President Trump admitted Thursday to reimbursing his lawyer for a $130,000 payment made on the eve of the 2016 election to porn actress Stormy Daniels as part of a settlement about her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump.
Trump, however, denied any sexual encounter and claims the payment was in no way connected with the campaign — despite the timing.
That admission directly contradicts what the president told reporters less than a month ago. Trump denied knowledge of the payments, telling reporters on Air Force One, “You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael.”
Asked if he knew where the money came from to pay Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, the president said: “No. I don’t.”
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters on Thursday “this was information the president didn’t know at the time but eventually learned … we give the very best information we have at the time.”
