Trump lawyer Michael Cohen admits paying Stormy Daniels $130,000 in 2016

Michael Cohen, President Trump's personal attorney, released a statement to The New York Times acknowledging that he paid $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in October 2016. Cohen claimed the payment was a private transaction made with his own funds, was not a campaign contribution, and was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. The admission marked the first public confirmation of the hush-money arrangement, which was intended to prevent Daniels from discussing an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump. Cohen's statement was also submitted to the Federal Election Commission in response to a complaint from the watchdog group Common Cause. Cohen's denial of campaign-finance implications was later contradicted by his August 2018 guilty plea to federal campaign-finance and other charges.

“The payment to Ms Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.” Quote verified against source