The FBI has raided the office of US President Donald Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen after obtaining a search warrant from special counsel Robert Mueller.
Mr Cohen's lawyer Stephen Ryan told the New York Times FBI agents seized records relating to several issues, including a US$130,000 (NZ$179,000) payment to porn star Stormy Daniels.
Ms Daniels claims the payment was made to keep her quiet about a sexual encounter she says she had with Mr Trump.
Mr Cohen has confirmed he paid Ms Daniels out of his own pocket and Mr Trump has denied knowledge of the payment.
The search does not appear to be linked to Mr Mueller's investigation into Russian interference during the US 2016 election.
However, the New York Times reports it may have resulted from information he had uncovered during that probe and given to prosecutors.
Mr Cohen's attorney Stephen Ryan said the use of search warrants is "completely inappropriate and unnecessary".
"It resulted in the unnecessary seizure of protected attorney client communications between a lawyer and his client. These government tactics are also wrong because Mr Cohen has cooperated completely with all government entities, including providing thousands of non-privileged documents to the Congress and sitting for depositions under oath," he said in a statement.
More to come.
