Donald Trump’s lawyer apologizes for saying ‘you cannot rape your spouse’

A top adviser to Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump has apologized for saying it’s impossible for a husband to rape his wife.

Michael Cohen said Tuesday he misspoke because he was so gosh darn mad that The Daily Beast had asked about accusations from Trump’s ex-wife, Ivana Trump, during their bitter divorce in 1993.

“You cannot rape your spouse. And there’s very clear case law,” he asserted in the interview.

He was dead wrong: There are marital rape laws on the books in all 50 states.

In a statement to CNN, Cohen said:

“As an attorney, husband and father there are many injustices that offend me but nothing more than charges of rape or racism. They hit me at my core. Rarely am I surprised by the press, but the gall of this particular reporter to make such a reprehensible and false allegation against Mr. Trump truly stunned me. In my moment of shock and anger, I made an inarticulate comment — which I do not believe — and which I apologize for entirely.”

During their divorce, Ivana Trump’s assertions about forced sex appeared in a deposition.

Lost Tycoon, a book, by former Newsweek scribeHarry Hurtwas explicit about The Donald’s alleged brutality.

It descibed a violent, hair-pulling fight in which he unzipped and violated her.

“Ivana is terrified … It is a violent assault,” Hurt wrote. “According to versions she repeats to some of her closest confidantes, ‘He raped me.’”

Donald Trump denies the incident evere happened.

Ivana Trump, who kept her husband’s name has issued this statement:

“I have recently read some comments attributed to me from nearly 30 years ago at a time of very high tension during my divorce from Donald. The story is totally without merit. Donald and I are the best of friends and together have raised three children that we love and are very proud of. I have nothing but fondness for Donald and wish him the best of luck on his campaign. Incidentally, I think he would make an incredible president.”

Cohen works for the Trump Organization as special counsel, and not for the candidate’s campaign. Still, he has been a spokesman of sorts in recent weeks.

That is expected to change and multiple news outlets say the campaign is now distancing itself from Cohen.

“Mr. Trump speaks for Mr. Trump and nobody but Mr. Trump speaks for him,” a campaign source told CNN.

John A. Oswald is editor-at-large at Metro and can be found on Twitter@nyc_oz.
LikeMetro New York,Metro BostonorMetro Phillyon Facebook and join the conversation.