President Trump reportedly called his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, while their lawyers attempted to prevent the Justice Department from reading documents that were seized in an FBI raid of Cohen's hotel and office.
Trump and Cohen's attorneys went to court Friday to try and block officials from accessing information that they claimed was protected by attorney-client privilege, The New York Times reports. Trump reportedly phoned Cohen to "check in," the Times reports. It's not clear what the president discussed with Cohen when he phoned him, sources told the Times, but defense lawyers typically advise clients not to talk to one another when an investigation is ongoing.
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Trump told reporters last week that he didn't know about the payment when Cohen arranged it — and prosecutors are reportedly using that against him. The Los Angeles Times reports that Trump's claim of ignorance is being used as evidence that communications between Trump and Cohen about the payment may not be protected under attorney-client privilege.
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