidence I have provided to DANY."

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Trump's defense attorney, Joe Tacopina, confirmed his indictment to Insider, saying that the former president's team doesn't know what the charges are yet.

"As with any other case, we are going to fight this right from the start," he said. "We will fight this miscarriage of justice immediately and aggressively."

Cohen, meanwhile, appeared on MSNBC shortly after news of Trump's indictment broke.

"I believe that Donald right now is petrified," he told MSNBC's Ari Melber. "This is one of his biggest fears — that he would be called out for who and what he truly is."

Cohen went on to say that "the mugshotting is going to be something that is going to really upset his fragile ego."

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Laura Italiano contributed reporting.

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