45
Congress
Security
The Nine
Trumpmerica
2018
FBI raids Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's office, seizes Stormy Daniels documents, bank records
By Eli Watkins
Updated 2305 GMT (0705 HKT) April 9, 2018
Attorney Michael Cohen arrives to Trump Tower for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on December 16, 2016 in New York.
Jeff Flake SOTU 01
Flake: Hope GOP lawmakers stand up for Mueller
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Paul Manafort (R), former campaign manager for Donald Trump, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Mueller pushed for Gates' help on collusion
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Special counsel Robert Mueller (2nd L) leaves after a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. The committee meets with Mueller to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The Mueller investigation: Who could be next?
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 08: Robert S. Mueller III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), speaks at the International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) on August 8, 2013 in New York City.
Mueller subpoenas Trump Organization documents
House Benghazi Committee Chairman, Trey Gowdy (R-SC), participates in a news conference with fellow Committee Republicans after the release of the Committee's Benghazi report on Capitol Hill June 28, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Gowdy to Dowd: Act like Trump is innocent
Sources: Mueller looks prior to Trump campaign
New charges filed against Manafort, Gates
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Richard Gates arrives at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse for a hearing February 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Gates is expected to plead guilty to a 12-charge indictment that includes money laundering and conspiracy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Ex-Trump campaign aide Rick Gates pleads guilty
Senior Advisor Jared Kushner listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press on August 11, 2017, at his Bedminster National Golf Club in New Jersey. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Sources: Mueller's interest in Kushner grows
Attorney Michael Cohen arrives to Trump Tower for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on December 16, 2016 in New York.
FBI raids Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's office
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller testifies before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 19, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Mueller's team questioning Russian oligarchs
Dutch lawyer sentenced in Mueller probe
Paul Manafort, advisor to Donald Trump, is seen on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 2016.
Manafort's journey to center of Mueller's investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Special counsel Robert Mueller (C) leaves after a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. The committee meets with Mueller to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
What Trump would have to do to fire Mueller
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been appointed by the Justice Department as a special counsel to over see an investigation in Russian influence in the 2016 elections. In this photo Mueller testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011 in Washington, DC.
The man in charge of the Russia investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Mueller authorized by DOJ to investigate Manafort
John Dowd, lead attorney for Raj Rajaratnam, co-founder of Galleon Group LLC, enters federal court in New York, U.S., on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Why did Trump's lead lawyer drop out now?
Jeff Flake SOTU 01
Flake: Hope GOP lawmakers stand up for Mueller
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Paul Manafort (R), former campaign manager for Donald Trump, arrives at the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Mueller pushed for Gates' help on collusion
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Special counsel Robert Mueller (2nd L) leaves after a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. The committee meets with Mueller to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
The Mueller investigation: Who could be next?
NEW YORK, NY - AUGUST 08: Robert S. Mueller III, Director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), speaks at the International Conference on Cyber Security (ICCS) on August 8, 2013 in New York City.
Mueller subpoenas Trump Organization documents
House Benghazi Committee Chairman, Trey Gowdy (R-SC), participates in a news conference with fellow Committee Republicans after the release of the Committee's Benghazi report on Capitol Hill June 28, 2016 in Washington, DC.
Gowdy to Dowd: Act like Trump is innocent
Sources: Mueller looks prior to Trump campaign
New charges filed against Manafort, Gates
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 23: Richard Gates arrives at the Prettyman Federal Courthouse for a hearing February 23, 2018 in Washington, DC. Gates is expected to plead guilty to a 12-charge indictment that includes money laundering and conspiracy. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Ex-Trump campaign aide Rick Gates pleads guilty
Senior Advisor Jared Kushner listens as US President Donald Trump speaks to the press on August 11, 2017, at his Bedminster National Golf Club in New Jersey. / AFP PHOTO / JIM WATSON (Photo credit should read JIM WATSON/AFP/Getty Images)
Sources: Mueller's interest in Kushner grows
Attorney Michael Cohen arrives to Trump Tower for meetings with President-elect Donald Trump on December 16, 2016 in New York.
FBI raids Trump lawyer Michael Cohen's office
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Director Robert Mueller testifies before the US Senate Judiciary Committee on oversight during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, June 19, 2013. AFP PHOTO / Saul LOEB (Photo credit should read SAUL LOEB/AFP/Getty Images)
Mueller's team questioning Russian oligarchs
Dutch lawyer sentenced in Mueller probe
Paul Manafort, advisor to Donald Trump, is seen on the floor of the Quicken Loans Arena at the Republican National Convention in Cleveland, Ohio, July 19, 2016.
Manafort's journey to center of Mueller's investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - JUNE 21: Special counsel Robert Mueller (C) leaves after a closed meeting with members of the Senate Judiciary Committee June 21, 2017 at the Capitol in Washington, DC. The committee meets with Mueller to discuss the firing of former FBI Director James Comey. (Photo by Alex Wong/Getty Images)
What Trump would have to do to fire Mueller
Former FBI Director Robert Mueller has been appointed by the Justice Department as a special counsel to over see an investigation in Russian influence in the 2016 elections. In this photo Mueller testifies before the Senate Judiciary Committee in 2011 in Washington, DC.
The man in charge of the Russia investigation
WASHINGTON, DC - FEBRUARY 28: Paul Manafort, former campaign manager for Donald Trump, exits the E. Barrett Prettyman Federal Courthouse, February 28, 2018 in Washington, DC. This is Manafort's first court appearance since his longtime deputy Rick Gates pleaded guilty last week in special counsel Robert MuellerÕs Russia probe. (Photo by Drew Angerer/Getty Images)
Mueller authorized by DOJ to investigate Manafort
John Dowd, lead attorney for Raj Rajaratnam, co-founder of Galleon Group LLC, enters federal court in New York, U.S., on Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Why did Trump's lead lawyer drop out now?
Jeff Flake SOTU 01
Flake: Hope GOP lawmakers stand up for Mueller
Washington (CNN)The FBI raided the office of Michael Cohen, a personal lawyer and confidant of President Donald Trump, Cohen's attorney confirmed to CNN Monday.
One source familiar with the matter told CNN that included in the documents authorities seized was information related to Stephanie Clifford, better known as porn actress Stormy Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump in 2006 that the White House has denied. A source familiar with the matter said the search warrant was very broad in terms of items sought, and another source said the search included bank records.
Trump slams FBI for raid of his personal attorney's office
Trump slams FBI for raid of his personal attorney's office
Stephen Ryan, a lawyer for Cohen, said in a statement that the US Attorney's office for the Southern District of New York had executed "a series of search warrants" including at his office, and "seized the privileged communications" between Cohen and his clients.
Trump slammed the move Monday as a "disgraceful situation" and "an attack on our country." A White House official said Trump had been watching TV reports, and that the President knew about the raid before the news broke.
The Monday raids included the Loew's Regency hotel where Cohen has been staying, according to a source familiar with the matter. There were approximately a dozen FBI agents involved, the source said.
Additionally, The Wall Street Journal reported the raid included Cohen's home.
The FBI just raided Michael Cohen's office. Here's what he still hasn't told us about the Stormy Daniels payment
The FBI just raided Michael Cohen's office. Here's what he still hasn't told us about the Stormy Daniels payment
Ryan's statement called the search "completely inappropriate and unnecessary," and said federal prosecutors had told him it stemmed partially from a referral by the office of special counsel Robert Mueller.
"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 the statement. "... It resulted in the unnecessary seizure of protected attorney client communications between a lawyer and his clients. These government tactics are also wrong because Mr. Cohen has cooperated completely with all government entities, including providing thousands of non-privileged documents to the Congress and sitting for depositions under oath."
A source close to the White House warned that Mueller's decision could push Trump in the direction of taking action against the special counsel's office.
This source, who has long said the President could still fire Mueller based on conversations with Trump and close advisers, believes the President could view the raid as crossing a red line and said among the actions Trump could take is replacing Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has oversight of the probe.
The New York Times first reported on news of Monday's raid.
Law firm offices
A source familiar with the situation said agents visited Cohen's office this morning at the law firm Squire Patton Boggs in New York. Angelo Kakolyris, a spokesman for Squire Patton Boggs, said, "The firm's arrangement with Mr. Cohen reached its conclusion, mutually and in accordance with the terms of the agreement."
"We have been in contact with federal authorities regarding their execution of a warrant relating to Mr. Cohen," he continued. "These activities do not relate to the firm and we are in full cooperation."
Cohen had formed a strategic alliance to develop business with the law firm a year ago after leaving the Trump Organization's umbrella. The law firm does not represent Cohen or Trump.
The special counsel's office and Justice Department declined to comment on the searches Monday.
FBI jurisdiction
Under special counsel regulations, Mueller's office would have to discuss with the attorney general whether to keep an investigation under the special counsel's office or to refer it to a different jurisdiction. Because Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from oversight of the investigation, Rosenstein would then presumably decide which investigative team moves forward.
Michael Cohen -- Trump's loyal fixer
Michael Cohen -- Trump's loyal fixer
A person briefed on the search told the Times that the FBI also seized emails, tax documents and business records, including communications between Trump and Cohen.
The White House official said it is unclear if Trump has spoken to Cohen.
Daniels payment
Cohen is a longtime ally of the President, and admitted earlier this year to setting up a limited liability company in 2016 to pay Daniels. She has alleged she had an affair with Trump a decade earlier, and that the payment was hush money. The White House has denied Daniels' allegations of an affair with Trump.
News of the payment prompted complaints to the Justice Department and Federal Election Commission over potential violations of campaign finance law.
Michael Avenatti, Daniels' attorney, responded to the news on Twitter, saying "an enormous amount of misplaced faith has been placed" on Cohen's shoulders.
Asked about the Daniels controversy last week, Trump said he did not know about the payment and declined to comment further, instead referring questions to Cohen.
"You'll have to ask Michael Cohen," Trump said. "Michael is my attorney. You'll have to ask Michael."
CNN's Katelyn Polantz, Evan Perez, Gloria Borger, Pamela Brown, Jim Acosta and Jeff Zeleny contributed to this report
