The identity of Michael D. Cohen's mysterious third client was revealed Monday to be the Fox News host Sean Hannity.
The dramatic legal twist came to light as Cohen’s lawyers tried to delay prosecutors from sifting through records that the FBI seized in its surprise raid of his office and hotel earlier this month. The attorneys initially tried to keep Hannity’s name out of the proceedings on the grounds that he would be embarrassed. But that argument didn't convince Judge Kimba Wood.
“I understand he doesn’t want his name out there, but that’s not enough under the law,” said Wood, forcing Cohen’s attorneys to reveal the name of his client. It’s unclear what kinds of legal services Cohen provided Hannity.
The judge also rejected the defense's request to review the seized files before prosecutors.
Hannity, a loyal supporter of President Donald Trump, tried to distance himself from Cohen on his radio show Monday.
“Michael never represented me in any matter,” he said. “But I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions.” He did not elaborate on the nature of those matters.
Prior to Monday's revelation, Cohen had disclosed that he provided legal services for three clients in the past year.
One of them is Trump, who allegedly had an affair with the adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2006. Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to stay quiet about the sexual encounter as part of a non-disclosure agreement that Daniels is currently challenging in court.
Cohen’s other client is Elliot Broidy, a prominent GOP fundraiser who used Cohen to negotiate a $1.6 million payoff for a Playboy model he had impregnated. After news of that affair broke last week, Broidy was forced to resign as deputy finance chair of the Republican National Committee.
Cohen also serves as a deputy finance chair at the RNC, but the political organization is so far not irked by the recent slew of negative press.
“We stand behind Michael Cohen,” the RNC spokeswoman Kayleigh McEnany told Cheddar’s J.D. Durkin hours before Cohen's hearing.
“We don’t weigh in to legal matters. He stands with us, he has been a great ally of this president, and he’s still at the RNC,” she said.
For full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/the-rnc-fires-back-after-james-comey-interview).
The Biden administration has stopped taking mobile app appointments to admit asylum-seekers at a Texas border crossing that connects to a notoriously dangerous Mexican city after advocates warned U.S. authorities that migrants were being targeted there for extortion.
Donald Trump arrived in Florida on Monday ahead of a history-making federal court appearance on dozens of felony charges accusing him of illegally hoarding classified documents and thwarting the Justice Department's efforts to get them back.
The Supreme Court said Monday it won't review North Carolina's decision to stop issuing specialty license plates with the Confederate flag.
The Human Rights Campaign has declared a state of emergency for the lgbtq+ community. The unprecedented move comes after the passage of more than 75 anti-gay bills this year alone. Here with more is Cheddar News senior reporter Chloe Aiello.
President Joe Biden welcomed hundreds to the White House on Saturday for a delayed Pride Month celebration aimed at showing LGBTQ+ people that his administration has their back at a time when advocates are warning of a spike in discriminatory legislation, particularly aimed at the transgender community, sweeping through statehouses.
Silvio Berlusconi, the boastful billionaire media mogul who was Italy’s longest-serving premier despite scandals over his sex-fueled parties and allegations of corruption, died Monday. He was 86.
“Any consumer can tell you that online airline bookings are confusing enough," said William McGee, an aviation expert at the American Economic Liberties Project. "The last thing we need is to roll back an existing protection that provides effective transparency.”
Cheddar News checks in to see what to look out for Next Week on the Street as former president Donald Trump makes an appearance in federal court after being indicted. Investors will also keep an eye on the Federal Reserve meeting to see what comes out of that while earnings continue to pour in.
U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris announced Thursday that the U.S. is investing more than $100 million in the Caribbean region to crack down on weapons trafficking, help alleviate Haiti’s humanitarian crisis and support climate change initiatives.
It is arguably the most perilous of multiple legal threats against the former president as he seeks to reclaim the White House.
