Michael D. Cohen, US President Trump’s personal lawyer, outside the Capitol in September. (File photo: Reuters/Jonathan Ernst)

Los Angeles (People's Daily) - The FBI on Monday conducted a raid at the office of US President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, Michael D. Cohen, seizing records related to several topics including payments to pornographic-film actress Stormy Daniels.

Federal prosecutors in Manhattan obtained the search warrant after receiving a referral from special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Cohen’s lawyer, Stephen Ryan, called the search “completely inappropriate and unnecessary,” according to the New York Times.

Cohen is a key aspect to the special counsel’s investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He also recently said he paid $130,000 to Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, to keep her affair with President Trump a secret.

The seized records include communications between Trump and Cohen, which would likely require a special team of agents to review since conversations between lawyers and clients are protected from scrutiny in most instances.