https://www.bloomberg.com/news/arti...pears-in-court-over-hush-payments-plea-update
President Donald Trump's longtime lawyer and fixer Michael D. Cohen is in federal court pleading guilty to federal charges stemming from hush payments to women who claimed to have had affairs with the president. Cohen has been under investigation since at least April, when the FBI raided his home and office. Investigators have looked into Cohen's role in payments to silence two women who say they had affairs with Trump: Stephanie Clifford, an adult film actress better known as Stormy Daniels, and former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
Cohen Hearing Ends (4:52 p.m.)
Cohen was released on $500,000 bond, cosigned by his wife and a second person. The judge set sentencing for Dec. 12. Prosecutors plan to make a statement outside the courtroom.
Cohen Payment Was to Hide Alleged Affairs: U.S. (4:47 p.m.)
The prosecutor told the judge the purpose of the payments was to ensure that the individuals did not disclose "alleged affairs with the candidate." Besides the $130,000 payment, Cohen admitted to making an illegal contribution of $150,000, which was how much McDougal received from the National Enquirer's publisher to quash her story.
At no time was the candidate's name mentioned.
Cohen Acted for Candidate in Violating Campaign Law (4:43 p.m.)
In acknowledging the charges against him, Cohen said he was directed to violate campaign law at the direction of a candidate for federal office. At the same candidate's direction, he said he paid $130,000 to somebody to keep them quiet, which was later repaid by the candidate. He didn't identify the candidate or the person who was paid, but those facts match Cohen's payment to Clifford and Trump's repayment.
