The hush money lawsuit surrounding the former American president continues to gain momentum. On Thursday, the jury was presented with probably the most exciting piece of evidence yet: a recorded telephone conversation between Donald Trump and his former lawyer Michael Cohen, which allegedly concerned payments to Karen McDougal.
The former Playboy model claims to have had an affair with Trump in 2006, while he was already married to Melania Trump. Cohen made the recording himself in 2016. The FBI seized the tape during a house search two years later, after which it ended up in the American media and was made public. According to journalists present, the jury listened with fascination to Trump’s words. Trump, on the other hand, seemed irritated.
Did the newspaper buy rights with Trump’s money?
The recording – parts of which are of poor quality – shows that Trump was aware of the cover-up attempts. To explain: a few months before the elections, McDougal wanted to make the affair public in the gossip magazine ‘The National Enquirer’. The publisher AMI gave her a whopping $150,000 for the exclusive rights in August 2016. Apparently to help Trump and never publish the story. This practice is called ‘capture and kill’.
Parts of the recording to listen to:
In the recording, Cohen tells Trump about a plan to buy the rights to the former Playboy model’s story so it will never be published. At one point in the recording, Cohen revealed that he had spoken with then-Trump Organization Chief Financial Officer Allen Weisselberg about “how to get the whole financing thing going.”
Check or cash?
Trump suggested paying in cash, to which Cohen objected, repeatedly saying “no.” Trump then says “check” before the recording stops. Non-disclosure agreements between two parties are not illegal. However, Trump is accused of unlawfully recording the payments.
The criminal charges now facing Donald Trump in New York stem from three separate cases in which the former president and his aides were accused of making hush money payments during his 2016 campaign, including $130,000 to porn actress Stormy Daniels brindle. Trump was charged with 34 counts of falsifying company records.
The trial against Trump started in mid-April and could last eight weeks, according to the court. If convicted, the 77-year-old faces a prison sentence of several years, which may also be conditional. Trump would also have the option to appeal. Even after a possible conviction – and even in the event of a prison sentence – Trump is likely to participate in the presidential election.
Source: Krone
I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.
