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National Enquirer owner admits to 'catch and kill' payment to ex-Playmate | National Enquirer owner admits to 'catch and kill' payment to ex-Playmate |
(35 minutes later) | |
The publisher of National Enquirer has said it coordinated with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to pay a Playboy model $150,000 in hush money, placing the president and his inner circle in further legal peril. | The publisher of National Enquirer has said it coordinated with Donald Trump’s presidential campaign to pay a Playboy model $150,000 in hush money, placing the president and his inner circle in further legal peril. |
American Media Inc (AMI) told prosecutors it worked “in concert” with Trump’s campaign when it bought Karen McDougal’s story of a sexual affair with Trump, which it suppressed “to prevent it from influencing the election”. | American Media Inc (AMI) told prosecutors it worked “in concert” with Trump’s campaign when it bought Karen McDougal’s story of a sexual affair with Trump, which it suppressed “to prevent it from influencing the election”. |
The publisher revealed details of the so-called “catch and kill” deal for McDougal’s story in an agreement with federal authorities that means the company will not face charges, prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Wednesday. | The publisher revealed details of the so-called “catch and kill” deal for McDougal’s story in an agreement with federal authorities that means the company will not face charges, prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Wednesday. |
The agreement raises the possibility that Trump’s presidential campaign, which is currently making early preparations for his re-election bid, could be indicted for violating campaign finance laws through its involvement in the payout. | The agreement raises the possibility that Trump’s presidential campaign, which is currently making early preparations for his re-election bid, could be indicted for violating campaign finance laws through its involvement in the payout. |
An unidentified member of the campaign who was involved in the arrangement with AMI could also be vulnerable to prosecution. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and legal fixer, previously pleaded guilty to involvement in the scheme. | |
Cohen also admitted to arranging a $130,000 payment toporn star Stormy Daniels to suppress a similar allegation of an affair with Trump. | Cohen also admitted to arranging a $130,000 payment toporn star Stormy Daniels to suppress a similar allegation of an affair with Trump. |
US law bars corporations from spending money to influence elections in coordination with a candidate or campaign. Experts in ethics laws have said AMI’s payment to McDougal amounted to a secret in-kind contribution to Trump’s campaign. | |
Wednesday’s agreement said that in August 2015, Cohen and “at least one other member of the campaign” met AMI’s chief executive David Pecker, who “offered to help deal with negative stories” about Trump during the presidential campaign. | |
Pecker suggested he could buy the rights to problematic stories and prevent them from being published, according to the agreement, and put this plan into action when an attorney for McDougal offered her story to National Enquirer. | |
AMI paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to the story of “her relationship with ‘any then-married man” | |
Speaking in court in August, Cohen said he had worked on the McDougal payment with “the CEO of a media company”, widely assumed to be Pecker, who is a longtime friend of Trump’s. | |
The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Pecker had himself been granted immunity by US authorities in return for testifying about what he knew about Trump, Cohen and the payments. | The Wall Street Journal reported in August that Pecker had himself been granted immunity by US authorities in return for testifying about what he knew about Trump, Cohen and the payments. |
Cohen was on Wednesday sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to the campaign finance violations, lying to Congress about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Russia, and personal financial crimes. | Cohen was on Wednesday sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to the campaign finance violations, lying to Congress about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Russia, and personal financial crimes. |
Donald Trump | Donald Trump |
National Enquirer | National Enquirer |
Stormy Daniels | Stormy Daniels |
Michael Cohen | Michael Cohen |
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