Tape reveals Trump and lawyer discussing payoff over alleged affair


A recording of a conversation in which President Donald Trump and his lawyer discuss a payoff over an alleged affair with a model has been broadcast by CNN.

Mr. Trump and Michael Cohen discuss buying the rights to former Playboy model Karen McDougal's story.

The audiotape was recorded in September 2016, two months before the election. The affair allegedly dates to 2006.

Mr. Trump's current lawyer Rudy Giuliani says no money was paid, and the tape does not show evidence of any crime.

The tape obtained by CNN was one of a number reportedly discovered during an FBI raid on Mr. Cohen's property earlier this year in New York.

What's on the tape?

The conversation jumps around, there are other voices and some of the audio is muffled.

Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen, who no longer works for the president, appear to be discussing buying the rights to Ms. McDougal's story from the parent company of the National Enquirer. The former Playboy model had sold her story to the Enquirer in the run-up to the election.

Mr. Cohen says: "I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend, David."

This could be a reference to Mr Trump's friend, David Pecker, president of American Media Inc, the National Enquirer's parent company.

Mr Trump says later: "So, what do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?"

Ms McDougal reportedly received $150,000 (£115,000) from the Enquirer for her story.


BBC
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