On Wednesday's episode of Hannity, Rudy Giuliani unexpectedly revealed that Trump had reimbursed his attorney Michael Cohen for the $130,000 paid to Stormy Daniels right before the election, which was meant to keep her quiet about an alleged affair she had with Trump. The revelation from Giuliani — who was just recently appointed to Trump's legal team — contradicted Trump's claim from last month that he didn't know about the payment.
Numerous pundits and politicians were confused by the news coming from Giuliani, especially since it could put Trump in legal trouble.
This stunning admission by Rudy Giuliani appears to substantiate a straight up campaign finance law violation by both Michael Cohen and @realDonaldTrump. https://t.co/D0JVsI12WY
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) May 3, 2018
FYI I was on the phone when Giuliani said this...instead of saying goodbye and hitting the red button I dropped my phone in the small garbage can next to my desk and started typing. Don't ask me why. https://t.co/DbbqhmAfYB
— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) May 3, 2018
"The secret payment to the porn actress to keep an alleged affair quiet was already a potential legal problem for Trump because it may have violated campaign finance laws,"Vox reported. "If Trump knew about the payment, and if it was designed to help the campaign and it wasn’t properly disclosed, then it’s illegal."
Trump took to Twitter Thursday morning to explain the legality of what occurred.
"Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA,” Trump tweeted. "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth."
Trump added that there was no money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, used in the payment to Daniels.
Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are.....
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
...very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,......
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
...despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said in a briefing on Thursday that she learned that Trump repaid Cohen at the same time as everyone else — when Giuliani made the reveal Wednesday night.
Giuliani later spoke to the Washington Post, explaining that he "didn't know when the reimbursements began, but he thought it was 'earlier than mid-last year,'"CNN reported.
Cohen and the pre-election payment are currently being investigated by the FBI.
