09 April, 2018
Federal investigators in the United States have raided the office of President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The New York Times reported that agents seized documents, including those related to Trump's reported sexual relationship with actor and director Stormy Daniels.
Cohen's lawyer, Stephen Ryan, called the search "completely inappropriate and unnecessary." He said the investigators received legal permission for the search after a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller.
Trump condemned the raid, saying that federal agents "broke into" Cohen's office. Trump also called Mueller's investigation "an attack on our country."
The Times reported the agents seized communications between Cohen and Trump.
Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 shortly before the 2016 U.S. presidential elections. Daniels says the payment was for her silence about a relationship she says she had with Trump beginning in 2006.
Trump has said he did not have a sexual relationship with Daniels and that he did not know about the payment.
Some legal experts argue that the payment may have been illegal campaign support.
I'm Ashley Thompson.
VOA News reported this story. Caty Weaver adapted it for Learning English with additional materials from the Associated Press. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
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Words in This Story
inappropriate - adj. not right or suited for some purpose or situation : not appropriate or suitable
referral - n. the act of sending someone to another person or place for treatment, help, advice, etc.