A court document filed in the Stormy Daniels case against Michael Cohen reveals Cohen will assert his Fifth Amendment right in this particular civil case.
Cohen cites the April 9th FBI raid on his office, home, and hotel room and the government's current criminal investigation into him as the reason for his decision.
Federal agents conducting the April 9 searches related to Cohen’s business dealings seized about ten boxes of documents, plus electronic files on multiple phones and electronic devices, according to court records.
(...)
Ahead of Wednesday’s declaration, lawyers for Trump and Cohen argued in court filings that there is “substantial overlap” between Daniels’ lawsuit and the criminal investigation.
“Mr. Cohen is a key witness in this action and Defendants’ most knowledgeable person with respect to the facts,” asserts his attorney Brent Blakely, noting that Cohen negotiated the settlement agreement with Daniels’ previous lawyer and arranged for the payment.
“Thus, if the case moves forward,” Blakely wrote, “Defendants’ key witness would have to choose between exercising his Fifth Amendment rights, and testifying on Defendants’ behalf.”
Cohen declaration - Clifford v. Trump
Trump attorney Cohen plans to plead 5th in Stormy Daniels lawsuit (ABC News)