Trump Organization subpoenaed by Manhattan prosecutors over hush money payments
- Zachary Basu, author of Axios Sneak Peek
Michael Cohen. Photo: Atilgan Ozdil/Anadolu Agency/Getty Images
The office of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance has subpoenaed the Trump Organization for records related to hush money payments made to adult film actress Stormy Daniels by Michael Cohen during the 2016 presidential campaign, the New York Times reports.
Why it matters: The Southern District of New York said earlier this month that it had "effectively concluded" its federal investigation into the payments without charging anyone except for Cohen, who is currently serving out a 3-year sentence for campaign finance violations. State prosecutors are now investigating whether the Trump Organization falsely listed its reimbursement of Cohen for the $130,000 payment to Daniels as a legal expense, which would be illegal under New York law, per the Times.
- Vance's prosecutors have also reportedly subpoenaed American Media Inc., the publisher of the National Inquirer, which admitted in December to making a $150,000 payment "in concert with" the Trump campaign to suppress a story about an alleged affair Trump had with former Playboy model Karen McDougal.
- An attorney for the Trump Organization called the subpoena a "political hit job," telling the Times: "It’s just harassment of the president, his family and his business, using subpoenas as weapons. We will respond as appropriate."