Political Intelligence

Michael Cohen Joins WABC Radio; Station Owner Consulted White House

The hiring of President Trump's former attorney by a Trump-aligned radio station owner raises questions about the nature of any White House communications regarding personnel decisions at a...

The Congressional Times · July 5, 2026

Michael Cohen, who served as personal attorney to Donald Trump before cooperating with federal prosecutors and pleading guilty in 2018 to eight felony counts including tax evasion and campaign finance violations (U.S. District Court, S.D.N.Y., Case No. 18-cr-602), has been hired by 770 WABC radio in New York, according to a July 2026 report by the New York Post. Cohen's role and compensation terms were not disclosed in the report; the specific employment agreement, if any, would be reflected in any applicable FCC public file or contractual documents held by Cumulus Media or the station's ownership entity.

WABC owner John Catsimatidis confirmed the hire to the New York Post and stated he consulted the White House before finalizing it. Catsimatidis said, per the Post report, 'I checked with the White House and they had no objection.' The Post further quoted Catsimatidis as saying, 'I understand everything is fine,' suggesting he believes Cohen and President Trump are on improved terms. The White House has not issued a public statement confirming or detailing the nature of any such consultation as of July 5, 2026.

Catsimatidis is a documented political donor. Federal Election Commission records show contributions by Catsimatidis to Republican candidates and party committees over multiple election cycles, though his specific 2025–2026 cycle contributions were not detailed in the source material. The full scope of his political giving is publicly searchable via FEC.gov under his name.

Cohen was sentenced in December 2018 to three years in federal prison following his guilty plea. He was released to home confinement in May 2020, per Bureau of Prisons records reported at the time by multiple outlets. Cohen subsequently testified against Trump in various proceedings and has been a public critic of the former and current president. The New York Post described Catsimatidis's characterization of improved relations between Cohen and Trump, but no direct statement from either Trump or Cohen confirming this was included in the sourced report.

Several material facts remain unknown. It is not publicly confirmed who at the White House was consulted, in what capacity, or what form that consultation took. Whether any regulatory or legal implications attach to a media owner consulting the executive branch about a specific hire is a question that would require review of FCC communications records or White House visitor logs, both of which are subject to public records requests under applicable law. Cohen's on-air role, start date, and any compensation structure have not been disclosed in any public filing identified as of this report's publication date.

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