Judge says Cohen had not shown he would suffer ‘irreparable injury’ without emergency relief against Michael Avenatti

This article is more than 2 years old

This article is more than 2 years old

A federal judge on Friday refused to grant Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, an immediate restraining order against the attorney for the adult film actor Stormy Daniels.

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US district judge James Otero said Cohen had not shown he would suffer “immediate, irreparable injury” without emergency relief against Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti.

Daniels claims to have had a sexual relationship with Trump. In October 2016, Cohen set up a limited liability corporation, Essential Consulting, that was used to pay Daniels as part of a hush agreement. Cohen was reimbursed by the president.

Cohen has been under the microscope since FBI agents raided residences and an office belonging to him on 9 April.

Speaking to reporters at the White House on Friday, a day of high political drama, Trump said Cohen was “not my lawyer any more”.



“I always liked Michael Cohen,” the president said. “I haven’t spoken to Michael in a long time.”

He added: “No, he’s not my lawyer any more. But I always liked Michael, and he’s a good person.”