Rep. Jared Huffman calls for DOJ to investigate ‘hush money’ to adult actress

February 15, 2018

A group of lawmakers including Congressman Jared Huffman (D-CA) called for the Department of Justice Wednesday to investigate the “hush money” paid to adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, better known as “Stormy Daniels,” by Donald Trump’s personal attorney in October 2016.

According to information made public Wednesday by Huffman’s office, a letter signed by Pramila Jayapal (D-WA), Alan Lowenthal (D-CA), Hank Johnson Jr. (D-GA), and Jerry McNerney (D-CA) urges Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein to investigate apparent violations of federal law, as well as whether a kickback payment, reportedly exchanged for Daniels’ silence under a non disclosure agreement covering the adult star’s private encounters with Trump was part of a pattern of deliberate attempts by the Trump campaign to evade disclosure requirements of federal campaign law.

The admission earlier this week by Donald Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen that he used his personal funds to facilitate a payment of $130,000 to Daniels serves to reinforce the fact that the circumstances of this “hush money” need to be investigated by the Department of Justice, the lawmakers conclude, adding that any payment made or “facilitated by” Michael Cohen in this context would be subject to campaign finance disclosure requirements and laws.

“It appears clear that the payment from Essential Consultants LLC to Ms. Clifford was made for the purpose of influencing the 2016 Presidential election. In the fall of 2016, Ms. Clifford had reportedly been in talks with ABC’s ‘Good Morning America’ to discuss her relationship with Mr. Trump. This payment from an unknown source, made by Donald Trump’s lawyer through a private LLC, bought her silence, ensuring that she would not conduct this interview or others that could damage Donald Trump’s candidacy,” wrote the lawmakers in the letter.

“Therefore, it is subject to FECA’s reporting requirements both as an expenditure coordinated by Donald Trump or his agents, and as an in-kind contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc made by the Trump Organization, Donald Trump himself, or by another unknown party,” they wrote.

“As Attorney General (Jeff) Sessions has recused himself from investigations related to the 2016 presidential campaign, it falls to you to immediately and fully investigate this contribution and expenditure, as well as whether this payment was part of a pattern of deliberate attempts by the Trump campaign to evade the fundamental disclosure requirements of federal campaign law,” wrote the members of Congress.

Huffman and his colleagues stated that subsequent reporting has indicated that this might not have been the only undisclosed “hush money” arrangement made on behalf of Donald J. Trump for President, Inc. in the final weeks before the 2016 federal election.