In the unwieldy tape, Cohen and Trump appear to be discussing plans to set up a shell company to buy the rights to story of Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who alleges she had an affair with Trump.
The story was purchased by American Media Inc. (AMI)—the parent company of the National Enquirer—for $150,000. (The Enquirer never ran the story, a fact that many argue strongly suggests that the tabloid killed it at Trump's behest).
Cohen's tape appears to contradict repeated claims by the president's team that Trump had no knowledge of any payments to silence McDougal.
Lawmakers and ethics experts argued that the newly released audio provides evidence of a serious campaign finance violation.
Journalist David Atkins said, "On the tape, Cohen and Trump are discussing a conspiracy to repay a tabloid owner for buying and shelving a story by the candidate's mistress. Which is not only a major scandal, but a felony campaign finance violation."
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