Hearing reveals Hannity used Trump lawyer
NEW YORK — A legal fight over what should happen to records the FBI seized from President Trump’s personal attorney took a surprise turn Monday when the lawyer, Michael Cohen, was forced to reveal a secret — that he had also done legal work for Fox News host Sean Hannity.
The disclosure came as attorneys for Cohen and Trump tried to persuade a New York judge to delay prosecutors from examining records and electronic devices seized in the raids on the grounds that many of them are protected by attorney-client privilege. U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood adjourned the hearing and rejected the request for a temporary restraining order on the grounds that it was too early for such an objection.
Wood said in the hearing that if Cohen wanted the court to declare that some of his files were protected because of attorney confidentiality rules, he would have to divulge the names of the clients he’s worked with since the 2016 election.
One was, of course, Trump himself. Another was Elliott Broidy, a Trump fundraiser who resigned from the Republican National Committee on Friday after it was revealed that he paid $1.6 million to a Playboy Playmate with whom he had an extramarital affair. The Playmate became pregnant and elected to have an abortion.
“I understand he doesn’t want his name out there, but that’s not enough under the law,” the judge said.
When Hannity’s name was announced, there were gasps and some laughter in a courtroom packed with journalists. Hannity is an outspoken supporter of Trump.
Cohen’s lawyers did not describe the type of legal work he did for Hannity. On his radio show, Hannity said Cohen was never involved in any matter between him and any third party.
“I never retained him in any traditional sense,” Hannity said. “I never paid a legal fee. I had brief discussions with him about legal questions where I wanted his input and perspective.”
Monday’s hearing began with an appearance by porn actress Stormy Daniels, who was swarmed by photographers and nearly fell as she was hustled into the courthouse.
The April 9 raid on Cohen sought information on a variety of matters, including a $130,000 payment made to Daniels, who alleges she had sex with a married Trump in 2006.
At issue is exactly who gets to look at Cohen’s seized documents and devices before they are turned over to prosecutors.
At stake is an investigation that could uncover the inner workings of Trump’s longtime fixer and image protector. People familiar with the probe said that agents were seeking bank records, records on Cohen’s dealing in the taxi industry, his communications with the Trump campaign and information on payments made in 2016 to two women who say they had affairs with Trump, former Playboy model Karen McDougal and Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
Tom Hays and Larry Neumeister are Associated Press writers.