The New York Times is reporting that President Donald Trump’s personal lawyer had a secret recording of Trump discussing the details of a potentially criminal hush money payment.
The report reveals that during an FBI raid of Michael Cohen’s office, investigators came across a recording of Trump discussing the $130,000 payment made to porn star Stormy Daniels months before the 2016 election. The raid took place in April of this year which angered the president prompting him to say “attorney-client privilege is dead.”
The alleged hush money payment is being investigated by the FBI due to potential federal campaign finance law violations. The payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was filed as a campaign expenditure.
Cohen has been under investigation by federal prosecutors and has reportedly been complying with the FBI as they continue to seek more information regarding the multiple investigations related to the president. After previously saying he would “take a bullet” for Trump, Cohen recently stated that his family is his first priority, a statement that suggests he would protect himself before Trump.
Despite Cohen previously confirming that the $130,000 payment was made by Trump to Daniels, the president has denied all accusations of a sexual relationship with the porn star that allegedly happened about a year into his marriage with First Lady Melania Trump.
Daniels is currently suing Trump on two different matters. The first lawsuit is an effort to get out of a non-disclosure agreement made between both parties to keep their relationship secret as well as a defamation lawsuit targeted at the president for comments he made on Twitter.
In an interview with 60 Minutes, the veteran porn actress details a situation when she was threatened by an unknown man who demanded she keeps quiet about her relationship with Trump.
