President Donald Trump defended the $130,000 payment his attorney paid a porn actress — and he later reimbursed — for the first time on Thursday, claiming the payment and non-disclosure agreement were implemented to “stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair.”
Despite previously telling reporters that he didn’t know anything about the $130,000 payment his attorney Michael Cohen gave to porn actress Stormy Daniels just ahead of the 2016 election, Trump’s new lawyer Rudy Giuliani revealed on Fox News Wednesday night that Trump reimbursed Cohen for the payment.
In his tweet storm on Thursday morning, Trump reiterated Giuliani’s claims that the payment was legal and that it did not come from the Trump campaign before diving into an elementary explanation of what a non-disclosure agreement is.
“These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth,” he said. “Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford (Daniels) and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.”
Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are…..
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
…very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,……
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
…despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
This is the first time Trump has acknowledged that he knew about that payment, which was paired with a non-disclosure to keep Daniels quiet about an affair she allegedly had with Trump a decade ago. It’s also the first time he’s denied the sexual affair.
Daniels is suing Trump because he didn’t sign the agreement, which she argues nullifies the arrangement, leaving her free to discuss the affair. She is also suing Cohen for defamation.
