National Enquirer boss gets immunity in Michael Cohen probe, report says

Donald Trump claims Michael Cohen did not make payments from campaign finance in an interview

Michael Cohen (Getty Images)

National Enquirer boss David Pecker has received immunity in the Michael Cohen investigation for providing prosecutors with information on hush-money payments made during the 2016 presidential campaign, according to a US media report.

The Wall Street Journal said Mr Pecker, CEO of American Media, Inc and a longtime ally of Mr Trump, has allegedly given prosecutors details on payments Donald Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen arranged to two women who alleged they had sexual encounters with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump has denied the alleged affairs.

Cohen pleaded guilty to eight felony charges, including campaign finance violations from 2016, earlier this week. Mr Pecker’s immunity status was first reported by Vanity Fair.

According to the WSJ report, prosecutors say Mr Pecker and Cohen took part in a tabloid tactic called “catch and kill” where publications suppress potentially damaging stories by buying the rights to a story and then burying it as a favour to someone.

Although the women were not named in Cohen’s plea deal filed in court, the women who received the payments are former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who was paid $150,000 (£117,000) and porn star Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, who received $130,000 (£100,00).

Sources have also told WSJ that prosecutors won’t reportedly proceed with criminal charges against Dylan Howard, chief content officer for American Media, Inc. for participation regarding the deals.

The Independent reached out to counsel for American Media, Inc, parent company for the National Enquirer, for comment but there was no immediate comment.

In a recent interview with Fox News, Mr Trump claimed Mr Cohen’s payments did not come out of the campaign and therefore his actions “weren’t crimes”.