Michael Cohen, a former lawyer for President Trump who later became one of his critics, plans to apply for compensation from the Justice Department’s newly established “anti-weaponization fund.” Cohen revealed this decision in a conversation with CBS News, stating, “I am working through the process on my own and will submit the letter directly to the DOJ once completed.”
The $1.776 billion fund offers financial compensation to individuals who claim that the legal system has been unjustly used against them. This fund emerged as part of a settlement between President Trump and the Justice Department, resolving a lawsuit over the leaking of Trump’s tax returns by the Internal Revenue Service.
Cohen expressed his reason for applying, citing similarities between his experiences and the lawsuit filed by Trump. He explained, “The basis for which Trump instituted the $10 billion action are the same causes of action that have affected me as well — has cost me my law license, my businesses, finances, family happiness, business relationships, and opportunities.”
He is drafting a letter to seek relief. A section of his draft obtained by CBS News reads, “If the weaponization fund truly exists to support individuals destroyed by politically motivated law enforcement tactics, selective prosecution, government leaks, abuses of power, and intentional destruction of reputation then there is perhaps no clearer example than what happened to me.”
Cohen told CBS News in an interview, “I guess I would be a test case.”
Cohen was once one of Trump’s most trusted legal advisers but has since become an outspoken critic. He served three years in prison for campaign finance violations related to payments arranged for women alleging affairs with Trump. Cohen also received two months in prison for lying to Congress about a proposed Trump Tower Moscow project.
In 2024, Cohen testified against Trump in a New York state criminal case, resulting in Trump’s conviction for falsifying business records. Cohen stated that Trump personally signed off on plans to cover up scandalous stories during his presidential campaign in 2016.
This is not Cohen’s first attempt to gain relief for perceived mistreatment. He previously sued the federal government and Trump, claiming his re-imprisonment in 2020 was retaliatory due to his criticism of the president. That lawsuit was dismissed by a judge.
Cohen is among the earliest Trump critics to announce plans to apply for the “anti-weaponization fund.” The Justice Department clarified there are no partisan requirements for claims, and a panel of five appointed by the attorney general will decide who receives compensation.
Trump allies such as former adviser Michael Caputo and some defendants from the Jan. 6 riot have also expressed interest in applying. The fund has received criticism from both political parties and ethics watchdogs. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington labeled it “the most brazen act of self-dealing in the history of the presidency.” Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche defended the fund, comparing it to other government settlement funds.