Stormy Daniels lawyer alleges Cohen is leaking recordings seized in FBI raids

Stormy Daniels’s attorney, Michael Avenatti, is alleging that President Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen may have selectively leaked audio recordings seized during the FBI raid on his office to the media.

In a letter to U.S. District Judge Kimba Wood on Tuesday, Avenatti states that he has “reason to believe” that Cohen or members of his team are leaking the recordings and that the recordings may be related to Daniels.

{mosads}“We think that these select leaks are meant to paint a false narrative relating to Mr. Cohen and his business dealings at the same time he is not disclosing numerous other recordings of him speaking with individuals such as Mr. Trump,” the letter states.

Avenatti requested that the court ask whether Cohen or members of his team leaked the recordings.

The Hill has reached out to Cohen’s attorney for comment.

It’s not clear which recordings Avenatti is referring to in the letter or which media outlets he claims have received the recordings.

ABC News reported that FBI agents had seized recordings during the raids on Cohen’s office, hotel room and home last month.

Trump associates told The Washington Post at the time of the raids that they feared FBI agents could have taken Cohen’s secret recordings of conversations, which included discussions about both business and politics.

A so-called special master has been appointed to review the evidence seized in the raids to determine which records are protected by attorney–client privilege and which ones can be handed over to federal prosecutors.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing Cohen for defamation for suggesting that she is lying about her alleged affair with Trump. The attorney is also under criminal investigation.