Redacted versions of never-before-seen court papers in Michael Cohen’s criminal case will soon be made public, a Manhattan federal judge ruled Thursday.
Judge William Pauley ordered the unsealing of the documents with redactions following a legal fight from news organizations, including the New York Post.
The filings are related to the April 9, 2018, FBI searches of the former lawyer and fixer to President Trump’s home, hotel room, office, safe deposit box, cellphones and electronic communications.
The government tried to block their release by arguing that “disclosure would jeopardize an ongoing investigation and prejudice the privacy rights of uncharged third parties.”
Cohen’s lawyers didn’t oppose.
Pauley called the release of redacted versions “an appropriate balance between the strong presumption of public access to search warrant materials and the countervailing interests identified by the government.”
He also noted, “At this stage, wholesale disclosure of the materials would reveal the scope and direction of the government’s ongoing investigation.”
The papers consist of warrants, warrant applications and supporting affidavits and riders in connection to the Cohen searches.
Cohen, 52, pleaded guilty to a slew of charges, including tax evasion and campaign finance violations for paying hush money to porn star Stormy Daniels and ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, who claimed they had affairs with Trump.
He was sentenced to three years in prison.
The feds, however, are still probing parts of Cohen’s case, the judge’s decision revealed.
“In particular, the government represents that aspects of its investigation remain ongoing, including those pertaining to or arising from Cohen’s campaign finance crimes,” Pauley wrote.
The judge said portions in the paperwork related to Cohen’s campaign finance crimes will be among the information that’s redacted.
Pauley ordered the government to submit proposed redactions for his review by Feb. 28. They will be filed to the public docket afterward.



