National Enquirer publisher American Media Inc. has been granted immunity for its role in facilitating a $150,000 hush payment to a Playboy model who alleged during the 2016 election she had an affair with President Trump, federal prosecutors in New York said Wednesday.
In exchange for avoiding prosecution, the supermarket tabloid publisher will cooperate with the government investigating possible campaign finance violations linked to the payment.
AMI admitted that it made the payment “in concert” with Mr. Trump’s presidential campaign in order to ensure the woman “did not reveal damaging allegations” about the future president prior to the 2016 election.
The announcement came on the same day Mr. Trump’s former attorney and personal fixer Micheal Cohen was sentenced to three years in jail for his role in the payment. Cohen and government prosecutors say the payment was arranged at the direction of Mr. Trump.
Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model, received $150,000 in 2016 from AMI for exclusive rights to her story about an alleged affair with the future president. The National Enquirer never ran the story.
Prosecutors said the National Enquirer made the payment “to suppress the woman’s story so as to prevent it from influencing the election.”
Mr. Trump has denied the affair. Ms. McDougal is the second woman to allege of a tryst with Mr. Trump and receive a hush payment. Adult film star Stormy Daniels received $130,000.
Cohen pleaded guilty in August for arranging the $150,000 payment, which violated campaign finance laws.
Cohen and federal prosecutors said the payment was made “in coordination with and at the direction of” Trump.
AMI will distribute to employees “written standards regarding federal election laws” and “to provide cooperation in the future” to federal prosecutors, the statement said.
• Jeff Mordock can be reached at jmordock@washingtontimes.com.
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