FBI raid sought Cohen’s communications with Trump campaign
The FBI agents who raided the offices of President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, sought records of his communications with the Trump campaign as part of what appeared to be an examination of his efforts to quell potentially damaging information about the candidate.
A search warrant used in the raid Monday sought bank records, business records on Cohen’s dealing in the taxi industry, information on payments made to a former Playboy model and a porn actress who say they had affairs with Trump, and Cohen’s communications with the Trump campaign, according to people familiar with the investigation. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the confidential details.
Several media organizations, including The New York Times and The Washington Post, also reported, citing unidentified sources, that the warrant also authorized agents to seize records related to the “Access Hollywood” tape, on which Trump was recorded making comments about kissing and groping women.
After the public release of the recording in October 2016, Trump dismissed his comments as “locker room talk.” In the weeks after, several women said publicly that Trump had subjected them to unwanted sexual advances.