Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney, is under investigation for possibly committing bank fraud and violating campaign finance rules, according to a new report.
The Washington Post was the first to report the update, which was provided shortly after it was revealed FBI agents searched and seized documents in his Manhattan office. Cohen’s lawyer said the raid was at the request of special counsel Robert Mueller, but the government has not confirmed that statement.
“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,” Cohen’s lawyer Stephen Ryan 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.”
Agents gathered documents pertaining to Cohen’s payment of $130,000 in hush money to adult film star Stormy Daniels, according to the New York Times. Daniels has been involved in a legal battle with Trump over an alleged extramarital affair, and it was previously reported she was paid by Cohen to keep silent about the relationship.
But Daniels filed a lawsuit earlier this year arguing the nondisclosure agreement she signed should be nullified because it lacked Trump’s signature. Additionally, she amended the lawsuit late last month, arguing Cohen’s payment violated campaign finance laws because it was an in-kind campaign donation and it was never reported.
Common Cause, a government watchdog organization, also asserted the payment broke federal law in complaints filed to the Federal Election Commission and the Justice Department late last month.
The White House has said Trump denies ever being involved in an affair with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
