Donald Trump’s former fixer and personal lawyer Michael Cohen is postponing his scheduled testimony to Congress due to “threats” against his family from the president, his adviser said on Wednesday.

Attorney Lanny Davis, who has been advising Cohen, said in a statement that Cohen had decided to postpone his scheduled appearance on 7 February to a later date due to “ongoing threats against his family from President Trump” as well as his continuing cooperation with investigators.

Cohen did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Democrats recently warned the president he should not intimidate witnesses after Trump repeatedly suggested Cohen’s father-in-law and family should be investigated.

In a Fox News interview Trump said Cohen “should give information maybe on his father-in-law, because that’s the one that people want to look at”, and has tweeted other similar remarks.

Davis said Cohen would be willing to appear before the House oversight committee in the future but would not appear as planned.

“Due to ongoing threats against his family from President Trump and Mr Giuliani, as recently as this weekend, as well as Mr Cohen’s continued cooperation with ongoing investigations, by advice of counsel, Mr Cohen’s appearance will be postponed to a later date,” Davis said.

“This is a time where Mr Cohen had to put his family and their safety first.”

More to follow…