Trump lawyer's payment to porn star draws comparisons to John Edwards case
By JOSH GERSTEIN and LORRAINE WOELLERT 03/09/2018 07:35 PM EST
Porn actress Stephanie Clifford’s lawsuit against President Donald Trump over a hush-money deal struck days before the 2016 election is drawing comparisons to another legal fight involving a politician who had an affair: John Edwards.
Edwards saw his reputation savaged when his affair with videographer Rielle Hunter was revealed during the 2008 presidential campaign, after Edwards’ wife had been diagnosed with terminal cancer. But the fallout wasn’t just political: Edwards was eventually indicted on six felonies after wealthy donors spent $1 million to cover travel, hotel, medical and housing expenses incurred by Hunter, who was pregnant with Edwards’ child. The travel included secretive charter flights arranged to hide the pregnancy.
Now, Trump’s alleged dalliance with a porn actress has moved beyond tabloid fodder, too, as questions mount about his involvement in a payoff just weeks before Election Day 2016. With Clifford’s claim now in court, Trump and his associates could be forced to answer questions under oath and turn over documents about his involvement in the arrangement and what his role was in the $130,000 longtime Trump attorney Michael Cohen arranged to pay to the adult film star in October 2016.
The key legal question is whether the $130,000 was intended to advance Trump’s chances in the election. If it was, it should not have been routed through a corporation and might amount to an illegally large campaign contribution. If Trump paid the money in connection with his campaign, it should have been reported on his campaign finance reports.
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https://www.politico.com/story/2018/03/09/trump-stormy-daniels-lawyer-payment-john-edwards-451462?lo=ap_e1
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