Cohen’s attorneys – Stephen Ryan and Todd Harrison – penned a letter to federal Judge Kimba Wood of the Southern District of New York early Monday ahead of a high-profile hearing later in the day. They are urging to court to appoint an official to review what materials are protected by attorney-client privilege. 

“[T]here is a growing public debate about whether criminal and congressional investigations by the government are being undertaken impartially, free of any political bias or partisan motivation. It is in this climate that the Government executed an unprecedented search warrant—instead of using its less onerous subpoena power—upon the personal attorney of the President of the United States,” Cohen’s attorneys wrote.

“In the process, the Government seized more than a dozen electronic devices and other items that include documents and data regarding topics and issues that have nothing to do with the probable cause upon which the search warrant was granted in the first place.”

Cohen’s apartment, office, hotel room and safety deposit box were raided on April 9—a move that, according to U.S. Attorney Robert S. Khuzami of USAO-SDNY, was approved by a federal magistrate judge.