Legal implications on Trump or Cohen unclear on secret tape
(Worthy News) – A secret recording of Donald Trump discussing payments to a Playboy model has brought renewed attention to the question of whether – and how – he might have tried to block politically damaging stories ahead of the 2016 presidential election. But it’s not clear that the tape, on its own, creates additional legal problems for the president.
The September 2016 conversation between Trump and his then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, took place weeks after the National Enquirer’s parent company reached a $150,000 deal to pay former Playboy model Karen McDougal for her story of a 2006 affair she says she had with Trump. The recording captures Trump and Cohen discussing acquiring the rights to McDougal’s story and whether to pay by cash or check.
At issue is whether the payment the men are discussing was campaign-related and intended to influence the election, in which case it would likely be regarded as a contribution, or whether it was merely meant to shield the married Trump from an embarrassing revelation harmful to his personal life. Also important is whether the payment to McDougal from the Enquirer’s parent company, American Media Inc., functioned as a backdoor campaign contribution or as a legitimate media company expense. [ Source: Washington Times (Read More…) ]
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