Trump Called Cohen Before Hearing, Prosecutors Say Cohen Has Long Been Target Of Criminal Investigation

The New York Times reports:

President Trump phoned his longtime confidant, Michael D. Cohen, to “check in” on Friday as lawyers for the two men went to court to block the Justice Department from reading seized documents related to Mr. Cohen’s decade of work for Mr. Trump, according to two people familiar with the call.

It is not clear what else they discussed in a call that came days after a series of F.B.I. raids. Depending on what was said, the call could be problematic for both men, as defense lawyers often advise their clients not to talk to each other during investigations. Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen still were trying to determine what exactly was seized.

The raids were even broader than have been previously reported. Prosecutors said the raids were part of a monthslong investigation into Mr. Cohen. In addition to searching Mr. Cohen’s office and hotel room, prosecutors also obtained warrants to seize material from his cellphones, tablet, laptop and a safe deposit box, according to people briefed on the warrants.

ABC News reports:



President Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen has been under criminal investigation for months, largely centering around his business dealings, federal prosecutors in New York said in court documents obtained by ABC News.

Today, prosecutors acknowledged publicly for the first time Friday that they seized records this week from Cohen. The revelation came as Cohen and Trump sought a court order barring federal prosecutors from accessing the records they took during raids on his home and office Monday morning.

A hearing Friday in Manhattan federal court was put on hold until Monday after an attorney for Trump intervened and requested additional time. “He as an acute interest in these proceedings,” said Joanna Hendon, an attorney for the president who said she was hired Wednesday night.