The Mystery Of Michael Cohen’s Missing $350K Check
Michael Cohen Image by Getty Images
By Josh Nathan-Kazis April 16, 2017
A report today in Buzzfeed highlights a curious lawsuit involving President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
According to Buzzfeed, Cohen was sued in 2009 over a $350,000 check written a decade earlier. The check was allegedly deposited in an escrow account controlled by Cohen in 1999.
According to the suit, the money went missing. Cohen testified at the time that he didn’t remember where the money had come from, or what had happened to it.
The story gets murkier from there. The check was written by Vladimir Malakhov, at the time an NHL player. It was intended as a loan to a Russian woman named Yulia Fomina.
Cohen won the lawsuit and was not disciplined by New York State Bar Association in connection with the incident.
Contact Josh Nathan-Kazis at [email protected]
I’m personally matching all gifts to the Forward, up to $36,000. Can I match your gift now?
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
Support our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
