Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal attorney, said Tuesday that the FBI agents who raided his house, office and hotel room a day earlier acted professionally and courteously.
“I am unhappy to have my personal residence and office raided,” Cohen told CNN in an interview. “But I will tell you that members of the FBI that conducted the search and seizure were all extremely professional, courteous and respectful. And I thanked them at the conclusion.”
Cohen also called the raid “upsetting,” and acknowledged that he is worried about investigators’ seizures of documents and communications.
{mosads}
“I would be lying to you if I told that I am not,” he told CNN. “Do I need this in my life? No. Do I want to be involved in this? No.”
The Monday raid on Cohen’s hotel room, home and office came after federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained a warrant based in part on a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating possible collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia.
The New York Times reported Tuesday that the agents who conducted the raid were searching for documents related to payments to two women — adult-film actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal — who have alleged they had affairs with Trump more than a decade ago.
Cohen has previously acknowledged that he paid Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, $130,000 just days before the 2016 presidential election.
He insisted in his interview with CNN on Tuesday that his payment to Daniels was legal, but also said that the raid has made him reconsider how he handled the payment.
The Monday raid infuriated Trump, who called it a “disgrace” and an “attack on our country in a true sense.”