A Stormy Affair (2)
The BBC reports on the stormy affair involving Stephanie Clifford who claims to have had an affair with Donald Trump.
Donald Trump's lawyer has since admitted paying Ms Clifford $130,000 in 'hush money', but insists that this large sum of money had nothing to do with Donald Trump.
Now if this payment had nothing to do with Donald Trump why did Trump's lawyer hand over such a large sum of money and, more to the point, why would the payment be conditional on Ms Clifford signing a 'no disclosure' agreement?
Stormy, by the way is now suing Donald Trump because while both she and Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen signed the 'hush agreement', Trump never signed it himself.
Good argument, I would say - I hope she wins.
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-43055995
Stormy Daniels: Trump lawyer admits paying porn star
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES Image caption - The newspaper says Mr Cohen declined to answer why the "private transaction" was made
The long-term personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has admitted privately paying an adult film star $130,000 (£95,000) in 2016, in a statement to US media.
It follows US media reports that the porn actress known as Stormy Daniels was paid to sign an agreement stopping her discussing an alleged affair.
She first said she had a relationship with Mr Trump in a 2011 interview.
The lawyer has previously said Mr Trump "vehemently denies" it occurred.
"Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms Clifford [Stephanie Gregory Clifford, her real name], and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly," Michael D Cohen told the New York Times.
He said he told the Federal Election Commission the same after a watchdog group filed a complaint about the payment, claiming that it had served as an "in-kind" political contribution to Mr Trump's campaign.
"The payment to Ms Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone," Mr Cohen said.
In a 2011 interview with InTouch magazine, the actress said she began a sexual relationship with Mr Trump in 2006, shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to his son Barron.
The long-term personal lawyer of US President Donald Trump has admitted privately paying an adult film star $130,000 (£95,000) in 2016, in a statement to US media.
It follows US media reports that the porn actress known as Stormy Daniels was paid to sign an agreement stopping her discussing an alleged affair.
She first said she had a relationship with Mr Trump in a 2011 interview.
The lawyer has previously said Mr Trump "vehemently denies" it occurred.
"Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms Clifford [Stephanie Gregory Clifford, her real name], and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly," Michael D Cohen told the New York Times.
He said he told the Federal Election Commission the same after a watchdog group filed a complaint about the payment, claiming that it had served as an "in-kind" political contribution to Mr Trump's campaign.
"The payment to Ms Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone," Mr Cohen said.
In a 2011 interview with InTouch magazine, the actress said she began a sexual relationship with Mr Trump in 2006, shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to his son Barron.
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES Image caption - Porn actress Stormy Daniels alleged in 2011 that she had an affair with Mr Trump in 2006
The reports re-emerged in January when the Wall Street Journal reported that she was paid to sign a non-disclosure agreement in the run up to the 2016 election, which prevented her from discussing the alleged liaison.
Ms Clifford was believed to be in discussion with US media about an television appearance to discuss Mr Trump at the time, the report said.
Responding to questions from CNN about why the payment was made, Mr Cohen said: "Just because something isn't true doesn't mean that it can't cause you harm or damage."
"I will always protect Mr Trump," Mr Cohen added.
The reports re-emerged in January when the Wall Street Journal reported that she was paid to sign a non-disclosure agreement in the run up to the 2016 election, which prevented her from discussing the alleged liaison.
Ms Clifford was believed to be in discussion with US media about an television appearance to discuss Mr Trump at the time, the report said.
Responding to questions from CNN about why the payment was made, Mr Cohen said: "Just because something isn't true doesn't mean that it can't cause you harm or damage."
"I will always protect Mr Trump," Mr Cohen added.
An X-rated cover-up?
Analysis by Anthony Zurcher, BBC Washington
Donald Trump's lawyer and all-around fixer Michael Cohen has said he doesn't plan "further comment" on his six-figure payment to Stormy Daniels. His statements, however, raise more questions than they answer.
While he said the money came from his "personal funds" and was not reimbursed directly or indirectly by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign, that leaves open the possibility that he was compensated by other parties - including Mr Trump himself.
Why, in his generosity, would Mr Cohen give $130,000 to Ms Daniels? The Wall Street Journal has reported that it was in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement about a decade-old affair between Mr Trump and Ms Daniels. Circumstantial evidence - that Ms Daniels had been in contact with media outlets prior to the transfer and has since gone silent - lends credence to this line.
Even though the alleged affair is long since past, a story about possible hush money and an attempted cover-up just weeks before the presidential election is much more dangerous for a White House already on its heels. And if it turns out there's more to the money trail than has been disclosed, an embarrassing situation could quickly morph into a criminal inquiry.
On 30 January, Ms Daniels' publicist released a statement in her name denying having an affair with Mr Trump.
But many - including Ms Daniels herself - were quick to note that the signature attached to that denial did not bear much resemblance to another copy of her autograph which had been attached to an earlier statement.
That denial had been released by Mr Cohen on 10 January.
Image copyright - GETTY IMAGES Image caption - Ms Daniels hosted a Super Bowl party last month
She has since made several public appearances on television and at strip clubs, but has remained tight-lipped when asked directly about Mr Trump in interviews.
Minutes after Mr Trump's first formal State of the Union address to Congress, she gave an interview to late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
In it, she refused to directly answer whether she had signed a non-disclosure agreement, or if she had "ever made love to someone whose name rhymes with Lonald Lump".
She has since made several public appearances on television and at strip clubs, but has remained tight-lipped when asked directly about Mr Trump in interviews.
Minutes after Mr Trump's first formal State of the Union address to Congress, she gave an interview to late night comedian Jimmy Kimmel.
In it, she refused to directly answer whether she had signed a non-disclosure agreement, or if she had "ever made love to someone whose name rhymes with Lonald Lump".
Stormy Affair (22/01/18)
I used to think that the Clintons were the most dysfunctional, high-profile couple around as Hillary stood resolutely by her man after Bill's various affairs and sexual indiscretions became so public.
But now Donald and Melania Trump have well and truly knocked the Clintons off their perch, as details emerge of Donald's lurid affair with the porn star 'Stormy Daniels' which confirm that the President really is a skank.
The affair took place just after Melania gave birth to their son Barron which probably explains the First Lady's preference for separate bedrooms when she visits the White House.
In any event the terrible betrayal involved ought to have ended up with Donald being shown the door, especially as the affair surfaced again with news that Donald arranged for his lawyers to pay Ms Daniels $130,000 in 'hush money' ahead of the presidential election - as The Mirror reports below.
Now that he's a politician, Trump has 'found religion' as these characters often do but so far at least, I haven't heard what the President's spiritual adviser thinks about his sordid affair.
https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/donald-trump-made-porn-star-11881870
DONALD TRUMP ALLEGEDLY 'PAID SEX ACTRESS £100,000 TO KEEP QUIET ABOUT FLING THEY HAD'
President Donald Trump once had a porn star spank him with a Forbes business magazine cover featuring his picture, according to the X-rated actress.
Last week, it was reported the US leader's alleged former mistress, Stormy Daniels, was paid $130,000 (£95,000) in October 2016 not to talk about their relationship before the 2016 election.
The deal was alleged to have been brokered by Trump's attorney Michael Cohen.
The spanking was revealed in a string of emails obtained in the US.
Andrea Dube, a political consultant based in New Orleans and one of the email recipients, confirmed they are "100 percent" authentic.
Donald Trump's Forbes magazine cover
Stormy Daniels claims she had sex with Donald Trump months after his wife Melania gave birth(Image: FilmMagic)
In 2009, Daniels - real name Stephanie Clifford - was thinking of a run for the Senate in Louisiana and was working with local political consultants about potential donors.
Trump was on her list - and his name was one of the contacts in her phone, one political aide told Democratic consultant Andrea Dubé in an email.
"She says one time he made her sit with him for three hours watching Shark Week. Another time he had her spank him with a Forbes magazine," the consultant wrote to Dubé.
The consultant revealed Clifford had told him the bizarre spanking session occurred while they were involved in a sexual relationship that began soon after they met during a golf tournament in July 2006.
The magazine that Trump asked Clifford to spank him with had his face on the cover, the consultant added.
An Autumn 2006 cover of Forbes features a photo of Trump flanked by his daughter, Ivanka, and his son, Donald Jr.
In 2009, Daniels - real name Stephanie Clifford - was thinking of a run for the Senate in Louisiana and was working with local political consultants about potential donors.
Trump was on her list - and his name was one of the contacts in her phone, one political aide told Democratic consultant Andrea Dubé in an email.
"She says one time he made her sit with him for three hours watching Shark Week. Another time he had her spank him with a Forbes magazine," the consultant wrote to Dubé.
The consultant revealed Clifford had told him the bizarre spanking session occurred while they were involved in a sexual relationship that began soon after they met during a golf tournament in July 2006.
The magazine that Trump asked Clifford to spank him with had his face on the cover, the consultant added.
An Autumn 2006 cover of Forbes features a photo of Trump flanked by his daughter, Ivanka, and his son, Donald Jr.
