Attorney Michael Cohen's New York office and a hotel he was staying at were searched Monday by FBI agents reportedly looking for details on payments intended to suppress stories like Stormy Daniels' in advance of the 2016 presidential election. | Mary Altaffer/AP Photo Cohen cites 'ongoing criminal investigation' in bid to delay Stormy Daniels suit But adult actress' lawyer says he'll fight attempt to stall litigation over alleged hush money deal.

President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen, who was targeted in search warrants carried out by the FBI this week, is seeking to use the developments to put an indefinite hold on a lawsuit over an alleged hush-money deal with a porn star claiming to have had sex with Trump.

Lawyers for Cohen and the adult entertainer, Stormy Daniels, submitted a joint pleading to a federal judge in Los Angeles on Thursday indicating Cohen's plan to seek a stay of the lawsuit, which Daniels filed in a bid to have the alleged agreement declared null and void.


"Defendants intend to file an ex parte application to stay this action on the grounds that an ongoing criminal investigation overlaps with the facts of this case, and implicates defendant Michael Cohen’s Fifth Amendment rights," the filing said.

Cohen's New York office and a hotel he where he was staying were searched Monday by FBI agents reportedly looking for details on payments intended to suppress stories like Daniels' prior to the 2016 presidential election.

Lawyers for Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, said they plan to "vigorously" fight Cohen's effort to stall the litigation.

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The filing Thursday provided no details on Cohen's potential criminal exposure, but indicated Cohen's attorneys would file a motion Friday offering more detailed arguments.

U.S. District Court Judge S. James Otero approved an agreement to have motions on the stay request submitted on a fast timetable that would have the issue teed up for Otero by Tuesday night.