Investigators in New York have subpoenaed President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer Michael Cohen as part of a probe of the Trump Foundation.
"A subpoena has been issued to Michael Cohen for relevant information in light of the public disclosures made yesterday," James Gazzale, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, told CNBC on Wednesday.
A source familiar with the investigation told CNBC that anything the Tax Department uncovers through its investigation will be referred to the New York State Attorney General's Office for prosecution.
Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight criminal charges, including tax fraud and campaign finance crimes, in New York federal court.
He said that during the 2016 presidential campaign he had unlawfully facilitated payments to two women who have said they had sex with the president. Trump and his lawyers have denied wrongdoing.
Gazzale said his department will work with the Attorney General's office, as well as the Manhattan District Attorney.
Cohen's lawyer, former Clinton White House aide Lanny Davis, has said Trump himself "directed" Cohen "to commit a crime."
Davis has also expressed a willingness for Cohen to cooperate with state and federal prosecutors, including special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
New York's Attorney General Barbara Underwood had filed suit against Trump and members of his family in June, alleging a pattern of "persistently illegal conduct" at the nonprofit foundation.
Underwood accused the nonprofit of engaging in "extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign," according to the suit.
Trump responded furiously on Twitter, vowing not to settle the case.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
The sleazy New York Democrats, and their now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won’t settle this case!...
10:09 AM - Jun 14, 2018
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Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
....Schneiderman, who ran the Clinton campaign in New York, never had the guts to bring this ridiculous case, which lingered in their office for almost 2 years. Now he resigned his office in disgrace, and his disciples brought it when we would not settle.
10:09 AM - Jun 14, 2018
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"As our lawsuit against the Trump Foundation illustrates, we will hold Donald Trump and his associates accountable for violations of state law, and will seek a criminal referral from the appropriate state agency as necessary," a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office told CNBC.
A spokesman for the Southern District of New York's federal court denied any knowledge of the subpoena.
Cohen had served as Trump's legal counsel and a leader at the Trump Organization, as well as deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
He came under fire after The Wall Street Journal reported that he made a $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement she signed before the 2016 election.
Daniels is suing Trump and Cohen to void that contract, which bars her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump from years earlier. The White House has denied the affair.
"A subpoena has been issued to Michael Cohen for relevant information in light of the public disclosures made yesterday," James Gazzale, a spokesperson for the New York State Department of Taxation and Finance, told CNBC on Wednesday.
A source familiar with the investigation told CNBC that anything the Tax Department uncovers through its investigation will be referred to the New York State Attorney General's Office for prosecution.
Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight criminal charges, including tax fraud and campaign finance crimes, in New York federal court.
He said that during the 2016 presidential campaign he had unlawfully facilitated payments to two women who have said they had sex with the president. Trump and his lawyers have denied wrongdoing.
Gazzale said his department will work with the Attorney General's office, as well as the Manhattan District Attorney.
Cohen's lawyer, former Clinton White House aide Lanny Davis, has said Trump himself "directed" Cohen "to commit a crime."
Davis has also expressed a willingness for Cohen to cooperate with state and federal prosecutors, including special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating Russian meddling in the 2016 presidential election.
New York's Attorney General Barbara Underwood had filed suit against Trump and members of his family in June, alleging a pattern of "persistently illegal conduct" at the nonprofit foundation.
Underwood accused the nonprofit of engaging in "extensive unlawful political coordination with the Trump presidential campaign," according to the suit.
Trump responded furiously on Twitter, vowing not to settle the case.
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
The sleazy New York Democrats, and their now disgraced (and run out of town) A.G. Eric Schneiderman, are doing everything they can to sue me on a foundation that took in $18,800,000 and gave out to charity more money than it took in, $19,200,000. I won’t settle this case!...
10:09 AM - Jun 14, 2018
110K
57.1K people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
Donald J. Trump
✔
@realDonaldTrump
....Schneiderman, who ran the Clinton campaign in New York, never had the guts to bring this ridiculous case, which lingered in their office for almost 2 years. Now he resigned his office in disgrace, and his disciples brought it when we would not settle.
10:09 AM - Jun 14, 2018
75.1K
33.9K people are talking about this
Twitter Ads info and privacy
"As our lawsuit against the Trump Foundation illustrates, we will hold Donald Trump and his associates accountable for violations of state law, and will seek a criminal referral from the appropriate state agency as necessary," a spokeswoman for the Attorney General's office told CNBC.
A spokesman for the Southern District of New York's federal court denied any knowledge of the subpoena.
Cohen had served as Trump's legal counsel and a leader at the Trump Organization, as well as deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee.
He came under fire after The Wall Street Journal reported that he made a $130,000 payment to adult-film star Stormy Daniels as part of a nondisclosure agreement she signed before the 2016 election.
Daniels is suing Trump and Cohen to void that contract, which bars her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump from years earlier. The White House has denied the affair.
