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2018-12-13 Home Front: Politix

National Enquirer owner admits paying ex-Playboy model $150,000 to squelch story, help Trump campaign

[USA TODAY] NEW YORK ‐ The owner of the National Enquirer has admitted the company paid off a former Playboy model to squelch her account of an alleged sexual affair that could have jeopardized Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign.

New York federal prosecutors on Wednesday disclosed that the intent of a $150,000 payment American Media Inc. gave the woman in August 2016 "was to suppress the model's story so as to prevent it from influencing the election."

Without naming Trump, prosecutors released a nonprosecution agreement with American Media that said the transaction was made "in cooperation, consultation, and concert with ... one or more members or agents of a candidate's 2016 presidential campaign."

The filing similarly did not identify Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model who contacted a National Enquirer editor in June 2016 in an effort to sell her account of a 10-month sexual affair she said she'd had with Trump in 2006 and 2007.

However, the outlines of the nonprosecution agreement generally match McDougal's previous public statements about Trump and the National Enquirer.

Posted by Besoeker 2018-12-13 02:37|| || Front Page|| [11131 views ] Top

#1 Seems to me this kind of thing could not be considered any kind of 'campaign contribution' unless the underlying story could be proven true.

Posted by Glenmore 2018-12-13 15:56|| 2018-12-13 15:56|| Front Page Top

#2 Even if proven true its not a campaign contribution is one is likely to do it anyway. And to save his family and help stock, etc, Trump probably would have paid to have it go away (doesn't mean guilt either).

Posted by rjschwarz 2018-12-13 17:24|| 2018-12-13 17:24|| Front Page Top

#3 Yet another example of how the Federal Election Commission and the arcane campaign finance laws are a truly undemocratic boondoggle. Public welfare support for lawyers and interest groups...

Posted by magpie 2018-12-13 18:05|| 2018-12-13 18:05|| Front Page Top

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