Trump attorney Michael Cohen is also providing legal counsel to Fox News host Sean Hannity. The news emerged after a federal judge in New York ordered the name released from documents seized in Cohen’s office last week, multiple sources reported.
Lawyers for Cohen had initially resisted naming Hannity and another client who Cohen represented in 2017 and 2018, arguing that it would be embarrassing for them if their identities were revealed. The third individual disclosed was Elliott Broidy, a philanthropist and former finance chair of the Republican National Committee.
Reps for Hannity’s employer, Fox News, did not immediately respond to request for comment from TheWrap. He did, however, provide a terse statement to the Wall Street Journal, which broke the story.
“We have been friends a long time. I have sought legal advice from Michael,” said Hannity.
According to reporting by Vanity Fair correspondent Gabe Sherman, Hannity first made use of Cohen’s services last year when he faced advertiser boycotts from Media Matters and other left-wing pressure group trying to knock him off the air.
Person familiar w/ says Hannity hires Cohen around time leftwing groups called for boycotts against him last year
— Gabriel Sherman (@gabrielsherman) April 16, 2018
Over the last several months, Hannity has turned his primetime Fox News program into the most reliably pro-Trump show on any network.
Hannity has routinely defended Trump throughout various controversies, ranging from the firing of James Comey to the handling the special counsel. Trump is known to be personally close to Hannity and regularly watches the program.
It’s unclear how today’s revelation will affect Hannity’s coverage of Trump and Cohen going forward.