President Donald Trump’s lawyer said that he paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to porn actress Stormy Daniels, who at one time said that she had an affair with Trump, the New York Times reported Tuesday.
The lawyer, Michael Cohen, said he was not reimbursed for the payment in his first statement since stories alleged that he facilitated the transaction.
The Wall Street Journal reported in January that Cohen had paid Daniels the sum of $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair. Watchdog organization Common Cause last month called for an investigation into the money transfer, claiming it could have been an illegal campaign contribution.
Cohen has long held that Trump denies a relationship with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
“Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly,” Cohen said in a statement to the New York Times. “The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.”
Cohen did not answer questions as to why he made the payment.
Even though she had previously detailed sexual encounters with Trump, Daniels denied the “alleged sexual affair” and receiving “hush money” in a statement on Jan. 30.
H/T New York Times