Prosecutors elsewhere have in the past struggled to prove that suspect payments related to politicians amounted to campaign contributions, such as in the case of the former senator and Democratic vice-presidential candidate John Edwards, who was acquitted of such a charge in 2012.īut Wednesday’s agreement – struck in September but kept secret until now – means that federal prosecutors in New York now have testimony from two witnesses, Cohen and AMI, that the Trump payments were made to women in a deliberate attempt to influence the 2016 election.

Prosecutors said that AMI’s payment to McDougal amounted to a secret in-kind contribution to Trump’s campaign. US law bars corporations from spending money to influence elections in coordination with a candidate or campaign. The president has denied involvement in the payments. Michael Cohen, Trump’s former lawyer and legal fixer, previously pleaded guilty to involvement in the scheme.Ĭohen previously testified that he arranged the payment to McDougal, along with a $130,000 payout to buy the silence of the porn star Stormy Daniels, at the direction of Trump. The agreement raises the possibility that Trump’s presidential campaign, which is currently making early preparations for his re-election bid, could be indicted for violating campaign finance laws through its involvement in the payout.Īn unidentified member of the campaign who was involved in the arrangement with AMI could also be vulnerable to prosecution. The publisher revealed details of the so-called “catch and kill” deal for McDougal’s story in an agreement with federal authorities that means the company will not face charges, prosecutors in Manhattan announced on Wednesday.

American Media Inc (AMI) told prosecutors it worked “in concert” with Trump’s campaign when it bought Karen McDougal’s story of a sexual affair with Trump, which it suppressed “to prevent it from influencing the election”.

Catch and kill