Has he flipped? Asked if he’s still loyal to Trump, ex-lawyer Michael Cohen says he puts family first

After once boasting he would “take a bullet” for Donald Trump, the president’s long-time personal lawyer and fixer Michael Cohen fired a possible warning shot toward the White House, saying he now puts “family and country first”.

In his first interview since federal agents raided his home and hotel room three months ago as part of an investigation into his business dealings, Cohen made clear that protecting Trump is not his priority.

“My wife, my daughter and my son have my first loyalty and always will,” Cohen told ABC’s George Stephanopoulos in an off-camera interview that was reported on Monday’s Good Morning America. “I put family and country first.”

Cohen, who hasn’t been charged, wouldn’t say if he would cooperate with prosecutors in the probe. But he also did nothing to dampen such speculation, taking issue with some of Trump’s criticisms of the special counsel’s Russia investigation and even going out of his way to praise the FBI.

“I don’t agree with those who demonise or vilify the FBI,” Cohen was quoted as saying. The raid, he added, “was obviously upsetting to me and my family. Nonetheless, the agents were respectful, courteous and professional.”

White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders had no comment.