Michael Cohen Trying To Get Judge to Block Examination of Material Seized by FBI

Michael Cohen, center, following a meeting with the Senate Intelligence Committee. (Photo: Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call via Getty)

Michael Cohen Trying To Get Judge to Block Examination of Material Seized by FBI

Invoking Trump by name, Cohen's attorney reportedly tells federal court that president "has an acute interest in these proceedings."

Following a raid by the FBI at his offices and places of residence earlier this week, President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen on Friday is attempting to get a judge to block the ability of federal prosecutors to use any of the materials seized.

With a hearing before U.S. District Court Judge Kimba Wood, Cohen sought a restraining order so that review of anything seized by authorities on Monday would be put on hold.

According to the Associated Press:

Federal agents seized records on a variety of subjects in the raid on Monday, including payments that were made in 2016 to women who might have damaging information about Trump.

FBI and Justice Department officials in Washington and New York have refused to discuss the case publicly or say what crimes they are investigating, but people familiar with the investigation have told The Associated Press the search warrant used in the raids sought bank records, business records on Cohen's dealing in the taxi industry, Cohen's communications with the Trump campaign and information on payments made to a former Playboy model and a porn actress who say they had affairs with Trump.

The New York Daily Newsreports that Judge Wood, during Friday's hearing, indicated she "was inclined to rule in favor of a delay" based on the application to the court submitted by Cohen's attorney, Joanna Hendon.

For her part, Hendon suggested the other person likely most interested in the seizure of the materials, and the outcome of any prosecution stemming from what might be contained in them, was President Trump himself.

"Ultimately, in my view, this is of most concern to him," Hendon said, referring to the president. "[He] has an acute interest in these proceedings."

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