Michael Cohen Subpoenaed By NY Tax Department

NEW YORK — New York State officials have subpoenaed Michael Cohen, a longtime lawyer for President Donald Trump, amid an investigation of the president's charitable foundation. The state Department of Taxation and Finance said a subpoena was issued seeking "relevant information" from Cohen, who pleaded guilty Tuesday to eight felony counts in Manhattan federal court.

"A subpoena has been issued to Michael Cohen for relevant information in light of the public disclosures made yesterday," department spokesman James Gazzale said. "We will be working with the New York Attorney General and the Manhattan District Attorney, as appropriate."

The Department of Taxation and Finance reportedly launched an investigation earlier this year into whether the Trump Foundation and Trump violated state law. State Attorney General Barbara Underwood filed a lawsuit in June accusing the foundation of "persistent" illegal activity.

The state subpoena came after Cohen's lawyer, Lanny Davis, said Trump's former confidant had information that would interest both state and federal authorities, acccording to the Associated Press, which first reported the subpoena.

Cohen personally contacted the Department of Taxation and Finance after the subpoena went out, the New York Daily News reported.

At his federal court appearance Tuesday, Cohen reportedly said he made hush-money payments during the 2016 presidential election "at the direction of a candidate" — an apparent reference to Trump — to two women who allegedly had affairs with the president.

(Lead image: Michael Cohen leaves federal court in Manhattan on Tuesday. Photo by Yana Paskova/Getty Images)