In November, Cohen also pleaded guilty to misleading Congress about the president’s alleged ties to Russia. The series of guilty pleas come after authorities obtained business documents which appear to evidence that Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 prior to the 2016 election. The payment occurred to cover up an affair which Daniels claims she and Trump carried on between 2005 and 2006. Conversely, President Trump has denied all charges of an affair with the adult film actress.
Disputes Regarding Cohen’s Claims and Public Statements
In July, Cohen publicly stated that his loyalties remain with his family and his country. Many Americans, therefore, took that statement to mean that the president’s former attorney no longer held any allegiance towards Trump.
Shortly after Cohen’s affirmations of loyalty, his attorney, Lanny Davis, leaked a recorded conversation between Trump and Cohen to the press. The discussion supposedly involved Trump and his then-lawyer discussing a payout to Playboy model Karen McDougal. Similarly to Stormy Daniels, McDougal alleges that she and Trump engaged in a sexual affair shortly after the birth of Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump. The president, however, denies this claim.
