Contradicting President, Giuliani Says Trump Knew About Payment To Stormy Daniels, Repaid Michael Cohen $130K

Rudy Giuliani contradicted previous statements made by President Donald Trump on Wednesday by saying Trump knew about the hush money the president’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen paid out to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Giuliani — a member of Trump’s defense team in Robert Mueller’s Russia probe — also said his longtime friend Trump repaid Cohen the $130,000 he gave to Daniels to force her silence on an affair she had with the former Apprentice star in 2006. However, the former New York City mayor said that the payment did not violate any campaign finance laws, a claim Trump also made.

“I’m giving you a fact that you don’t know,” Giuliani told Fox News host Sean Hannity. “It’s not campaign money. No campaign finance violation. They funneled through a law firm and the president repaid it.”

Giuliani added that Trump reimbursed Cohen in installments of approximately $35,000. Hannity, a Trump supporter, was recently revealed to have secretly hired Cohen to seek legal advice.

SLIDESHOW: DONALD TRUMP’S 30 CRAZIEST TWEETS

If Giuliani be telling the truth about Trump’s knowledge of the payment to Daniels, this would mean the president lied when speaking to reporters on Air Force One last month. Trump then said he was unaware of the hush money given to the porn star.

Speculation has arisen in recent weeks regarding whether or not Cohen will turn on Trump — who has been his client for more than a decade — and testify before federal investigators. Daniels has already sued Trump for defamation of character.

Daniels’ lawyer Michael Avenatti was interviewed by several people this week including CNN’s Don Lemon and late-night comedian Stephen Colbert to discuss the latest developments in the case involving the porn star and Cohen.

“Every American regardless of their political persuasion … should be disgusted by what has happened in connection with the lies that you have been told over the last three months about this payment.” – Michael Avenatti, attorney for Stormy Daniels https://t.co/BvizMdqjtL pic.twitter.com/E2Qlbpa9kr

— CNN Tonight (@CNNTonight) May 3, 2018

In a series of tweets, Avenatti also reveled in Giuliani’s statement, and thanked him and Trump for helping his and Daniels’ case. The attorney also thanked Fox and Friends for helping his side with their coverage of the case.

Whatever happens @foxandfriends, please do not stop helping our case week in and week out by having Mr. Trump and Mr. Giuliani appear and make damaging stmts. You are truly THE BEST; where can we send the gift basket? #basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 3, 2018

1/2. We predicted months ago that it would be proven that the American people had been lied to as to the $130k payment and what Mr. Trump knew, when he knew it and what he did in connection with it. Every American, regardless of their politics, should be outraged…

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 3, 2018

2/2. …by what we have now learned. Mr. Trump stood on AF1 and blatantly lied. This followed the lies told by others close to him, including Mr. Cohen. This should never be acceptable in our America. We will not rest until justice is served. #basta

— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) May 3, 2018

According to several reports including one from Politico, any payment “intended to protect his campaign from political damage” could constitute a violation of campaign finance law. Furthermore, Politico added, all payments made by any candidate — whether he/she used his/her own funds or not — must always be reported to the Federal Election Commission.

Here is what Trump said in a set of tweets on Wednesday morning to deny an affair with Daniels and the illegality of alleged payments made to her:

Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA. These agreements are…..

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018

…very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels). The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair,……

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018

…despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) May 3, 2018

Cohen recently said he would plead the Fifth Amendment in Daniels’ lawsuit against him.