International

Donald Trump's longtime personal lawyer admitted on Tuesday to paying porn star Stormy Daniels $130,000 out of his own pocket the month before the 2016 presidential elections.

Michael D. Cohen told the New York Times that he paid Stormy aka Stephanie Clifford what has been widely reported as 'hush money' while working as counsel to the Trump Organization, and for which, he says, he was not reimbursed for the payment.

'Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly,' Cohen said in a statement to the Times.

'The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.'

Cohen called the payment to the porn star a 'private transaction.'

Meanwhile Cohen said he gave a similar statement to the Federal Election Commission after a complaint was filed by government watchdog group Common Cause.

The group suggested that the payment was a 'in-kind contribution to the Trump campaign,' and was paid through a limited liability company that was established by Cohen.

The complaint further queried if the payment was ultimately paid by the Trump Organization or another person.