Ex-con Michael Cohen testifies about secret recording he made of Trump discussing affair claims before 2016 election
Donald Trump,Hush Money,Michael Cohen,Politics,Republican Party,JD Vance,Tommy Tuberville
Michael Cohen testified Monday he secretly recorded Donald Trump in the lead-up to the 2016 election, discussing plans to buy a Playboy model’s story about having an affair with the then-candidate.
Cohen — who worked for Trump for more than a decade — told jurors in Manhattan Supreme Court that the Sept. 6, 2016, conversation, taped on the Voice Memos app on his iPhone, was the only time he surreptitiously recorded his former boss.
“So, what do we got to pay for this? One-fifty?” Trump could allegedly be heard saying on the nearly three-minute recording played in court by Assistant District Attorney Susan Hoffinger.
The conversation centered around plans to buy the rights to former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal’s story about having an affair with the married Trump from the National Enquirer, according to testimony.
Related Coverage
AllSides Picks
Headline Roundup
New Documents Reveal Details About Trump Assassination Attempt Suspect Thomas Crooks
September 16th, 2026
News
Tracking Trump’s Campaign Promises
AllSides Staff
September 16th, 2026
Recommended Reading
When a Convention Vanishes Without a Trace
Dan Schnur
September 14th, 2026
Headline Roundup
Texas and California Find Common Ground on Data Center Limits
September 22nd, 2026