The FBI was searching for records related to the infamous "Access Hollywood" tape featuring Donald Trump’s vulgar comments about women when agents raided the home and office of his personal lawyer Monday, The New York Times reports.
The search warrant, obtained by the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, was personally approved by Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. The report says the warrant sought evidence lawyer Michael Cohen attempted to suppress that might have been harmful to Trump during the 2016 presidential election.
Federal agents seized records on topics including a $130,000 payment Cohen arranged to adult film actress Stormy Daniels before the election.
They were also looking for information regarding payments to a former Playboy Playmate who claimed to have had an affair with Trump, according to the Associated Press, as prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney's office in Manhattan work to determine if there is any fraud related to the payments. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, detailed her alleged relationship with Trump recently during an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes."
She says Cohen paid her $130,000 as part of a nondisclosure agreement, and is suing Cohen for defaming her reputation.
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