Roy Marcus Cohn (February 20, 1927 – August 2, 1986) was a notable American attorney and political figure, best known for his controversial role as chief counsel to Senator Joseph McCarthy during the Army–McCarthy hearings in 1954. His involvement in these hearings solidified his place in the historical narrative of the Cold War era, as he aided McCarthy's efforts to investigate alleged communist infiltration.
Born in the Bronx, New York City, Cohn pursued higher education at Columbia University, where he began to hone his legal acumen. He gained significant attention as a prosecutor in the high-profile espionage case against Julius and Ethel Rosenberg, culminating in their execution in 1953. However, Cohn's reputation faced challenges in the years following McCarthy’s decline.
In the late 1970s and throughout the 1980s, he reinvented himself as a powerful political fixer in New York City, forging influential connections, including a mentorship role for then-developer Donald Trump, which would later shape Trump’s business approach.
Cohn's legal career ended abruptly in 1986 when he was disbarred by the New York State Supreme Court for unethical practices, including an attempt to manipulate a dying client's will. Just weeks later, he succumbed to AIDS-related complications, having staunchly denied his HIV diagnosis throughout his illness. His life and career remain a complex chapter in American legal and political history.
