Executives from the National Enquirer ran potential stories about then-candidate Donald Trump and his political opponents through Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen during the 2016 campaign, according to a new report.
The Washington Post reported Thursday night about the unusual practice, which allegedly involved sending Cohen stories and photos in digital form before they were published.
It has been reported in the past Trump has a close relationship with David Pecker, the chairman and CEO of the Enquirer's parent company American Media.
One person with knowledge about the arrangement told the Post, "Since Trump's become president and even before, [Pecker] openly just has been willing to turn the magazine and the cover over to the Trump machine."
And during the presidential campaign, the person said, "if it was a story specifically about Trump, then it was sent over to Michael, and as long as there were no objections from him, the story could be published."
Cohen has come into the crosshairs of the special counsel investigation that is probing whether the Trump campaign has ties to Russia. As an extension of that, he has been investigated for alleged payments he has made to women who claimed to have affairs with Trump over the years and payments he received from companies in exchange for what was essentially lobbying work after Trump won the presidency.
The Wall Street Journal reported this week that federal authorities subpoenaed American Media in regards to an August 2016 payment it made to former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who alleged she had an affair with Trump. The Enquirer never ran the story, but it denied the $150,000 payment was made to keep her quiet.
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