Author Kai Bird’s new book, ‘American Scoundrel,’ examines the lasting legacy of attorney Roy Cohn and his specific impact on Donald Trump. The biography traces Cohn’s legal strategies from the era of McCarthyism through to the current political landscape.
Bird highlights how Cohn taught Trump a distinct playbook for navigating legal and public challenges. Key elements of this strategy included a consistent refusal to admit defeat, paired with aggressive tactics such as denying allegations and delaying proceedings. The book further notes that Cohn encouraged Trump to attack opponents, file lawsuits and counter-suits, and systematically avoid leaving a paper trail. Additionally, the former attorney advised side-stepping financial obligations by avoiding the payment of bills.
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