Chris Cuomo got the Cohen-Trump tape from Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis, and he just aired it on CNN.
#BreakingNews @CNN @CNNPolitics We have the secret recording of Trump and former lawyer Michael Cohen discussing arrangements related to the payment to former playmate #KarenMcDougal. @CuomoPrimeTime 9p EST. Listen and then hear why the two sides dispute what it means.
— Christopher C. Cuomo (@ChrisCuomo) July 25, 2018
We’ll post the video as soon as we have it… which we just posted below!!!
[wpvideo uVzWuuSU w=755]
The recording offers the public a glimpse at the confidential discussions between Trump and Cohen, and it confirms the man who now occupies the Oval Office had contemporaneous knowledge of a proposal to buy the rights to the story of Karen McDougal, a woman who has alleged she had an extramarital affair with Trump about a decade ago.
Cohen told Trump about his plans to set up a company and finance the purchase of the rights from American Media, which publishes the National Enquirer.
“I need to open up a company for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David,” Cohen said in the recording, likely a reference to American Media head David Pecker.
Trump interrupts Cohen asking, “What financing?” according to the recording. When Cohen tells Trump, “We’ll have to pay.” Trump is heard saying “pay with cash” but the audio is muddled and it’s unclear whether he suggests paying with cash or not paying. Cohen says, “no, no” but it is not clear what is said next.
No payment was ever made from Trump, Rudy Giuliani, the President’s attorney, has said. Giuliani has previously acknowledged that the recorded discussion related to the buying the story rights.
The recording, which was provided to CNN by Cohen’s attorney Lanny Davis, was made in September 2016.
Wow.
Here’s more of the segment: