Michael Cohen set to return to court as Judge Wood seeks update

about 6 years in NY Daily

Michael Cohen is coming back to court. President Trump's personal attorney will appear before Judge Kimba Wood Thursday at noon.

Southern District of New York prosecutors will provide an update on their progress providing copies of evidence seized from Cohen's home, hotel, law office and safe deposit box to his defense team.

Cohen, Trump and the Trump Organization have argued that much of the evidence seized in the April 9 raid is subject to attorney-client privilege. Trump Organization attorney Alan Futerfas wrote in a letter to the court that the company's defense team was working with Cohen's to review the materials as prosecutors turn them over.

The Trump Organization had hired a "leading third-party e-discovery provider" to assist with the review, Futerfas wrote.

Cohen has proposed appointing a so-called Special Master who would determine what documents were privileged. Wood has appeared open to the suggestion, especially when it comes to documents involving Trump.

"Counsel should be prepared to address the process to be undertaken by a Special Master, should one be appointed, to review claims of privilege. In advance of the conference, the Court seeks a clearer understanding of the resources counsel for Mr. Cohen (Trump and the Trump Organization) have available to review materials for privilege and to produce such materials to a Special Master," Wood wrote in an order.

The government has countered that the standard protocol for document review is sufficient. Under the government's proposal, a separate team of prosecutors would review the materials for attorney-client privilege before turning them over to the team actually investigating Cohen.

Trump's loudmouth lawyer has actually has done little legal work, prosecutors have argued. A hearing earlier this month featured the stunning revelation that Cohen had represented Fox News host Sean Hannity.

The feds are reportedly investigating Cohen for possible bank fraud, wire fraud and campaign finance violations. The FBI seized documents in the raid relating to Cohen's $130,000 hush money payment to porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had an affair with Trump in 2006.

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