Secret recording of Cohen-Trump conversation revealed
Washington, July 25 : A secret audio recording of then-US presidential candidate Donald Trump with his recently estranged lawyer Michael Cohen speaking in 2016 about making a payment to Playboy playmate Karen McDougal has been obtained by CNN.
In the tape obtained by the channel network on Tuesday both Trump and Cohen discuss a transfer of money to a company for "info regarding our friend David" -- an apparent reference to David Pecker, the CEO of American Media Inc. which owns the National Enquirer.
The audio, made in September of 2016, is the first evidence that Trump knew about the payment.
"I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David," Cohen said in the recording. Trump interrupts Cohen asking: "What financing?"
Cohen then tells Trump, "We'll have to pay" and Trump is heard saying "pay with cash". Cohen is heard saying "no no no".
American Media, Inc. allegedly spent $150,000 in August of 2016 for a story from Karen McDougal, the playmate who claimed she had a 10-month affair with Trump.
But the expose never ran.
McDougal's sued the company earlier in 2018 for the rights to tell her story.
Her lawyers claimed that the purchase was part of a "catch-and-kill" strategy to bury her tale and protect then-candidate Trump from negative press.
The lawsuit was eventually settled and freed McDougal from the contract which she claimed she was "misled into signing". Trump's lawyer Rudy Giuliani, however, has refuted all payment claims, the New York Post reported.
Cohen's lawyer Lanny Davis, who provided the audio tapes to the network, said it showed his client knows the truth about Trump. "This is about honesty versus false disparagement of Michael Cohen," Davis told CNN.
"Why is Giuliani out falsely disparaging Michael Cohen -- because they fear him… They fear that he has the truth about Donald Trump.
"The truth is that when Donald Trump said ‘cash' which Rudy Giuliani knows that only drug dealers and mobsters talk about cash, it was, you heard Michael Cohen… say what? ‘No, no, no, no'."
The tapes were among others seized by federal authorities in a raid of Cohen's home and office.
CNN presenter Chris Cuomo tweeted on Tuesday: "Full audio: Presidential candidate Trump is heard on tape discussing with his attorney Michael Cohen how they would buy the rights to a Playboy model's story about an alleged affair Trump had with her years earlier, according to the audio recording "https://cnn.it/2v5Xe1E".
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Beauty of democracy: Tharoor congratulates BJP on civic body poll win in his constituency
New Delhi (PTI): Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Saturday, while lauding the win of the UDF in Kerala local bodies elections, also congratulated the BJP for its historic performance in his Thiruvananthapuram constituency, calling it the "beauty of democracy".
In a post on X, he said the people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in his constituency.
"What a day of amazing results in the Kerala local self-government elections! The mandate is clear, and the democratic spirit of the state shines through.
"A huge congratulations to @UDFKerala for a truly impressive win across various local bodies! This is a massive endorsement and a powerful signal ahead of the state legislative elections. Hard work, a strong message and anti-incumbency have all clearly paid off to achieve a much better result than in 2020," Tharoor said.
He said he also acknowledges the historic performance of the BJP in Thiruvananthapuram, and "offer humble congratulations on their significant victory in the city corporation - a strong showing that marks a notable shift in the capital's political landscape."
Tharoor said he campaigned for a change from 45 years of the LDF "misrule", but the voters have ultimately rewarded another party that also sought a clear change in governance.
"That is the beauty of democracy. The people's verdict must be respected, whether for the UDF overall or for the BJP in my constituency.
"We will continue to work for the betterment of Kerala, advocating for the people's needs and upholding the principles of good governance. Onwards and upwards!" Tharoor, who is the MP from Thiruvananthapuram, said.
The lotus bloomed in the state capital as the BJP-led NDA achieved a resounding win in the polls for the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, snatching it from the CPI(M)-led LDF and marking an end to 45 years of continuous Left rule in the local body.
The win in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation will act as a boost for the BJP in the 2026 Assembly polls, especially in the state capital.
Of the 101 wards in the Thiruvananthapuram Corporation, the BJP won 50, LDF 29, UDF 19 and two wards were won by independent candidates.
The BJP is one seat short of a decisive majority in the corporation.
Besides this, the NDA retained the Palakkad municipality after a close battle with the Congress-led UDF and wrested the Thrippunithura Municipality from the grand old party.
In Thrissur, from where Suresh Gopi won in the Lok Sabha polls last year, the BJP won 18 out of the 46 wards in Kodungallur Municipality, eight in Thrissur Corporation, two each in Guruvayoor and Vadakkancherry municipalities, seven in Kunnamkulam Municipality, six in Irinjalakuda Municipality and one in Chalakudy Municipality.
