The Southern District of New York can keep redactions in search warrant materials for President Trump’s former personal lawyer Michael Cohen because of “ongoing aspects” of a federal investigation, a judge determined Tuesday.
U.S. District Judge William Pauley III, who first ordered for the warrant to be unsealed in March, said redactions could remain “in view of the ongoing aspects of the government’s investigation articulated in the government’s status report.”
Prosecutors sought for the redactions to remain in place for at least 60 more days, and now face a July 15 deadline to identify “individuals or entities subject to any ongoing investigations and explaining any need for continued redaction.”
The FBI searched Cohen’s home and office in April 2018 and seized evidence concerning hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claim they were involved with Trump in extramarital affairs and received payments in exchange for their silence.
Cohen is serving three years in prison for lying to Congress, campaign finance violations, and tax and bank fraud.
