http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/m...-stormy-daniels-payoff-report/article/2651183
Michael Cohen used Trump Organization email to arrange Stormy Daniels payoff: Report
by Caitlin Yilek | Mar 9, 2018, 1:33 PM
President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, used a Trump Organization email account to arrange the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, according to a report. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen used his Trump Organization email account to arrange a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump, according to new report.
Cohen said last month that he used his “personal funds to facilitate a payment” to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, and “neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was party to the transaction.”
Cohen also said the Trump Organization and campaign did not reimburse him for the $130,000 payoff either directly or indirectly.
An email provided to NBC News by Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti shows First Republic Bank and Cohen corresponded about the funds using his Trump company email account, not his personal email address.
The email, dated Oct. 26, 2017, showed First Republic Bank senior managing director Gary Farro confirming to Cohen that “the funds have been deposited into your checking account.”
On Oct. 27, 2017, Cohen wired money from First Republic to a bank account of another lawyer for Daniels.
"The $130,000 question, however, is from whose account was the money transferred on Oct. 26, 2017?” Avenatti told NBC News.
Avenatti argued the email “suggests” the account may have been a Trump Organization account because Cohen used his company email.
Cohen did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
Cohen wired Daniels’ the payment just days before the election as part of an agreement for her silence about an affair she claims she had with Trump during the early days of his marriage to first lady Melania Trump.
After Trump won the election, Cohen complained to friends that he had not been reimbursed for the payment, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Cohen had also missed two deadlines to pay Daniels because he could not get in contact with Trump in the final days of the campaign, the report said.
Daniels sued Trump on Tuesday, arguing their nondisclosure agreement is invalid because he never signed it. The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and alleges Cohen used “intimidation and coercive tactics” to keep Daniels from talking about the alleged affair.
The White House has denied the affair happened. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday that Trump prevailed over Daniels in private arbitration. Sanders directed follow-up questions to Trump’s personal attorneys.
“President Trump hasn’t won anything relating to Ms. Clifford,” Avenatti said.
Michael Cohen used Trump Organization email to arrange Stormy Daniels payoff: Report
by Caitlin Yilek | Mar 9, 2018, 1:33 PM
President Trump’s longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen used his Trump Organization email account to arrange a payment to adult film star Stormy Daniels in exchange for her silence about an alleged affair with Trump, according to new report.
Cohen said last month that he used his “personal funds to facilitate a payment” to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, and “neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was party to the transaction.”
Cohen also said the Trump Organization and campaign did not reimburse him for the $130,000 payoff either directly or indirectly.
An email provided to NBC News by Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti shows First Republic Bank and Cohen corresponded about the funds using his Trump company email account, not his personal email address.
The email, dated Oct. 26, 2017, showed First Republic Bank senior managing director Gary Farro confirming to Cohen that “the funds have been deposited into your checking account.”
On Oct. 27, 2017, Cohen wired money from First Republic to a bank account of another lawyer for Daniels.
"The $130,000 question, however, is from whose account was the money transferred on Oct. 26, 2017?” Avenatti told NBC News.
Avenatti argued the email “suggests” the account may have been a Trump Organization account because Cohen used his company email.
Cohen did not respond to the Washington Examiner’s request for comment.
Cohen wired Daniels’ the payment just days before the election as part of an agreement for her silence about an affair she claims she had with Trump during the early days of his marriage to first lady Melania Trump.
After Trump won the election, Cohen complained to friends that he had not been reimbursed for the payment, the Wall Street Journal reported Monday. Cohen had also missed two deadlines to pay Daniels because he could not get in contact with Trump in the final days of the campaign, the report said.
Daniels sued Trump on Tuesday, arguing their nondisclosure agreement is invalid because he never signed it. The suit was filed in Los Angeles Superior Court and alleges Cohen used “intimidation and coercive tactics” to keep Daniels from talking about the alleged affair.
The White House has denied the affair happened. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said Wednesday that Trump prevailed over Daniels in private arbitration. Sanders directed follow-up questions to Trump’s personal attorneys.
“President Trump hasn’t won anything relating to Ms. Clifford,” Avenatti said.
