An attorney for President Donald Trump paid a former adult film star $130,000 one month before the 2016 presidential election to keep her from "publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Mr. Trump," the Wall Street Journal reported Friday.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Stephanie Clifford “has privately alleged the encounter with Mr. Trump took place after they met at a July 2006 celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe.” Trump married first lady Melania Trump, his third wife, in 2005. The couple’s son, Barron Trump, was born in March 2006.
According to the report, Michael Cohen, then an attorney for the Trump Organization, arranged the six-figure payment to Clifford, also known by her screen name "Stormy Daniels," as part of a nondisclosure agreement.
The Wall Street Journal previously reported Clifford was in talks with ABC’s “Good Morning America” during the 2016 election about a possible appearance on the show to discuss then-Republican presidential candidate Trump.
Also in October 2016, Trump faced allegations of sexual misconduct. The Washington Post published a story on the "Access Hollywood" tape of Trump appearing to describe how he grabbed women without their consent.
An unnamed White House official told the Wall Street Journal, “These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election.”
In a statement to the paper, Cohen, now Trump's personal attorney, said the president “once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms. Daniels.”
Cohen directed his statement to the Journal, adding: “This is now the second time that you are raising outlandish allegations against my client. You have attempted to perpetuate this false narrative for over a year; a narrative that has been consistently denied by all parties since at least 2011.”
Cohen also sent a statement to the paper signed by “Stormy Daniels” denying a “sexual and/or romantic affair” with Trump took place.
“Rumors that I have received hush money from Donald Trump are completely false,” the statement said.
