Common Cause Files Two Complaints Charging That Trump’s $130,000 Payout To Porn Star Violated Federal Law

The watchdog group Common Cause on filed a complaint on Monday with the Federal Election Commission and the Justice Department alleging that Donald Trump violated federal law with his secret payment of $130,000 to a porn star known as Stormy Daniels.   Daniels gave a long interview to In Touch magazine detailing a yearlong affair with Trump but later accepted the money and signed a statement denying such a sexual relationship.  Common Cause argues that the payment was “an unreported in-kind contribution to Donald J. Trump for President, Inc., and an unreported expenditure by the committee — because the funds were paid for the purpose of influencing the 2016 president general election — in violation of the campaign finance reporting requirements.”

We recently discussed how Trump’s personal attorney Michael Cohen used shell companies and fake name to pay the money to Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels).   Cohen in 2011 threatened to sue the publication if they ran the interview.  It worked in 2011 but last week the magazine defied him and ran the story.

I have long been an avid supporter of Common Cause which has a legendary record of public interest advocacy and continues to be a strong voice for good government. However, on these complaints I am a bit unclear on a critical nexus.  The complaints admit that they do not know the source of this money.  While they may view the complaints as the only means for confirming the source, it is a highly speculative filing. Moreover, the suggestion is that the effort to silence Clifford was clearly done for campaign purposes.  It certainly could have been done for that purpose but it could also have been done for personal and marital reasons.  After all, in 2011, Cohen threatened to sue the publications of these allegations before Trump’s run for the presidency.  He reportedly did so to protect Trump’s celebrity status and reputation.  It is possible that this money came from Trump (through his personal lawyer) and was done to protection his professional reputation as opposed to his presidential aspirations.  The point is that none of us know, including Common Cause.  The organization is hoping that the filing will force the confirmation of the funds and the identity of the “John Doe” who facilitated the payment.

The filings could be dismissed as speculative.  However, the concern is a substantive one.  Cohen should confirm that the money came from Trump or explain why a donor would given such money unless as way of supporting his candidacy.

Here are the two filings: Common Cause complaints.