Hannity downplays connection to Trump’s personal lawyer

Fox News host Sean Hannity on Monday downplayed the revelation that he’s been listed as a client of President Trump’s personal attorney, Michael Cohen, following the FBI raids on Cohen last week.

“Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter,” Hannity tweeted. “I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees.” 

Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter. I never retained him, received an invoice, or paid legal fees. I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective.

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018

I assumed those conversations were confidential, but to be absolutely clear they never involved any matter between me and a third-party.

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018

He added that his conversations with Cohen were “almost exclusively about real estate,” and that he has “no personal interest” in Cohen’s court appearance.

In response to some wild speculation, let me make clear that I did not ask Michael Cohen to bring this proceeding on my behalf, I have no personal interest in this proceeding, and, in fact, asked that my de minimis discussions with Michael Cohen,

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018

which dealt almost exclusively about real estate, not be made a part of this proceeding.

— Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018

Cohen was in court on Monday in connection with the documents seized during the FBI raids last week on his office, home and hotel room.

During the proceedings, the judge ordered Cohen to reveal the identity of his previously unnamed third client, who turned out to be Hannity. 

{mosads}Cohen was in court asking for an order to let his team or a court-appointed attorney review the material seized in last week’s raids before federal investigators can review them, in order to determine whether the documents are violations of attorney–client privilege.

Cohen is reportedly under investigation over allegations of bank fraud and violations of campaign finance law.

Hannity is a fierce ally of Trump’s, and frequently defends him on his Fox News show. The two reportedly dined together at Mar-a-Lago late last month.

The raids on Cohen, which were conducted under the authority of the local U.S. attorney’s office, came in part from a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller in his probe into Russia’s election interference and any possible coordination with the Trump campaign. 

Fears have risen among Democrats that, following the raids, Trump might try to fire Mueller or the Justice Department official to whom he reports, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. 

Fox News personalities such as Hannity and Lou Dobbs have been among the most vocal of the Trump allies criticizing Mueller’s investigation.