Novartis Lawyer to Retire Over Contract With Trump Attorney Michael Cohen

The Swiss pharmaceutical giant Novartis announced Wednesday that a top lawyer who co-signed a $1.2 million contract to hire President Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen will step down in June, reports The Washington Post.

Reporter Carolyn Y. Johnson writes that Felix R. Ehrat, group general counsel of Novartis, is retiring “in the context of discussions surrounding Novartis’ former agreement with Essential Consultants, owned by Michael Cohen,” the company said.

Joseph Jimenez, former Novartis chief executive, initiated the contract and co-signed it with Ehrat. Jimenez stepped down as chief executive in late January.

The announcement comes days after AT&T chief executive Randall Stephenson said the top official in the company’s Washington office was leaving over a consulting deal with Cohen.

Read the Post article.