Trump on Taping Reports: 'Inconceivable That a Lawyer Would Tape a Client'

12:20 GMT, 21 July 2018

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) seized a recording of Donald Trump, made by his former attorney Michael Cohen, where the US president notes payments to ex-Playboy model Karen McDougal, who declared she had an affair with Trump in 2006, the New York Times reported earlier this week.

Sputnik

President Donald Trump has taken to Twitter to harshly criticize FBI for breaking into his former lawyer office. He also doubted that such a recording existed, considering the allegation that his ex-defender taped to be "unheard of" and 'perhaps illegal'.

The discussion about paying McDougal, who claimed she had an affair with Trump, took place two months prior to the 2016 presidential election, the media reported citing lawyers and anonymous sources with knowledge of the recording.

McDougal stated she had sold her story for $150,000 to the National Enquirer, but the outlet refrained from publishing the story during the Presidential campaign. According to the ex-Playboy model, the lawyer made a secret deal with the American Media company, which owns the tabloid.

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According to the NYT's report, the recording was allegedly seized on April 9, when the FBI raided Michael Cohen's office and home. The law enforcement service seized various documents including payments made during 2016 presidential campaign to adult film star Stormy Daniels, who also claimed to have an affair with Trump. According to the Wall Street Journal, Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 just a month before the election in order to stop her broadcasting the alleged affair story.