WASHINGTON: U.S. President Donald Trump had an affair with a Playboy modelat the same time he was in a relationship with a porn star and the NationalEnquirer tabloid paid the model $150,000 to prevent her story being madepublic, the New Yorker reported on Friday.
The magazine’s account of the relationship was based on notes handwrittenby the model, Karen McDougal, who was Playboy’s 1998 Playmate of the Year.The New Yorker reported that McDougal confirmed that she had written thenotes.
The account had similarities with descriptions that adult-film actressStephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, and other women havegiven of sexual encounters with Trump, including private dinners and offersto buy them real estate.
The magazine reported that American Media Inc, publisher of the NationalEnquirer, paid McDougal $150,000 in 2016, soon after Trump became theRepublican presidential nominee, for exclusive rights to her story, whichit never published.
The article noted that American Media head David Pecker has described Trumpas a “personal friend.”
It reported that McDougal declined to discuss details of her relationshipwith Trump for fear of violating her agreement with American Media.
American Media told Reuters in a statement that the suggestion it “engagesin any practice that would allow it to hold influence over the President ofthe United States, while flattering, is laughable.”
The New Yorker reported that American Media said it did not publishMcDougal’s story because it did not find it credible.
The payment to McDougal by American Media was originally reported by theWall Street Journal on November 4, 2016.
Trump allegedly began his affairs with McDougal and Clifford roughly threemonths after his wife Melania Trump gave birth to his youngest son Barron.
The White House did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. The NewYorker reported that a White House spokesperson said in a statement thatTrump denies having had an affair with McDougal and called it, “more fakenews.”
Trump has denied having an affair with Clifford.
Earlier this week, Trump’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen said he paidClifford $130,000 from his personal funds during the 2016 presidentialelection campaign but said he was working alone and it was not a campaignexpense.
Other women have accused Trump of making unwanted sexual advances towardthem over the years. Trump has denied the accusations.
Reuters has not independently confirmed any of the accusations. – Agencies