FBI raids offices, home of Trump's personal lawyer: source

By Warren Strobel and John Walcott

 

FILE PHOTO: Michael Cohen, personal attorney for U.S. President Donald Trump, arrives to appear before Senate Intelligence Committee staff as the panel investigates alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election, on Capitol Hill in Washington, U.S. September 19, 2017. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/File Photo

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Federal Bureau of Investigation on Monday raided the offices and home of U.S. President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen, law enforcement sources said, in a dramatic new development in a series of probes involving close Trump associates.

 

Cohen's lawyer, Stephen M. Ryan, said that U.S. prosecutors conducted a search that was partly a referral by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller.

 

Mueller is investigating whether members of Trump's 2016 campaign colluded with Russia during the U.S. presidential election. Trump has called the probe a "witch hunt" and denied any collusion.

 

"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," Ryan said in a statement.

 

"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," Ryan said.

 

Monday's raids were first reported by The New York Times.

 

Cohen has been at the centre of a controversy surrounding a payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has alleged that she had sex once in 2006 with Trump and was paid money shortly before the 2016 election to keep quiet about it.

 

Cohen did not immediately respond to Reuters for a request for comment. A spokesman for Mueller had no comment.

 

A source familiar with the investigation said that among the items the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan sought in the raids were information on the origins of a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

 

Cohen has said that he paid the $130,000 settlement money from his own pocket through a personal home equity loan. Trump, in comments to reporters on Air Force One last week, said that he did not know about the payment.

 

The FBI and U.S. Attorney's office on Monday also sought any emails between former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Cohen about a false and misleading account that Trump helped prepare of a June 9, 2016, meeting between Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner and a group of Russians who had promised “dirt” on Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton, another source familiar with the investigation said.

 

Such emails would not be covered by attorney-client privilege, this source said, because Cohen did not represent Hicks.

 

Ryan, in his statement, called the search warrants executed by the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan "completely inappropriate and unnecessary."

 

"It resulted in the unnecessary seizure of protected attorney client communications between a lawyer and his clients," he said.

 

Ryan said that Cohen has cooperated with authorities and turned over thousands of documents to congressional investigators for their own probes into Moscow's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. election.

 

The New York Times, citing a source, said FBI agents seized emails, tax documents and business records.

 

(Additional reporting by Mark Hosenball, Karen Freifeld and Makini Brice; Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-10

Trump calls FBI raid on his attorney's home and office disgraceful

 

U.S. President Donald Trump holds a cabinet meeting at the White House in Washington, U.S., April 9, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Monday that the FBI's raid on the office and home of his personal attorney Michael Cohen was a disgraceful action and a total witch hunt.

 

Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump called Special Counsel Robert Mueller's team the most biased group of people and reiterated his view that Attorney General Jeff Sessions should not have recused himself from overseeing Mueller's probe of alleged Russian meddling in the U.S. election.

 

(Reporting by Steve Holland; Writing by David Alexander; Editing by Leslie Adler)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-04-10

Trump and his Republican cabal are disgraceful, but this raid is Not.

Hooray.  

Pure desperation by the deep state after the Russia-collusion fantasy collapsed. The deep state is trawling hitherto unseen depths in their panic. IMO Trump having possibly had a sexual relationship with a consenting adult many years ago is slightly less scandalous than him having colluded with Russia to swing a US presidential election. All IMO of course, and happy to be proved wrong.

10 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

Pure desperation by the deep state after the Russia-collusion fantasy collapsed. The deep state is trawling hitherto unseen depths in their panic. IMO Trump having possibly had a sexual relationship with a consenting adult many years ago is slightly less scandalous than him having colluded with Russia to swing a US presidential election. All IMO of course, and happy to be proved wrong.

Nothing has collapsed, people indicted, 1 convicted already, more to come. On what planet do you live?

1 hour ago, webfact 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," Ryan said.

"...in part..."

 

I would assume that the other part is in regards to making what is almost certainly an illegal campaign contribution. Or perhaps people believe that a lawyer (any lawyer!!!) would pay out 130,000 dollars of his own money without telling his client for no particular reason.

 

Toss his ass in jail!

 

18 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

Pure desperation by the deep state after the Russia-collusion fantasy collapsed. The deep state is trawling hitherto unseen depths in their panic. IMO Trump having possibly had a sexual relationship with a consenting adult many years ago is slightly less scandalous than him having colluded with Russia to swing a US presidential election. All IMO of course, and happy to be proved wrong.

So then, according to your good self, Trump had sex with her but did not pay her off? Please do help us out here, notwithstanding Deep State interventions.

Amazing. Trump surrounded himself with law breakers and calls it disgraceful when those law breakers may have to face the consequences of their actions.

Cant wait to hear what he will have to say, when they knock on his front door, though indications suggest that day may well be coming soon.

This house of cards is falling, FAST! 

24 minutes ago, FreddieRoyle said:

Pure desperation by the deep state after the Russia-collusion fantasy collapsed. The deep state is trawling hitherto unseen depths in their panic. IMO Trump having possibly had a sexual relationship with a consenting adult many years ago is slightly less scandalous than him having colluded with Russia to swing a US presidential election. All IMO of course, and happy to be proved wrong.

Proof of collusion of course requires evidence, the gathering of which is a methodical process -- which should be heartily encouraged, by the way, by those crying innocence. As for the “deep state” as any kind of a long-standing, stable, and centrally directed entity, I would suggest that the burden of proof rests with those making claims for the existence of such a state.

FBI is seriously threatened by Trump. They are grasping at straws now.

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by canuckamuck

9 minutes ago, canuckamuck said:

FBI is seriously threatened by Trump. They are grasping at straws now.

Trump is seriously threatened by the FBI.  They are getting the goods now

The problem is with all of this and the Russia/Syria -they have crossed the line tweet then Trump's only way of trying to avoid being disgraced and jail is to start a war.

 

Now where will the FBI have got the info from about emails between Hicks and Cohen?? Hmmm didn't Hicks leave the WH recently and wasn't she already the subject of an interview with Mueller.

 

I bet Cohen is a worried bunny now.

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by Andaman Al

9 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

I bet Cohen is a worried bunny now.

Cohen always tries to come across as a tough guy, the Mr. Fixer for Trump.  But he's pretty much a wuss--just like his boss--which we will see pretty soon.  When it comes to saving Trump or his own ass, Cohen will turn on Trump and sing like Pavarotti.  And this guy knows all the dirty little secrets.   

Trump himself gave them cause to investigate Cohen when he denied knowing about the hush money payment.

Me thinks someone has just went from subject to target... 

The FBI & the Thai Junta are looking very similar these days

2 hours ago, FreddieRoyle said:

Pure desperation by the deep state after the Russia-collusion fantasy collapsed. The deep state is trawling hitherto unseen depths in their panic. IMO Trump having possibly had a sexual relationship with a consenting adult many years ago is slightly less scandalous than him having colluded with Russia to swing a US presidential election. All IMO of course, and happy to be proved wrong.

Looking through the Reddit discussion threads on this one is quite interesting. The most salient point, by an attorney of 35 years, was that the protection of a lawyer-client relationship does not exist when it involves a criminal action. And that there's no way they would attempt to go after a lawyer and raid their offices unless they had proof of criminality AND an expectation or possibility that the persons involved would otherwise attempt to destroy evidence. 

So yes, enjoy your Deep State fantasy, but I'm afraid it's coming to an end soon. The net is closing, and it's already wrapped around several members of Don's inner circle. As noted by others, when the noose closes, the canaries start singing. Won't be much longer now. Feel sorry for whichever people are about to be bombed while Don tries to distract people from his misdeeds. 

 

By the way, I'm intrigued by your calculation that colluding with a foreign power to swing a US election is only slightly worse than extramarital affairs with consenting adults. Are you that much of a prude or do you really see nothing much wrong with breaking the law and exposing the President to blackmail and undue influence by said nation?

32 minutes ago, sfokevin said:

Me thinks someone has just went from subject to target... 

Not with the Mueller investigation.

Not yet with the U.S. attorney's office for the Southern District of New York led by Geoffrey Berman (R) appointed by US Attorney General Sessions (R) who obtained from a magistrate court judge a search warrant of Cohen's offices and home. If Berman pursues a criminal investigation however, Trump is likely to become a subject for purposes of grand jury testimony.

What is it with this crap and some prostitute he may have slept with 13 years ago?  He wasn't president then so who cares.  There are plane loads of Americans arriving in Thailand everyday to sleep with prostitutes, what's the difference.  Donald trump pays woman to sleep with him a decade ago who really cares.

14 minutes ago, meechai said:

The FBI & the Thai Junta are looking very similar these days

Go for it!

3 hours ago, webfact 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," Ryan said.

 

3 hours ago, webfact said:

A source familiar with the investigation said that among the items the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan sought in the raids were information on the origins of a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.

 

Didn't know Stormy Daniels was Russian. Looks like Mueller get desperate to find some dirt to throw.

 

The Russian investigation doesn't work out as expected, let's try to find some other dirt.

2 minutes ago, Thechook said:

What is it with this crap and some prostitute he may have slept with 13 years ago?  He wasn't president then so who cares.  There are plane loads of Americans arriving in Thailand everyday to sleep with prostitutes, what's the difference.  Donald trump pays woman to sleep with him a decade ago who really cares.

Its the cover-up. And the lies. Very interesting.

In the midst of all this hysteria about "Russia" it amazes me that no one seems to attempt to stop the bus and ask precisely what has been proven about Russia's "involvement" in the American and other elections?

All we have is assertion, daily and indefatigably.  This is the old Goebbels propaganda trick:  tell a lie often enough and with enough conviction and eventually everyone will believe it as truth.

 

That there is some dodgy stuff going on between Americans and Russians I have no doubt, but that Trump has committed anything greater than sin I would seriously doubt. 

3 minutes ago, janclaes47 said:

Didn't know Stormy Daniels was Russian. Looks like Mueller get desperate to find some dirt to throw.

The Russian investigation doesn't work out as expected, let's try to find some other dirt.

So many things happening to want to shut down. Its outrageous!

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by SheungWan

2 minutes ago, blazes said:

In the midst of all this hysteria about "Russia" it amazes me that no one seems to attempt to stop the bus and ask precisely what has been proven about Russia's "involvement" in the American and other elections?

All we have is assertion, daily and indefatigably.  This is the old Goebbels propaganda trick:  tell a lie often enough and with enough conviction and eventually everyone will believe it as truth.

That there is some dodgy stuff going on between Americans and Russians I have no doubt, but that Trump has committed anything greater than sin I would seriously doubt. 

The 'nothing there' trope is the best daily denial assertion. Immediately after a conviction the optimum time.

19 minutes ago, SheungWan said:

Its the cover-up. And the lies. Very interesting.

It was always thus.

3 minutes ago, meechai said:

The FBI & the Thai Junta are looking very similar these days

An unbelievable statement. Regardless of what you watch on Fox News the US law enforcement agencies will continue to uphold the law. The FBI will only move in when they suspect someone has broken the law. Nobody will be prosecuted or go to jail unless there is incontrovertible evidence that ill support it. What I find amazing is that people want to give potential criminals a free pass just because they are on team Trump. What on earth makes you want to do that? If ANYONE has broken the law then if the proof is there let them face the judicial process.

 

It is incredibly unlikely that such a high profile 'raid' would have been sanctioned without 100% certainty that evidence of significant criminal activity would be uncovered in the raid. Regardless of the extent and breadth of Mueller's investigation is, if they uncover other criminal wrongdoing as a result of their investigations it cannot and should not be ignored. This probably was not Mueller anyway and more likely a result of Stormy Daniels and suspected wrongful use of party funds.

Donald Trump has a history of operating his business dealings in a very shady and semi legal mannere.  He pushes the envelope and often gets sued.  He went into the Presidency the same way- wheeling and dealing- except you can't operate a country like your private business.

 

While Trump may not have specifically know what General Flynn; Trump Jr; Bannon and Manafort were doing with the Russians- he became aware of it and has done everything he can to stymie the investigation to include obstructing justice.

 

His affair with Stormy is not the issue- the issue is that is private attorney may have been complicit in arranging meetings with Russian operatives; acting as an agent for a foreign government without registering and  illegally paying off people with the consent of his client.

 

There is a Deep State- but not in the way Trump or others are portraying it.The Deep State are the non political long term Government employees who work for the FBI; CIA; IRS and Justice Department do their job whoever is in power. However, when they are called upon to do an investigation; continually castigated as incompetent or political; and ridiculed- they do their job even better.  They went after President Nixon because he violated many US laws and made a mockery of the Presidency and they are going after Trump the same way. The more he talks- the more they do their jobs.

 

Trump can fire Mueller- but this will move the Impeachment forces into action and he will be impeached.  Conviction is another thing.  If Trump has nothing to fear- he needs to keep quiet; let the Mueller investigation proceed- but we know that's not going to happen. He eventually will force a Constitutional crisis - but in the end he will lose.  Truth is on the march and nothing can stop it.

12 minutes ago, Andaman Al said:

An unbelievable statement. Regardless of what you watch on Fox News the US law enforcement agencies will continue to uphold the law. The FBI will only move in when they suspect someone has broken the law. Nobody will be prosecuted or go to jail unless there is incontrovertible evidence that ill support it. What I find amazing is that people want to give potential criminals a free pass just because they are on team Trump. What on earth makes you want to do that? If ANYONE has broken the law then if the proof is there let them face the judicial process.

 

It is incredibly unlikely that such a high profile 'raid' would have been sanctioned without 100% certainty that evidence of significant criminal activity would be uncovered in the raid. Regardless of the extent and breadth of Mueller's investigation is, if they uncover other criminal wrongdoing as a result of their investigations it cannot and should not be ignored. This probably was not Mueller anyway and more likely a result of Stormy Daniels and suspected wrongful use of party funds.

 

I agree with all that but to ensure the understanding of the American people, all of them, it is time for Mueller to give an update, even a vague one, on the nature and scope of his investigation. He need not divulge anything that would be harmful to his further investigations but he should give the public something to promote their civil forbearance.

 

 

 

Edited April 10, 20188 yr by lannarebirth