Trumpworld takes a hit after FEC quietly closes probe into hush money payments to Stormy Daniels

[Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin]

The tabloid publishing company that owns the National Enquirer will be fined $187,500 by FEC for a hush money payment to a woman with whom Donald Trump had an extramarital affair – a transaction which the FEC argues is in clear violation of campaign finance law.

The transaction occurred back in 2016, when American Media Inc. (presently known as A360 Media LLC) transferred $150,000 to former model Karen McDougal, who in exchange for the funds, relinquished the rights to tell her story about the affair. The transaction was first made public back in 2018 amid the prosecution of ex-Trump lawyer Michael Cohen, who pleaded guilty to tax evasion and campaign finance violations.

The FEC found that America Media chief executive, David J. Pecker, a Trump ally, "knowingly and willfully" broke campaign finance laws in conjunction with various Trump campaign officials as well as Cohen, who has for years been positioned as Trump's right-hand man in the coverup.

American Media has openly admitted that it routed the money to McDougal, though it disputes it broke any campaign finance laws, claiming that "payments for silence are not contributions or expenditures because silence is not a 'thing of value,'" according to the settlement agreement. Though, back in 2018, America Media had already agreed to a non-prosecution deal in which it acknowledged that hush money was intended to influence the results of the 2016 general election.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/trumpworld-takes-a-hit-after-fec-quietly-closes-probe-into-hush-money-payments-to-stormy-daniels/ar-AAKE5FI

[gratuitous]

1. Silence is not a thing of value?

Then why did Pecker snot out $150,000 for McDougal's silence? Hey National Enquirer! Can I get a hundred grand for my silence? I couldn't tell you what I might know, but since you're paying off like a demented slot machine, I'm ready to get in line.

Can you believe these chumps?

[Midnight Writer]

2. Silence is golden.

[FraDon]

3. Silence is indeed a thing

of enormous value. Yet another sweet deal.

[stillcool]

4. that's not a hit, that's tapped with a feather

[Blue Owl]

5. Stick an apple in the pig's mouth and fire up the spit

[bluedigger]

6. More like a graze...

[Justice matters.]

7. Flip-floppeR$$$$$$$$

Back in 2018: Silence does influence the results of an election.

Now in 2021: Silence does not influence the results of an election.