FBI agents have raided the New York City office of US President Donald Trump‘s attorney Michael Cohen, reportedly securing confidential documents relating to Cohen’s payment of US $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels, among others.
The New York Times reports the raid was connected to Special Counsel Robert S. Mueller’s ongoing investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election.
It is not thought Mueller directly ordered the raid. Instead, the investigation may have turned evidence over to New York prosecutors, who then would have contacted the FBI.
Cohen became a figure of interest in the Russia investigation when he was named in the so-called Steele Dossier, compiled by former spy Christopher Steele, which alleged improper contact between Cohen and Russia-linked figures.
He was also thrust back into the spotlight after it was reported Cohen formed a shell company to pay Daniels $130,000 as part of a non-disclosure agreement to keep her from speaking about her alleged affair with Trump in 2006.
FWIW, Daniels claimed the agreement was non-valid as Trump himself didn’t sign it; she has since spoken openly about the alleged incident.
In a statement, Cohen’s own lawyer Stephen Ryan said the raid was “completely inappropriate and unnecessary” as Cohen had complied with previous requests for information.
Needless to say, the documents seized in the raid – reportedly including privileged communications between Cohen and Trump – could have massive implications for the ongoing investigation.
