The FBI raided the office of President Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen Monday, according to The New York Times.
The federal officials seized multiple records, including payments details regarding adult film actress Stormy Daniels, the report said. The search warrant was reportedly issued after a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller.
“Today the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of New York executed a series of search warrants and seized the privileged communications between my client, Michael Cohen, and his clients,” Stephen Ryan, Cohen’s lawyer said. “I have been advised by federal prosecutors that the New York action is, in part, a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller.”
In January 2018, Cohen used Essential Consultants LLC and pseudonyms to pay, in October 2016 prior to the presidential election, adult film actress Stormy Daniels regarding an alleged affair she had with Trump in 2006.
Cohen told The New York Times in February 2018 that the $130,000 was paid to Daniels from his own pocket, that it was not a campaign contribution, and that he was not reimbursed for making it by either the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign.
Breaking News: The FBI raided the office of President Trump’s personal lawyer, seizing records on many topics, including payments to Stormy Daniels https://t.co/RsLccMlias
— The New York Times (@nytimes) April 9, 2018
DEVELOPING STORY
The payments to Ms. Clifford are only one of many topics being investigated, according to a person briefed on the search. The F.B.I. also seized emails, tax documents and business records, the person said.
The seized records include communications between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen, which would likely require a special team of agents to review because conversations between lawyers and clients are protected from scrutiny in most instances
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