Trump admits Cohen role in ‘Stormy deal’

Payment to Daniels was made just days before the November 2016 presidential election

US President Donald Trump acknowledged yesterday that his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, represented him in a “deal” involving porn star Stormy Daniels.

Trump had previously denied knowledge of a $130,000 (Dh477,425) payment Cohen made to Daniels that she claims was to prevent her from talking about their alleged 2006 affair.

Trump, in a wide-ranging telephone interview with “Fox and Friends,” admitted for the first time that Cohen represented him in a “deal” with Daniels, who has filed a lawsuit seeking to have the “hush agreement” negotiated by Cohen thrown out.

Trump said Cohen represented him on only a “tiny, tiny little fraction” of his “overall legal work.”

“He represents me like with this crazy Stormy Daniels deal, he represented me,” Trump said.

“And, you know, from what I see, he did absolutely nothing wrong,” Trump said. “There were no campaign funds going into this.”

Asked by reporters on Air Force One earlier this month about the payment to Daniels, Trump had said he was not aware of it.

“You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael,” he said. The payment to Daniels was made just days before the November 2016 presidential election and there have been suggestions it may have been a violation of campaign finance laws.