Michael Cohen threatens reporter over Trump in 2015 audio clip — and he is tenacious

Embroiled Trump attorney Michael Cohen has hailed himself as the president's long-term "fixer," saying last year, "I'm the guy who would take a bullet for the president."

But since the FBI raided Cohen's offices, speculation has swirled that the lawyer might eventually cave and turn against his most high-profile client, President Donald Trump.

So, who cares?

Publicly funded National Public Radio released an audio clip on Thursday from 2015 that recorded a conversation between Cohen and then-Daily Beast reporter Tim Mak. Within it, Cohen defends Trump with absolute tenacity, threatening Mak, who now works for NPR.

In the exchange, it becomes clear that Mak is inquiring about allegations stemming from the divorce between Trump and his first wife, Ivana — roughly 27 years ago. The word "rape" is mentioned, which makes Cohen come unglued.

Ivana had said in a sworn deposition in 1993 that Trump had attacked her, but later clarified that she was not raped in "a literal or criminal sense."

When the topic is brought up in the clip between Cohen and Mak, Cohen insists, "You cannot rape your spouse. It's very clear in case law."

Mak argues that hasn't been the case since 1984 in New York. Regardless, when Cohen loses his temper, there's some entertainment value in his tirade.

How much does a lawyer like that cost?

No idea. But whatever it is, sounds like he's been worth it. Here's a script of the partial exchange between Cohen and Mak:

Cohen: All I can say to you, is you better tread so lightly on your story, because I know where you're going with it. Because The Daily Beast and yourself, you're a bunch of disingenuous bastards. And mark my words, from...today, it's 4-17 — today will be the day that you will regret.

I know where you're going with this stupid story. And I know what you're planning on doing. And if there's any instance, whether it's in the headline, or any aspect of your article that indicates a rape and I don't care about some small bull***t line that you're going to throw in somewhere.

Mark my words, I will make sure, that you and I meet one day while we're in the courthouse, and I will take you for every penny you still don't have. And I will come after The Daily Beast, and everybody else that you possibly know. Do not even think about going to where I know you're planning on going. And that's my warning for the day.

Mak: Michael, besides the warning, do you a substantive comment that I can include in my piece, that reflects your views?

Cohen: I have no views because there's no story.

Mak: Okay. Umm, I mean. You have expressed your views over the last ten minutes or so.

Cohen: You write whatever you want, but rest assured like I told Univision, and like I've told everybody else in the past, and you can certainly look it up online: I swear to God on my children, I will find you, I will serve you personally, and I will be nothing but happy when I turn around and I get a judgment for defamation against you, and the (bleep) paper you work for. You understand what I'm saying?

What are you, 24 freakin years old? You want to destroy your life? It would be my privilege to serve it to you on a freakin silver platter..."

Mr. Cohen went on to talk about another $5 million defamation judgment he got for President Trump in the past, but you get gist.