Before a court hearing Monday, Michael Cohen’s attorneys said Cohen had three clients in 2017: Donald Trump, Republican fundraiser Elliott Broidy, and a third person he declined to name. That third client, we learned later in the day, is Fox News’ Sean Hannity.
This news undoubtedly came as a surprise to Hannity’s Fox News colleagues, including afternoon anchor Shepard Smith. Above, watch how they reacted live in the hour after the news broke.
A lawyer for Michael D. Cohen said in court on Monday that one of Mr. Cohen’s clients was Sean Hannity, the Fox News personality and an ardent defender of President Trump.
Lawyers for Mr. Cohen, the president’s longtime personal lawyer and fixer, had sought to keep the identity of one of Mr. Cohen’s clients a secret in a court challenge of an F.B.I. search of Mr. Cohen’s office.
But after several minutes of back and forth between the government and Mr. Cohen’s lawyers, Kimba M. Wood, a judge for the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, ordered that Mr. Cohen’s lawyer, Stephen Ryan, disclose in open court the name of a client in question, who turned out to be Mr. Hannity.
Before Mr. Hannity’s name was revealed in the courtroom, Mr. Ryan had argued that the mysterious client was a “prominent person” who wanted to keep his identity a secret because he would be “embarrassed” to be identified as a client of Mr. Cohen’s.
Image copyright Twitter/ Sean Hannity Image caption Sean Hannity (left) and Michael Cohen
A Fox News host is the mystery third client of US President Donald Trump's lawyer, a court has heard.
A judge ruled that Michael Cohen, the president's personal attorney, must reveal the link to Sean Hannity.
A vocal Trump advocate who has never previously divulged any legal ties to the president's attorney, Hannity denied he was a client of Mr Cohen.
Monday's hearing in New York City follows an FBI raid this month on the presidential lawyer's home and office.
Agents were seeking evidence on various matters, including a $130,000 (£90,000) payment made to adult film star Stormy Daniels.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Mr Hannity visited the White House shortly after Mr Trump was elected
The judge also denied Mr Cohen's attempts to prevent prosecutors from reviewing the materials seized in the FBI raids.
Mr Trump's attorney says the computers, phones and documents should be protected under attorney-client privilege.
But Judge Kimba Wood ruled his application for a preliminary injunction was premature.
It is not clear why Mr Hannity hired Mr Cohen.
Skip Twitter post by @seanhannity In response to some wild speculation, let me make clear that I did not ask Michael Cohen to bring this proceeding on my behalf, I have no personal interest in this proceeding, and, in fact, asked that my de minimis discussions with Michael Cohen, — Sean Hannity (@seanhannity) April 16, 2018 Report
The conservative host, who is known for passionately defending Mr Trump on his Fox News show, issued a statement of denial.
"Michael Cohen has never represented me in any matter," the Fox host said.
"I have occasionally had brief discussions with him about legal questions about which I wanted his input and perspective.
"I assumed those conversations were confidential, but to be absolutely clear they never involved any matter between me and a third party."
He maintained it was no "big deal".
After last week's raid on Mr Cohen's offices, Mr Hannity took to the airwaves to denounce the probe as a "declared war against the president of the United States".
Just before Monday's hearing, Mr Cohen said in a statement he had only provided advice to three clients in the past year.
Image copyright Reuters Image caption Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, goes through security screening at court
One was Mr Trump. Another was a Republican fundraiser who admitted to paying a former Playboy model after she became pregnant during their affair.
The third client, Mr Cohen said, had refused to give him permission to be publicly named.
But Judge Wood made one of the lawyers identify Mr Hannity on Monday.
Also in the Manhattan federal court was Ms Daniels, whose appearance triggered a scrum from photographers outside.
Media playback is unsupported on your device Media caption Non-disclosure agreements have been in the news a lot - but what exactly are they?
Mr Cohen has admitted making a payment to the adult film actress, who claims the money was to keep her quiet about an affair she says she had with a married Mr Trump in 2006.
Mr Trump's attorney says he made the payment just before the 2016 election, but maintains Mr Trump did not know about it.
He is facing a criminal inquiry, which the president has strongly criticised.
The payoff to Ms Daniels could amount to a campaign finance violation, say legal analysts.
The White House has denied Mr Trump had an extramarital affair.
Image copyright Getty Images Image caption Michael Cohen walked through Manhattan over the weekend
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After it was disclosed in court that Michael Cohen's third client was Fox News host Sean Hannity, Rep. Gerry Connolly (D-VA) says that Hannity should be fired for his ethical conflict of interest.
