Page 4 - ARUBA TODAY

A4 U.S. NEWS
Friday 4 May 2018

Trump's new 'Stormy' story clashes with earlier statements

By CATHERINE LUCEY, JILL Cohen are directly contrary
COLVIN AND JONATHAN to the lies previously told to
LEMIRE the American people," he
WASHINGTON (AP) — Presi- said. "There will ultimately
dent Donald Trump insisted be severe consequences."
Thursday his reimbursement Trump is facing mounting
of a 2016 hush payment to legal threats from the Co-
porn actress Stormy Dan- hen-Daniels situation and
iels had nothing to do with the special counsel's inves-
his election campaign. But tigation of Russian med-
the surprise revelation of dling in the election and
the president's payment possible coordination with
clashed with his past state- the Trump campaign.
ments, created new legal Cohen is facing a criminal
headaches and stunned investigation in New York,
many in the West Wing. and FBI agents raided his
White House aides were home and office several
blindsided when Trump's weeks ago seeking records
recently added attorney, about the Daniels nondis-
Rudy Giuliani, said Wednes- closure agreement. Giu-
day night that the president liani has warned Trump that
had repaid Michael Cohen he fears Cohen, the presi-
for $130,000 that was given dent's longtime personal
to Daniels to keep her quiet attorney, will "flip," bend-
before the 2016 election In this Nov. 20, 2016, file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump calls out to media as he and ing in the face of a poten-
about her allegations of an former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pose for photographs as Giuliani arrives at the Trump Na- tial prison sentence, and
affair with Trump. Giuliani's tional Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J.. he has urged Trump to cut
revelation, which seemed Associated Press off communications with
to contradict Trump's past him, according to a person
statements, came as the bursement for a campaign could have affected the Daniels deal." Sanders said close to Giuliani.
president's newly config- expenditure. Either could campaign, saying: "Imag- Thursday that Trump "even- The president's self-pro-
ured outside legal team be legally problematic. ine if that came out on Oc- tually learned" about the claimed legal fixer has
pursued his defense, ap- Giuliani insisted Trump tober 15, 2016, in the mid- payment, but she did not been surprised and con-
parently with zero coordi- didn't know the specifics of dle of the last debate with offer details. For all the con- cerned by Trump's recent
nation with the West Wing. Cohen's arrangement with Hillary Clinton." troversy Giuliani stirred up, stance toward him, ac-
White House press secre- Daniels until recently, telling Questions remain about some Trump supporters said cording to a Cohen confi-
tary Sarah Huckabee Sand- "Fox & Friends" on Thursday just what Trump knew and it was wise to get the pay- dant. Cohen was dismayed
ers said she first learned that the president didn't when. ment acknowledgement to hear Trump marginal-
that Trump had repaid the know all the details until Daniels, whose legal name out in the open. ize his role during an inter-
hush money from Giuliani's "maybe 10 days ago." Giu- is Stephanie Clifford, is seek- Said former New Jersey view last week with "Fox &
interview on Fox News liani told The New York Times ing to be released from a Governor Chris Christie: Friends" and interpreted a
Channel's "Hannity." Staff- that Trump had repaid Co- non-disclosure deal she "You know, there's an old recent negative National
ers' phones began to buzz hen $35,000 a month "out signed in the days before saying in the law, 'Hang a Enquirer cover story as a
within moments. Deputy of his personal family ac- the 2016 election to keep lantern on your problems.' warning shot from a publi-
press secretary Hogan Gid- count" after the campaign her from talking about a ... So the fact is that Rudy cation that has long been
ley, who had pre-taped was over. He said Co- 2006 sexual encounter she has to go out there now cozy with Trump, said the
an interview with Fox News hen received $460,000 or said she had with Trump. and clean it up. That's what person who was not autho-
earlier Wednesday eve- $470,000 in all for expenses She has also filed defama- lawyers get hired to do." rized to talk about private
ning, was suddenly sum- related to Trump. tion suits against Cohen Daniels herself weighed in conversations and spoke
moned to return for a live But no debt to Cohen was and Trump. Speaking to via Twitter, saying: "I don't only on condition of ano-
interview. listed on Trump's personal reporters on Air Force One think Cohen is qualified to nymity. Cohen also had
While Giuliani said the pay- financial disclosure form, several weeks ago, Trump 'clean up' my horse's ma- not indicated to friends
ment to Daniels was "going which was certified on June said he did not know about nure. Too soon?" that Trump's legal team
to turn out to be perfectly 16, 2017. Asked if Trump the payment or where the Her attorney, Michael Av- was going to contradict his
legal," legal experts said had filed a fraudulent form, money came from. In a enatti, who engaged in his original claim that he was
the new information raised Sanders said: "I don't know." phone interview with "Fox own press tour Thursday, not reimbursed for the pay-
a number of questions, in- Giuliani said the payment and Friends" last week, slammed both Trump and ment to Daniels. "This is not
cluding whether the mon- was not a campaign fi- however, he appeared to Giuliani. the White House's job. This is
ey represented repayment nance violation, but also muddy the waters, saying "The admissions by Mr. Giu- not what they're supposed
of an undisclosed loan or acknowledged that Dan- that Cohen represented liani as to Mr. Trump's con- to be worried about," he
could be seen as reim- iels' hushed-up allegations him in the "crazy Stormy duct and the acts of Mr. said.q