FBI Raids Office Of Trump's Personal Lawyer Michael Cohen

WASHINGTON, DC — The FBI has raided the office of Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, according to a statement from Cohen's attorney. Among the items seized were documents on payments he made to an adult film actress, The New York Times reported Monday.

Stephen Ryan, Cohen’s lawyer, said in a statement released to multiple media outlets that federal prosecutors in Manhattan were referred by special counsel Robert Mueller. They executed a series of search warrants and seized what Ryan called "privileged communications" between Cohen and his clients. Ryan called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary.”

"It resulted in the unnecessary seizure of protected attorney client communications between a lawyer and his clients," the statement said. "These government tactics are also wrong because Mr. Cohen has cooperated completely with all government entities, including providing thousands of non-privileged documents to the Congress and sitting for depositions under oath."

Ryan declined to elaborate on the contents of the protected attorney client communications, The Associated Press reported.

A person with knowledge of the raid told the Times that emails, tax records and business papers were also seized.

The search seems to stem from information that Mueller uncovered and gave to prosecutors in New York, the Times said. It apparently wasn't directly tied to the Russia probe.

Mueller is leading a criminal investigation into whether Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign had ties to Russia, as well as into whether there has been obstruction of justice.

Cohen recently acknowledged he paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford and who claims she had an affair with Trump more than a decade ago.

Last week, Trump said he didn't know about the $130,000 payment that Cohen made to Daniels. When asked whether he knew about the payment, Trump responded, "no." He also said he didn't know why Cohen had made the payment or where he got the money.

"You'll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael," he said.

New statement from Michael Cohen’s attorney confirming raid (via @carolelee) pic.twitter.com/XMtbFUaoXb
— Monica Alba (@albamonica) April 9, 2018

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