Trump’s former lawyer offers apology to his alleged former mistress for causing ‘needless pain’ in new podcast

'Both of our stories will be forever linked with Donald Trump, but also with one another ... Thanks for giving me a second chance'

It’s 2021, so of course the former president’s lawyer and longtime confidant is interviewing his ex-mistress for a new podcast. 

Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to eight counts of criminal tax evasion and campaign finance violations after representing Donald Trump throughout his 2016 campaign, interviewed adult film actress Stormy Daniels for the latest episode of his podcast, titled “Mea Culpa”. 

The two have had a rocky relationship, to say the least: Cohen was sent to federal prison in part thanks to a hush money agreement he arranged with Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Ms Clifford, who meanwhile says she remains engaged in litigation against the former president, previously settled her defamation lawsuit against Cohen.

In excerpts of the conversation released ahead of the full podcast, Cohen apologises to Ms Clifford for the “needless pain” he acknowledges putting her through and says: “Both of our stories will be forever linked with Donald Trump, but also with one another.”

He adds: “Thanks for giving me a second chance."

Ms Clifford describes the alleged sexual encounter she had with Mr Trump as “the worst 90 seconds of my life” during the interview, an hourlong conversation about both her and Cohen’s fallout with the former president. 

At one point, she recalls considering whether she’d be able to “outrun” Mr Trump, though she adds she never felt physically threatened by him. 

“My battle is just now starting,” she says. “People are really upset, and they’re just going to get more pissed off at me.”

Ms Cliffords says she is planning to continue her legal fight against Mr Trump in the podcast, discussing a defamation lawsuit she’s appealed to the US Supreme Court after a judge ordered her to pay nearly $300,000 in attorneys fees to the former president. 

“I’ve already lost everything,” she adds, “so I’m taking it all the way.”

The two discuss everything from Mr Trump’s final days in office, which led to the deadly insurrection at the US Capitol, to a Haunted House in New Orleans and the move Bombshell, which apparently triggered memories for Ms Clifford about her alleged affair with the former president. 

The full episode was scheduled for release on Monday at 6:00 p.m. ET. 

Additional reporting by AP