Cohen seeks to tear up Stormy Daniels deal

Michael Cohen's shell company has filed a status report agreeing to tear up the original 2016 agreement with pornstar Stormy Daniels, in which Donald Trump's former lawyer arranged to pay her $130,000 to stay silent about her alleged affair with the President.

This so-called "hush agreement" has been at the root of some of Cohen's legal troubles and scrutinised in the criminal investigation that ultimately led to his plea last month, CNN reported.

Cohen was Trump's personal lawyer for years. Trump has denied having an affair with Daniels.

"Today, Essential Consultants LLC and Michael Cohen have effectively put an end to the lawsuits filed against them by Stephanie Clifford aka Stormy Daniels," Brent Blakely, Cohen's lawyer, said on Friday.

"The rescission of the Confidential Settlement Agreement will result in Clifford returning to Essential Consultants the $130,000 she received in consideration, as required by California law."

As a part of the status report, Essential Consultants -- the shell company Cohen set up to make the payment to Daniels -- requested that she pay back the $130,000 she received.

Michael Avenatti, Daniels' lawyer told CNN: "I haven't had a chance to digest it, I just saw it on my email literally right before I came on.

"What they're trying to do is they don't want me to get a chance to depose Michael Cohen and Donald Trump..."

Cohen has found himself on the wrong side of the law after the FBI raided his office, hotel room and home in April as a part of the Southern District of New York's investigation.

Cohen admitted in August to arranging a non-disclosure agreement with Daniels to buy her silence about her alleged affair with Trump.

Cohen pleaded guilty to making an excessive campaign contribution, since the $130,000 payment was made in service of the campaign and exceeded the $2,700 federal limit for campaign donations.

--IANS

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