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Trump attacks Michael Cohen over 'Playboy model payment tape' Trump attacks Michael Cohen over 'Playboy model payment tape'
(about 3 hours later)
President Donald Trump has condemned his former lawyer Michael Cohen amid US media reports that he secretly recorded Mr Trump discussing payments to a former Playboy model. President Donald Trump has condemned his former lawyer Michael Cohen amid US media reports that he secretly recorded Mr Trump discussing payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
The tapes were reportedly discovered during an FBI raid on Mr Cohen's property earlier this year in New York.The tapes were reportedly discovered during an FBI raid on Mr Cohen's property earlier this year in New York.
Mr Trump tweeted that such a raid was "almost unheard of".Mr Trump tweeted that such a raid was "almost unheard of".
He added that a lawyer secretly recording a client was "totally unheard of and perhaps illegal".He added that a lawyer secretly recording a client was "totally unheard of and perhaps illegal".
The president also insisted he had done nothing wrong.The president also insisted he had done nothing wrong.
The New York Times reports that in the recording, Mr Trump and Mr Cohen discuss paying Karen McDougal, who says she had an affair with Mr Trump. What is the tape said to reveal?
The tape was reportedly made two months before the 2016 election that saw Mr Trump become president. The New York Times reports that in the recording, Mr Trump and Mr Cohen discuss paying Ms McDougal, who says she had a 10-month affair with Mr Trump in 2006, a year after he married his current wife Melania.
How did this become an issue? The tape was reportedly made two months before the November 2016 election that saw Mr Trump become president.
In the lead-up to the vote, Ms McDougal sold her story to the National Enquirer magazine, which is owned by a personal friend of Mr Trump.
She says a $150,000 (£115,000) agreement gave the tabloid exclusive story rights and banned her from talking publicly about the alleged affair. But the Enquirer did not publish her story after paying for the rights.
Why is this an issue?
The Department of Justice is looking into alleged hush money paid to women who claim they had a relationship with Mr Trump.The Department of Justice is looking into alleged hush money paid to women who claim they had a relationship with Mr Trump.
Mr Cohen, who has not been charged, is reportedly under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as potential violation of election law. It is suggested that such payments, if proved, would amount to an election expense.
His lawyer Lanny J Davis said in a brief statement on Friday that he was "sensitive" to the ongoing investigation but added: "Suffice it to say that when the recording is heard, it will not hurt Mr Cohen. Any attempt at spin cannot change what is on the tape." Failing to declare election expenses is a crime.
In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Ms McDougal sold her story to the National Enquirer, which is owned by a personal friend of Mr Trump.
She says the $150,000 (£115,000) agreement gave the tabloid exclusive story rights and banned her from talking publicly about the alleged affair. But the Enquirer did not publish her kiss-and-tell, and she says she was tricked.
On Friday, another Trump lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, initially told the New York Times that the president and Mr Cohen had discussed payments to Ms McDougal on the tape.
But he said no money was actually ever transferred, and the recording itself amounted to "powerful exculpatory evidence".
He later told the New York Times that the two men had in fact spoken about paying the Enquirer for rights to the story, thereby repaying the tabloid the amount it had given to Ms McDougal.
The Washington Post reported that Mr Trump and Mr Cohen discussed possibly paying American Media Inc, the parent company of the National Enquirer, for the rights to Ms McDougal's story.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the taped September 2016 conversation took place in person rather than over the phone, and the recording cut off after less than two minutes.
Federal investigators have reportedly demanded the tabloid's records on the McDougal payment.Federal investigators have reportedly demanded the tabloid's records on the McDougal payment.
What has Trump previously said?
Ms McDougal says she had a 10-month affair with Mr Trump in 2006, a year after he married his current wife Melania.
When questioned about the allegations, President Trump has denied the affair and said he had no knowledge of any payment.
In May, President Trump admitted that he had reimbursed Mr Cohen for a payment he made to another woman to hush up her claims of an affair.In May, President Trump admitted that he had reimbursed Mr Cohen for a payment he made to another woman to hush up her claims of an affair.
Mr Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels as part of a non-disclosure agreement.Mr Trump had previously denied all knowledge of the $130,000 payment to porn actress Stormy Daniels as part of a non-disclosure agreement.
Ms Daniels says she and Mr Trump had sex in a hotel room in Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada, in 2006. What does Cohen say about the tape?
Non-disclosure agreements of the type signed by Ms Daniels and allegedly by Ms McDougal are not in themselves illegal. Mr Cohen, who has not been charged with any crime, is reportedly under investigation for possible bank and tax fraud, as well as potential violation of election law.
It is a potential problem for Mr Trump because undisclosed payments to bury embarrassing stories about a political candidate can be treated as a violation of US campaign finance laws. He has declined to comment publicly on the tape story.
Mr Cohen once famously vowed he would take a bullet for Mr Trump, but he told ABC News this month that his loyalty to his family and country came before his old boss. But his lawyer, Lanny Davis, said in a brief statement on Friday that he was "sensitive" to the ongoing investigation before adding: "Suffice it to say that when the recording is heard, it will not hurt Mr Cohen.
"Any attempt at spin cannot change what is on the tape."
Mr Cohen once famously vowed he would "take a bullet" for Mr Trump, but he told ABC News earlier this month that his loyalty to his family and country came before his old boss.
His comments stoked speculation that he might co-operate with investigators against Mr Trump, although there has been no confirmation so far that he has done so.His comments stoked speculation that he might co-operate with investigators against Mr Trump, although there has been no confirmation so far that he has done so.
What do Trump's people say?
Mr Trump and his aides have consistently denied he had an affair with Ms McDougal, or had any knowledge of any payment to her.
The New York Times reports that Rudy Giuliani, Mr Trump's personal lawyer, has confirmed that his client discussed payments to Ms McDougal with Mr Cohen as per the recording - but that ultimately no such payment was made.
According to the newspaper, Mr Giuliani said the recording was less than two minutes long and that Mr Trump did not know he was being recorded.
It also reports that Mr Giuliani said there was no indication on the tape that Mr Trump knew before the conversation about the payment by the National Enquirer's parent company, American Media Inc, to Ms McDougal.
Is secret recording allowed?
New York state law allows one party to a conversation to tape it without the other knowing.
The New York Times reports that Mr Cohen, while working on behalf of Mr Trump, frequently taped conversations with journalists, other lawyers and business opponents of his client.
It goes on to say that Mr Trump himself also has a history of recording phone calls and conversations.