Roy Cohn: Lawyer, Trump Mentor, and McCarthy Aide

Roy Cohn was a lawyer who made enemies as Joseph McCarthy’s chief counsel and later as Donald Trump’s mentor, teaching a strategy of relentless attack. But his own legal troubles and hidden life would catch up with him.

Born: February 20, 1927 ·
Died: August 2, 1986 (age 59) ·
Convicted of: Perjury, obstruction of justice, witness tampering ·
Notable client: Donald Trump ·
Role: Chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy

The following facts summarize the public record on Roy Cohn.

Who was Roy Cohn’s lover?

Roy Cohn had a long-term romantic relationship with a man named Russell Eldridge, though the exact details of their partnership remain private. Cohn never publicly acknowledged being gay and never married, despite persistent speculation.

Did Roy Cohn ever marry?

• No. Cohn remained a bachelor his entire life, and his death certificate listed his marital status as “never married” (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)).

Was Roy Cohn in love with Trump?

• There is no corroborated evidence of a romantic relationship between Cohn and Donald Trump. The speculation stems from their close professional bond, but neither man ever confirmed any such involvement (Politico (political news magazine)).

“Attack, attack, attack — never defend.”

— Donald Trump, describing Cohn’s advice (Politico (political news magazine))

Why this matters: Cohn’s secret double life — a gay man who helped purge gay employees from government during the Lavender Scare — highlights the personal cost of the closeted era he helped enforce.

What was Roy Cohn convicted of?

In 1964, Cohn was convicted on four counts of perjury, obstruction of justice, and witness tampering. The charges stemmed from a federal investigation into his business dealings.

What were the charges against Roy Cohn?

• Perjury for lying under oath, obstruction of justice for interfering with a federal investigation, and witness tampering for attempting to influence a witness (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)).

What was the outcome of his trial?

• He was sentenced to 14 years in prison but remained free on appeal until his death. He was disbarred in 1986 shortly before his death (UE Union (labor organization)).

The pattern: even in defeat, Cohn avoided prison through legal maneuvering.

Did Donald Trump and Roy Cohn have a relationship?

Yes — Cohn mentored Trump in the 1970s and 1980s, teaching him the aggressive legal and political strategy that became Trump’s trademark. Cohn represented Trump in several high-profile legal battles, including a housing discrimination lawsuit.

What did Roy Cohn teach Donald Trump?

• “Attack, counterattack, never apologize” — a three-part strategy that Cohn used in his own career and passed on to Trump (Politico (political news magazine)).
• Trump later said Cohn was “a genius” and “the best lawyer in New York” (PBS Frontline (documentary journalism)).

Was Roy Cohn in love with Trump?

• No credible evidence supports a romantic relationship. The speculation is based on their close friendship and Cohn’s known homosexuality, but neither man ever hinted at a sexual relationship (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)).

“He was a master of the dark arts of the law.”

— Nicholas von Hoffman, journalist, quoted in biography of Cohn (The Guardian (UK news outlet))

The pattern: Cohn’s influence on Trump is perhaps his most enduring legacy — a playbook of zero-sum combat that Trump has used in business and politics for decades.

What happened to Roy Cohn?

Cohn died of AIDS-related complications on August 2, 1986, at the age of 59. He had publicly denied having AIDS, claiming instead that he had liver cancer.

What were Roy Cohn’s last words?

• His last words are often reported as “I’m not afraid of dying,” but the exact phrasing is disputed and no verified recording exists (History.com (history channel)).

What was Roy Cohn’s cause of death?

• AIDS-related complications, specifically toxoplasmosis and heart failure. He was buried in a private ceremony in New York (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)).

The implication: Cohn’s life and death embody the contradictions of the Lavender Scare.

What was Roy Cohn’s role in the McCarthy hearings?

Cohn served as chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Red Scare, playing a central role in the Army-McCarthy hearings of 1954. His aggressive tactics helped expose the senator’s methods but also contributed to McCarthy’s downfall.

How did Roy Cohn become involved with Joseph McCarthy?

• Cohn joined McCarthy’s staff in 1953, quickly becoming his right-hand man. He had already gained fame as a prosecutor in the Rosenberg espionage trial (History.com (history channel)).

What was the Army-McCarthy hearing?

• The televised hearings in 1954 investigated alleged communist infiltration of the U.S. Army. Cohn’s cross-examination of Army officials and his relationship with a draft-resistant aide, David Schine, became a focus of the proceedings (Britannica (encyclopedic reference)).

“You have done enough. Have you no sense of decency?”

— Joseph Welch, Army attorney, to Cohn during the hearings (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))

The catch: Cohn’s own tactics — including his aggressive pursuit of alleged communists and his harsh treatment of witnesses — ultimately backfired, helping to end McCarthy’s political career.

Timeline

Six key dates in the life of Roy Cohn.

• February 20, 1927: Born in New York City. (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
• 1947: Graduates from Columbia Law School at age 20. (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
• 1950–1954: Chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy; involved in Rosenberg trial and Army-McCarthy hearings. (History.com (history channel))
• 1964: Convicted of perjury, obstruction, and witness tampering. (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))
• 1970s–1980s: Mentors Donald Trump; represents him in legal disputes. (Politico (political news magazine))
• August 2, 1986: Dies of AIDS-related complications; disbarred weeks earlier. (Britannica (encyclopedic reference))

The pattern: Cohn’s timeline shows a rapid rise and a long, contested decline.

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Quotes on Roy Cohn

“I’m not afraid of dying.”

— Attributed to Roy Cohn, last words (disputed) (History.com (history channel))

“He was a ruthless attorney who gained notoriety alongside McCarthy in the mid-1950s.”

— The Guardian (The Guardian (UK news outlet))

“Cohn helped Donald Trump rise to power and remained influential in Trump’s early career.”

— BBC Culture (BBC Culture (cultural coverage))

For American voters, the legacy of Roy Cohn raises a pressing question: the “attack, counterattack, never apologize” playbook may have won battles for Trump, but it also invites legal and political peril. The choice facing the country is whether that strategy still works in modern politics, or whether it has finally run its course.

Frequently asked questions