NEW YORK _ Lordy, are these the tapes?
President Donald Trump's embattled personal attorney Michael Cohen might have leaked audio recordings of Stormy Daniels to media outlets while holding on to recordings of him and the president, Michael Avenatti charged Tuesday.
"We think that these select leaks are meant to paint a false narrative relating to Mr. Cohen and his business dealings," Avenatti, who represents Daniels in her defamation lawsuit against Trump, said in a Manhattan federal court filing. "At the same time he is not disclosing numerous other recordings of him speaking with individuals such as Mr. Trump."
Avenatti did not immediately return a request for comment on the nature of these recordings or why he has reason to believe Cohen leaked them.
Cohen's attorney did not respond to emailed questions.
FBI agents seized a cache of records when they raided Cohen's Manhattan office, home and hotel room last month, including communications between him and Trump, according to court records.
Avenatti urged Judge Kimba Wood to consider Cohen's alleged "leaks" at a hearing Thursday.
Wood is expected to decide during the Thursday hearing whether Avenatti can intervene in the criminal case being pursued against Cohen by federal prosecutors in New York. Cohen is being investigated for wire and bank fraud.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is separately suing Cohen in California to void a nondisclosure agreement that bars her from speaking publicly about allegedly having sex with Trump in 2006. The X-rated actress signed the hush contract in exchange for $130,000 _ a payment that could have violated campaign finance laws.
Trump and his associates have a penchant for audio recordings.
While still a real estate developer, Trump habitually taped phone conversations with high-level employees, according to reports.
After firing James Comey last year, Trump tweeted the former FBI director "better hope that there are 'no tapes' of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press."
During a subsequent Senate Intelligence Committee hearing, Comey countered, "Lordy, I hope there are tapes."
