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In February,President Donald Trumppersonally commanded his then-lawyerMichael Cohento stop adult-film starStormy Danielsfrom speaking out about their alleged sexual encounter, according to a new report fromtheWall Street Journal.
The newspaper said that Trump, 72, told Cohen, 53, on the phone to seek a restraining order against Daniels, 39, through “a confidential arbitration proceeding.” The president allegedly made the move after learning that Daniels was planning to give media interviews about her alleged sexual relationship withThe Apprenticestar, even though she had signed a nondisclosure agreement in October 2016. Trump has denied having an affair.
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Sources told the outlet that the Trump Organization was also allegedly involved in trying to silence Daniels. According to theJournal, Trump directed Cohen to speak to his sonEric Trump— who is running the company along withDonald Jr. — and two lawyers associated with the Trump Organization about the legal response efforts.
The Trump Organization has previously denied being involved with the hush agreement, as has the White House, which claimed it was a private arrangement between Cohen and Daniels.
Reached for comment on Tuesday, reps from the White House directed PEOPLE to Trump’s outside counsel, Jay Sekulow, for comment. Sekulow and the Trump Organization did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.
In February, news broke that Cohen had paid Daniels $130,000before the 2016 election to stay quiet. Despite denying any sexual encounters with Daniels, the president allegedly told Cohen to “enforce the contract” and that he’d take on any necessary costs during a February conversation. “I’ll take care of everything,” Trump said, sources told the paper.He also admitted he reimbursed Cohen for the payment.
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Cohen and Trump also allegedly discussed the matter for a second time on the phone a few days later in the office of outside lawyer Lawrence Rosen, who has previously represented the Trumps and their business. Rosen allegedly asked a Trump Organization lawyer, Jill Martin, to sign off on arbitration paperwork filed on Feb. 22. He told herEric Trumpasked for her to be involved, theJournalreports.
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In an earlier statement to theJournal, which sources told the outletEric Trumpapproved, Martin said she acted individually without any influence from the Trump Organization when filing the documents.
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“As a result of Ms. Clifford’s efforts aimed at publicly disclosing her story and her communications with various media outlets, Ms. Clifford’s plans came to the attention of Mr. Trump and his campaign, including Mr. Michael Cohen,” the lawsuit alleged.
“Mr. Trump, with the assistance of his attorney Mr. Cohen, aggressively sought to silence Ms. Clifford as part of an effort to avoid her telling the truth, thus helping to ensure he won the Presidential Election,” the documents claimed. “Mr. Cohen subsequently prepared a draft non-disclosure agreement and presented it to Ms. Clifford and her attorney (the ‘Hush Agreement’).”
source: people.com
