FBI Raids Trump’s Personal Lawyer Michael Cohen

The Federal Bureau of Investigation better known as FBI raided the home and offices of U.S. President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen. It is not immediately known for what specific purpose the raids are conducted. It could be Trump’s 2016 election campaign with the support of Russia or the raids may be done to corroborate the claims of Stormy Daniels who time and again alleged that Michael Cohen on behalf of President Trump has paid her a hush money of $130,000.

Whatever may be the reason, no one can ignore that the dramatic development is a part of a series of investigation, which involves President Trump’s close aids. Though initially if the words of Michael Cohen’s lawyer, Stephen M. Ryan, are to be believed then the raid and search was conducted after being referred by the Office of Special Counsel, Robert Mueller. 

It is important here to note that Robert Mueller is investigating the case where he is trying to find out, whether members of Trump’s 2016 election campaign colluded with Russia during the U.S. presidential election. Though Trump has time and again denied his connection with Russia. But this time the raid is going to increase legal pressure on the President, because it involves the records of his longtime personal lawyer and something may come out of it.

Michael Cohen, who has recently admitted making a payment of $130,000 to Porn Star Stormy Daniels, has been at the center of a controversy on this issue too. As the payment was made shortly before the 2016 election, which is against the norms of any kind of political election. While Stormy Daniels, has time and again said that she had a physical relationship with Trump in 2006 and was paid by Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen, to keep quiet about it during the election campaign. 

After the news of FBI raids came to light, US President Donald Trump reacted harshly. He said, “It’s a disgraceful situation. It’s a total witch-hunt. I’ve been saying it for a long time”.

The question of Robert Mueller sacking was also raised, but according to protocol, Trump cannot fire Mueller directly. The opposition in the Senate too are raising the issue, Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer tweeted warning Trump against interfering in the issue. He wrote, “If @realDonaldTrump is thinking of using the FBI raid to fire Special Counsel Mueller or otherwise interfere with the chain of command in the Russia probe, we Democrats have one simple message for him: don’t”. 

If Reports are to be believed then, Robert Mueller is also investigating a $150,000 payment made in September 2015 by a Ukrainian billionaire, Viktor Pinchuk, to Trump’s charitable foundation in exchange for a 20-minute video appearance by Trump at a conference in Kiev. It is also important here to note that, Trump had declared his candidacy for President in June 2015, just before the deal took place. 

Though on the issue involving porn star Stormy Daniels, Michael Cohen has already accepted that he has paid the $130,000 settlement money to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, from his own pocket. Trump, in comments to reporters on board Air Force One last week, said that he did not know about the payment. 

FBI agents executed the search warrant at the New York offices of the law firm Squire Patton Boggs on the 23rd floor of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where Cohen also has an office. The raid, which ran for several hours, was conducted without prior warning. Reportedly, another room at the Loews Regency Hotel on Park Avenue in Manhattan was also raided by Federal agents where Cohen has been staying while his apartment is being renovated.

During the raid FBI sought the emails correspondence between former White House communications director Hope Hicks and Cohen about a false and misleading account that Trump helped prepare of a June 9th, 2016, meeting between Trump’s son Donald Trump, Jr. and son-in-law Jared Kushner and a group of Russians who had promised to malign Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the campaign, according to a source involved with the investigation said. 

During the investigation Michael Cohen has cooperated with authorities and produced documents sought by the investigators for their probe.