Marc Kasowitz, who is advising Trump on the Russia investigation, sent profane and threatening emails to a US retiree who advised him to resign

This article is more than 3 years old

This article is more than 3 years old

Donald Trump’s personal lawyer “intends to apologize” after he sent a series of profane and threatening emails advising a stranger who had emailed him to “watch your back, bitch”.

Marc Kasowitz, who is advising the president on the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election, sent the emails on Wednesday evening to a man who had emailed to tell Kasowitz that “it is in your interest and the long-term interest of your firm for you to resign from your position advising the president”.

Over the next half hour, Kasowitz responded with four emails – obtained by ProPublica – the first of which read simply, “F*ck you”, including the asterisk.

A second email read: “How dare you send me an email like that. I’m on you now. You are fucking with me now. Let’s see who you are. Watch your back, bitch (sic).”

ProPublica (@ProPublica) 8/ Then, 15 minutes later, Kasowitz replied again: pic.twitter.com/sw4C1rEh4w

Kasowitz provided a personal phone number and pressured the recipient to call him: “Call me. Don’t be afraid, you piece of shit.”

In the final missive, Kasowitz referenced his own and the recipient’s heritage: “I’m Jewish. I presume you are too.” He added: “I already know where you live I’m on you. You might as well call me. You will see me. I promise. Bro.”

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ProPublica did not identify the recipient of the emails, but said that he was a retired public relations professional from the western United States.

Mike Sitrick, a spokesman for Kasowitz, said that Kasowitz planned to apologize. He said: “While no excuse, the email came at the end of a very long day that at 10pm was not over yet.”

Kasowitz said in a statement: “The person sending that email is entitled to his opinion and I should not have responded in that inappropriate manner. I intend to send him an email stating just that. This is one of those times where one wishes he could reverse the clock, but of course I can’t.”

Kasowitz has for years represented Trump on issues including real estate, divorce, and allegations of fraud against Trump University. He was thrust into the national spotlight when he was retained to serve as outside counsel for the president on the Russia investigations. In June, White House press secretary Sean Spicer announced a new policy of referring all questions about the investigations to Kasowitz.

ProPublica has reported extensively on Kasowitz, including a 13 June article alleging that Kasowitz bragged to friends that he had played an important role in the firing of former US attorney Preet Bharara. On Tuesday, the independent investigative outlet published a lengthy article alleging that Kasowitz has not sought a security clearance and has struggled with alcohol abuse. Kasowitz’s spokesman called the report “false and defamatory”.

According to ProPublica, it was after watching an MSNBC segment discussing the ProPublica report that the man emailed Kasowitz with his advice to “resign now”.

Also on Tuesday, the New York Times reported that Kasowitz was considering resigning from his role advising Trump amid disagreements over his strategy for handling the Russia investigations.

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