Politics
Michael Cohen, Trump’s lawyer, says he paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 out of own pocket
The latest twist in the tangled tale of what happened between President Donald Trump and an adult film star more than a decade ago has taken a new turn Tuesday, with Trump’s longtime personal lawyer claiming that he paid the porn star $130,000 out of his own pocket.
Michael Cohen, the lawyer who worked for Trump for over a decade, said in a statement obtained by Fox News that the 2016 transaction with Stomy Daniels was lawful and not a campaign contribution or campaign expenditure “by anyone.”
“Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly,” the statement read.
Both Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels have denied reports of a ‘hush money’ payoff.
(AP)
Trump met Stephanie Clifford, who goes by the name Stormy Daniels in films, at a golf event in 2006 — a year after Trump’s marriage to his wife, Melania. According to The Wall Street Journal’s report, Clifford began talking with ABC News in the fall of 2016 for a story involving an alleged relationship with Trump, but reached a $130,000 deal a month before the election, which prevented her from going public.
Stormy Daniels seen in 2009. Michael Cohen, President Trump’s personal lawyer, said he paid her $130,000 out of his own pocket.
(AP)
The New York Times first reported on Cohen’s payment. The paper said Cohen refused to answer follow-up questions like whether or not Trump knew about the payment.
Cohen told the paper that he had delivered a similar statement to the Federal Election Commission in response to a complaint filed by Common Cause, a government watchdog. The watchdog asked the FEC to investigate the source of the payment and determine whether it represented an excessive campaign contribution.
He called the allegations “without merit” and said he does not plan “to provide any further comment on the FEC matter.”
Fox News’ Ed Henry, Edmund DeMarche and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Politics
Merkel ally says Scotland 'very active' in Brussels – MEP ready to welcome Sturgeon back
ANGELA MERKEL’s ally David McAllister said he feels Scotland is already a new independent member of the European Union, in a boost to Nicola Sturgeon’s quest to break away from the UK.
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Politics
Harris implores Black Americans to get Covid vaccines despite ‘righteous skepticism’
Vice President Kamala Harris addressed concerns that some Black Americans have had about Covid-19 vaccines, encouraging them to get the shot despite historical skepticism of the medical field.
“We must speak truth about the history of medical testing in this country,” Harris said in an interview with MSNBC’s Rev. Al Sharpton.
“We must be honest about the fact that people have a righteous skepticism about how it has been used, how it has been tested and on whom it will be used,” Harris said.
The U.S. has a long record of unethical medical experimentation on Black Americans, from non-consensual testing on slaves to forced sterilization during the early 20th century and the Tuskegee Syphilis Study. As NBC News has reported, experts have cautioned that this history, along with broader health care disparities in the modern era, has led to a distrust of the vaccine‘s safety.
Harris pointed to her own experience receiving the Covid vaccine to build trust in others.
“I got vaccinated,” she said. “I can tell you first of all that these vaccines are safe. It will save your life. There is a Black woman, Dr. Kizzy Corbet, who was part of the team of scientists who created this vaccine and it will save your life.”
“So, get your vaccination when it is your turn,” Harris said.
But the vaccines’ chaotic rollout, including supply shortages and disruptions with distribution due to winter storms, has created widespread accessibility issues.
The Biden administration recently purchased 200 million doses, and it doubled in distribution numbers last week, sending two million doses to 7,000 pharmacies across the country with its Federal Retail Pharmacy Program. The last five weeks have seen a nearly 70 percent increase in vaccine distribution.
Harris visited a local pharmacy and program participant in Washington D.C. Thursday morning, where she also addressed vaccine skepticism.
“There have been many theories about populations that are experiencing vaccine hesitancy for legitimate reasons that are based on historical experience that we should never forget,” Harris said.
Harris’ interview with Sharpton airs in full on Saturday.
Politics
We miss you already! Leading MEP admits Brussels is 'very, very sad' over Brexit
THE EU is “very, very, sad” the UK left the bloc as Liz Truss prepares to strike large trade deals with countries across the world, an MEP has said.
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