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| Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen |
Update: The Washington Post now says Michael Cohen is "under federal investigation for possible bank fraud, wire fraud and campaign finance violations, according to a person with knowledge of the case."
Whoa.
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Breaking news right now as word comes that the FBI raided the office and home of Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in connection to the ongoing Stormy Daniels/Trump scandal.
Cohen has admitted to paying Daniels $130,000 just days before the 2016 election as part of a non-disclosure agreement regarding an alleged affair Daniels had with Trump.
According to The New York Times, prosecutors executed the search after receiving a referral from Special Counsel Robert Mueller who is investigating possible connections between the Trump campaign and Russian interference during the election.
Today's search and seizure doesn't seem to be directly related to Mr. Mueller’s investigation. Experts say today's actions were the result of information Mueller had discovered and handed over to prosecutors in New York.
Mr. Cohen has stated in the past that he is cooperating with authorities regarding the Russian meddling and has turned over thousands of documents to congressional investigators.
The Times reports the $130K payment to Daniels is only one of several topics being investigated by the FBI in relation to Cohen. Also seized today were tax documents, emails and business records.
Included in today's search were communications between Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen.
The Times says review of those documents will require a special team of agents because conversations between lawyers and clients enjoy attorney/client privilege in most cases.
So Michael Cohen, the "Says Who" wiseguy lawyer, who knows where all the bodies are buried, and where all the porn stars were paid...— BrooklynDad_Defiant! (@mmpadellan) April 9, 2018
...has been raided by the FBI.
Countdown to trump bombing #Syria in 3, 2, 1... https://t.co/OQy3dlCXTa
Trump on Thursday: Ask Michael Cohen!— Ari Melber (@AriMelber) April 9, 2018
Mueller on Monday: FBI Raids Michael Cohen's office.
"Rosenstein, as the acting attorney general supervising Mueller’s work, has the responsibility of deciding whether to expand Mueller’s mandate to include the new topic or to refer it to a U.S. attorney’s office." https://t.co/vjJD7WaQpD— Phil Mattingly (@Phil_Mattingly) April 9, 2018
Obviously very big deal. Because:— John Oberlin (@OMGno2trump) April 9, 2018
- extremely unusual
- needed search warrant
- requires serious charges
- requires strong evidence
- judges are extra cautious with lawyers
- warrant covered several areas, not just one issue
- FBI wouldn't do unless surehttps://t.co/kP6kbIymms
It's my understanding that government doesn't raid the offices of any lawyer lightly. The layers of bureaucratic approval that a raid of THE SITTING PRESIDENT'S LAWYER must have gone through simply boggles my mind. https://t.co/WjjZm69BsZ— southpaw (@nycsouthpaw) April 9, 2018
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