Donald Trump has dropped his $500 million lawsuit in opposition to Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer who’s now a key witness in a prison case in opposition to him, Cohen and a Trump spokesperson stated Thursday night time. But the previous president didn’t waive his proper to sue once more. The former president and GOP front-runner’s determination comes days earlier than he was set to present a deposition within the swimsuit introduced in April in Florida.

Donald Trump has dropped his $500 million lawsuit in opposition to Michael Cohen, his former lawyer and fixer who’s now a key witness in a prison case in opposition to him, Cohen and a Trump spokesperson stated Thursday night time. But the previous president didn’t waive his proper to sue once more.

Trump had accused Cohen of “spreading falsehoods” “with malicious intent” and inflicting “vast reputational harm” for speaking publicly about hush-money funds made to girls throughout Trump’s 2016 marketing campaign which might be on the coronary heart of prison expenses he faces in New York. Trump has additionally accused Cohen of breaking a confidentiality settlement that he signed as a situation of his employment.

The former president and GOP front-runner’s determination comes days earlier than he was set to present a deposition within the swimsuit introduced in April in Florida. That testimony was initially set for Oct. 3, however Trump rescheduled so he might attend the primary three days of a separate New York civil fraud trial. Cohen is more likely to testify in that trial subsequent week.

A Trump spokesperson stated Trump had determined “to temporarily pause” the swimsuit in opposition to Cohen as he mounts one other marketing campaign for the White House and fights prison expenses in 4 separate jurisdictions, however stated he would refile at a later date.

“Given that President Trump is required to sit for deposition in a civil matter on Columbus Day, when he is scheduled to be in the Great State of New Hampshire, and while the President is fighting against the meritless claims that have been lodged against him in New York, Washington D.C., Florida, and Georgia, as well as continuing his winning campaign … President Trump has decided to temporarily pause his meritorious claims against Michael Cohen,” the spokesperson stated in an announcement.

The spokesperson added that after Trump “has prevailed in dealing with the witch hunts against him, he will continue to pursue his claims against Michael Cohen, who rightfully deserves to, and will be held accountable for his unlawful words and actions just as the Southern District of New York held him accountable for numerous non-Trump related acts and crimes, making Cohen a very ‘proud’ felon.”

Cohen, in the meantime, celebrated the choice, calling the swimsuit “nothing more than a retaliatory intimidation tactic.”

“Mr. Trump’s cowardly dismissal spells the end of this latest attempt to deter me from providing truthful testimony against him,” Cohen stated in an announcement. “My legal team and I now look forward to turning our full attention to holding Mr. Trump accountable for his latest abuse of the legal system. More to come.”

The lawsuit, filed in Miami, had provided a preview of arguments which might be positive to be featured in Trump’s protection in opposition to expenses that he falsified inner enterprise information to disguise funds made throughout the 2016 presidential marketing campaign to silence claims of extramarital sexual encounters.

Trump has denied any wrongdoing.