Stormy Daniels Scandal (2018)

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The Stormy Daniels scandal involves allegations of an affair between Donald Trump and adult film actress Stormy Daniels in 2006. In the lead-up to the 2016 presidential election, Trump's lawyer Michael Cohen paid Daniels $130,000 to keep the alleged affair private. This payment was made through a shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, which Cohen set up in October 2016. The arrangement included a non-disclosure agreement to prevent Daniels from discussing the alleged relationship publicly. The scandal gained prominence in 2018 when The Wall Street Journal reported on the payment. Cohen later admitted to making the payment, claiming it was done at Trump's direction to influence the election. Trump initially denied knowledge of the payment but later acknowledged reimbursing Cohen. The case led to legal and ethical questions about campaign finance violations. Cohen pleaded guilty to related charges, including campaign finance violations, and implicated Trump in the process. The scandal has been a focal point in discussions about Trump's ethics and legal compliance during his presidential campaign.