New York subpoenas ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen in Trump Foundation probe

ALBANY – Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo’s administration has subpoenaed the president’s ex-attorney Michael Cohen as part of a multi-agency probe into possible tax violations by the Trump Foundation, an official said Wednesday.

The subpoena was issued after Cohen’s attorney said in a televised interview that Cohen has information that “would be of interest both in Washington and in New York State.”

Cohen, the former lawyer and “fixer” for President Donald Trump, pleaded guilty to multiple felonies on Tuesday, saying he and Trump arranged six-figure payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels and former model Karen McDougal in the final weeks of the 2016 presidential campaign to buy their silence on stories about alleged flings with Trump. In court, Cohen said the payments were made for the “purpose of influencing” an election and were done “in coordination with and at the direction of a candidate,” meaning Trump.

Hours later on CNN, Lanny Davis, Cohen’s attorney, said of his client: “I do believe that he has information about Mr. Trump that would be of interest both in Washington as well as New York State.”

“We can confirm that a subpoena has been issued to Michael Cohen for relevant information in light of the public disclosures made yesterday,” James Gazzale, spokesman for the state Tax Department, said, referring to Davis’ comments. Gazzale declined further comment.

Cohen personally called the Tax Department to talk after receiving the subpoena, a separate Cuomo administration official said. The phone call was first reported by the Daily News.

In June, New York Attorney General Barbara Underwood sued the Trump Foundation, alleging it illegally functioned as Trump’s personal “checkbook,” engaged in “persistently illegal conduct” and illegally boosted his political campaign.

Underwood alleged a string of “self-dealing” transactions were executed by the Foundation including a $100,000 settlement to pay legal claims against Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort regarding code violations.

Trump has called the lawsuit a “ridiculous case” and vowed not to settle.

In Syracuse to open the State Fair, Cuomo on Wednesday said the Tax Department and the attorney general’s office were leading the investigation.