Michael Cohen and Donald Trump on tape: President discusses buying rights to story about 'affair with Playboy model' with lawyer in leaked secret audio

'Playboy model tapes': Donald Trump discusses buying the rights to the story with his lawyer in the recording
AP

A secretly recorded tape of Donald Trump discussing buying rights to a Playboy model’s story about her alleged affair with the president has been leaked.

The tapes, obtained and aired by CNN, record the US leader speaking to his former personal lawyer Michael Cohen about the proposal to buy Karen McDougal’s story.

Mr Cohen can be heard telling the president his plans to set up a company to purchase the rights from a media company that bought it from McDougal for $150,000 (£115,000).

The recording was made by Mr Cohen two months before the 2016 presidential election and was provided to CNN by his attorney Lanny Davis.

Michael Cohen discusses buying the rights to the story in the leaked recording
AP

Mr Cohen can be heard saying he needed to start a company "for the transfer of all of that info regarding our friend David," a possible reference to David Pecker, president of the National Enquirer's parent company American Media Inc.

When Cohen begins to discuss financing, Mr Trump interrupts him and asks: "What financing?" to which Mr Cohen replies: “We'll have to pay”.

The audio is muffled, but Mr Trump can be heard saying "pay with cash," though it is not clear if he is suggesting to pay with cash or not to pay with cash.

Cohen immediately says, "No, no, no" and Trump can then be heard saying, "check."

A transcript of the conversation provided by the president’s current attorney Rudy Giuliani said Mr Trump actually said: "Don't pay with cash...check."

Last week Giuliani said the recording would prove that "the president said it has to be done correctly and it has to be done by check."

"The transcript that we provided CNN accurately reflects the taped conversation," Giuliani on Tuesday.

"Listen to the tape. Donald Trump is not shocked money is being paid about someone named Karen McDougal," Davis said during an interview with CNN.

Davis said his client, who is under investigation by federal officials in New York, "has been disparaged and insulted and called all kinds of things."

"He's got truth on his side and he'll continue to tell the truth," Davis said.

Davis did not immediately respond to a request for comment from agencies on Tuesday night.

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