Donald Trump had 'no idea' his personal attorney was selling White House insight, Rudy Giuliani claims

President Donald Trump was unaware that his long-time lawyer was selling his insight into the workings of the White House after his election, a member of the president’s legal team has said.

Rudy Giuliani – the latest addition to Mr Trump’s team managing his response to the Russia investigation – said he was “quite certain” the president did not know about the post-election activities of his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Mr Cohen earned millions of dollars selling his intimate knowledge of the Trump White House to companies both inside and outside the United States. One company has reportedly dismissed an employee over the revelations. Two have been in contact with special counsel Robert Mueller’s team.

But Mr Giuliani said that Mr Trump seemed surprised when he brought up a recent report that Mr Cohen had been paid by a firm tied to a Russian oligarch.

"He knew nothing about it," Mr Giuliani told the Associated Press.

He added that he had not talked to Mr Trump about other companies that had paid Mr Cohen, including telecoms provider AT&T and pharmaceutical company Novartis.

"I haven't talked to him in detail except for the first day it came out. When it first came out, he was surprised," Mr Giuliani said.

He added: "There doesn't seem to be any involvement with us.”

AT&T and Novartis both publicly acknowledged this week that they had paid Mr Cohen for information about the new administration – reportedly through the same shell company Mr Cohen used to facilitate a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. A lawyer for Ms Daniels claimed Mr Cohen made a similar arrangement with a company tied to Russian oligarch Viktor Vekselberg.

AT&T CEO Randall Stephenson called hiring Mr Cohen a “big mistake” in a memo to staff on Friday. He also said that top executive Bob Quinn would be retiring, though the Wall Street Journal reported he was forced out.

Novartis admitted to paying Mr Cohen $1.2m for a yearlong contract, but said the lawyer had not provided the level of information he promised.

“We made a mistake in entering into this engagement and, as a consequence, are being criticised by a world that expects more from us,” chief executive Vasant Narasimhan wrote in an email to staff.

Both AT&T and Novartis said they had been contacted by members of Mr Mueller's team about the payments and had "cooperated fully".

White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders has directed all questions about the payments to the president’s outside counsel.

Mr Cohen is currently under federal investigation for bank fraud, wire fraud, and campaign finance violations, according to the Washington Post. FBI agents raided his New York offices and home last month, taking records of the lawyer’s clients and finances.

Mr Trump has since distanced himself from his attorney of more than a decade, telling Fox & Friends that the federal investigation “doesn’t have to do with me”.

“Michael is a businessman. He’s got a business. He also practices law,” Mr Trump said. “I would say, probably, the big thing is his business. I have nothing to do with his business.”