Former President Donald Trump has attacked Judge Juan Merchan, the jurist presiding over his criminal hush money case in Manhattan, with one particular line: that he didn't immediately grant the former president time off to attend his fifth child Barron's high school graduation.
Trump's one-time attorney Michael Cohen discussed Trump's complaint on the "Political Beatdown" podcast with Ben Meiselas on Tuesday during a heated conversation about the former president.
"I wasn't aware that he went to any of the kids' graduations," said Cohen.
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Trump is the father of five children: Donald Jr., Eric, Ivanka, Tiffany and Barron, his son with his current wife Melania. Cohen said he often helped Melania find Barron's schooling, before Trump considered a presidential run.
"It was Melania and I that put Barron into school here, private school in Manhattan," Cohen said. "When ultimately it was agreed that Melania and Barron were going to move to D.C. and so on, it was Melania and I that went and got him into school in Potomac, in D.C."
Cohen then ridiculed Trump for the complaint levied against Merchan by noting the events in his life he himself missed while serving time in federal prison.
"I find it not just comical, right, but I find it — I find it insulting that that's the big issue," added Cohen. "You know, I missed ... my 25th anniversary, and my wife's 50th birthday, because I was in Otisville, in part because of things that I had done at the direction and for the benefit of Donald Trump."
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts that he falsified business records to cover up hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels, as is contended by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg.
Cohen is expected to be a star witness in the trial.
"So before I start shedding a tear for him, for Barron, and, I'm sure Melania is extremely excited he's not going to be there," Cohen said. "Rest assured I'm not losing any sleep and I won't shed a tear that Trump can't go to Barron's graduation."
