Uber Refused To Hire Michael Cohen
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Michael Cohen was paid generously by a few major companies — Swiss drugmaker Novartis, AT&T and lobbying firm Squire Patton Boggs — to serve as a political consultant by reportedly touting his relationship with President Trump and promising access to the White House. But Uber didn’t want any part in that.
The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Cohen, Trump’s lawyer and “fixer,” pitched Uber but was repeatedly denied.
The ride-sharing company cited Cohen’s ownership of New York taxi medallions as a potential conflict of interest. He modified his pitch in response to those objections, reminding the company he was “the president’s lawyer,” a person close to the company said.
Uber’s office was “bemused,” the person said.
Uber itself has been accused of operating in legal gray areas. Under former CEO Travis Kalanick, Uber was criticized for its sexist work environment, and for allegedly retaliating against employees who complained. Kalanick was also caught on camera berating an Uber driver, and plans were in place to sabotage business rivals, such as Lyft.
Contact Alyssa Fisher at fisher@forward.com or on Twitter, @alyssalfisher
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