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Michael Cohen Has 'Magnified The Dangers' For President Trump, Law Professor Says

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The Loews Regency Hotel is seen in New York, Monday, April 9, 2018. Federal agents raided the office of President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen, seizing records on topics including a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Besides Cohen's office, agents also searched a hotel room at the Loews Regency where he's been staying while his home is under renovation. (Craig Ruttle/AP)
The Loews Regency Hotel is seen in New York, Monday, April 9, 2018. Federal agents raided the office of President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen, seizing records on topics including a $130,000 payment made to porn actress Stormy Daniels. Besides Cohen's office, agents also searched a hotel room at the Loews Regency where he's been staying while his home is under renovation. (Craig Ruttle/AP)

For the second day in a row, President Trump called the FBI investigation of Trump campaign collusion with Russia a "total witch hunt," after FBI agents executed a search warrant Monday and seized communications between Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Here & Now's Lisa Mullins speaks with George Washington University law professor Jonathan Turley (@JonathanTurley) about the raid, and Cohen's relationship with Trump.

"For many of us who've been critical of Mr. Cohen's record, there's nothing particularly surprising in this occurrence," Turley says. "Cohen seems to mix roles as lawyer, friend, fixer, businessperson, in a rather uncomfortable way for most lawyers."

Interview Highlights

On what's behind the raids of Cohen's office, home and hotel room

"Clearly, [special counsel Robert] Mueller is looking into the Stormy Daniels controversy, as well as other possible fraud allegations. Those allegations include some transactions dealing with Ukraine, some dealing with Russia. In fact, there's some overlap with what Mueller investigated with regard to Paul Manafort."

On what that might mean for Trump

"While some of us were skeptical and are still skeptical about the criminal case against Trump for collusion, the Stormy Daniels controversy has all the elements of a potential criminal case. It certainly is a greater threat in my view for the president. The reason is that the money that Cohen gave, as effective hush money to Daniels, looks a lot like the type of money that was the basis of the prosecution of John Edwards, who was the former Democratic presidential candidate. So the Justice Department has previously prosecuted people for what are called in-kind campaign contributions, when you make these types of payments to, in Edwards' case, a mistress, or in this case, a former porn star associated with the president."

On Cohen's relationship with Trump

"Cohen is so connected to Trump it's hard to put a piece of paper between them. What's curious is that many of us have argued for months that Trump should sever any connection to Cohen, who's perfectly radioactive. Instead, Trump had dinner with Cohen at Mar-a-Lago just a week ago, and just a couple days ago affirmed that he is his attorney. It's really quite breathtaking. Cohen has magnified the dangers for not just himself, but his client.

"And what's really problematic here is that there's always a concern when the Justice Department raids the office or home of an attorney, I think Trump is right about that. There are some serious attorney-client privilege questions. But Trump picked the wrong attorney. I mean Cohen is infamous for mixing his role as attorney and friend and fixer and businessperson. That doesn't bode well if you're going to raise the privilege that protects clients, because you first have to be a lawyer to raise the lawyer-client privilege."

This article was originally published on April 10, 2018.

This segment aired on April 10, 2018.

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