Cohen’s lawyers argue 12,000 items protected by attorney-client privilege: reports

Attorneys for Michael Cohen argued Monday that more than 12,000 files seized during an April FBI raid should be protected by attorney-client privilege. 

ABC News and NBC News reported that Cohen’s lawyers wrote to Judge Kimba Wood to notify her that they’d finished reviewing the more than 4 million files taken as part of the government’s case against President Trump’s former longtime personal attorney.

Cohen’s lawyers reportedly reviewed files from 13 different mobile devices and iPads, and 20 digital media devices. 

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The attorneys’ argument will not determine how many documents are considered protected under attorney-client privilege. A special master has been appointed to review the seized materials. 

So far, the special master has reportedly found 162 documents of the roughly 300,000 reviewed so far that are privileged.

The president has distanced himself from his former lawyer since Cohen was the subject of FBI raids on his home, office and hotel room.

Cohen is reportedly under investigation in the Southern District of New York for possible bank fraud and campaign finance law violations, including actions he took related to the $130,000 nondisclosure payment to Stormy Daniels, an adult-film star who says she had an affair with the president more than a decade ago.

Cohen reportedly has a new legal team representing him in the case, prompting speculation he may cooperate with authorities.