evidence: On May 13, Cohen acknowledged that he, Trump and David Pecker conspired to suppress negative stories and promote positive stories about Trump during the 2016 election.[426] He said his work in this matter "was at the direction of and benefit of Mr. Trump", stating that "Everything required Mr. Trump's sign-off."[428] By email (shown as evidence), Cohen informed the National Enquirer that Trump did not want them to report his affair with a "Penthouse Pet".[426] Cohen specified his role in the Enquirer's first catch-and-kill story for Trump, about a Trump Tower doorman who alleged that Trump had fathered a child out of wedlock.[426] Cohen detailed his role in the hush-money payment to McDougal, stating that he monitored progress by text, phone and the Signal app.[426] He repeated that he communicated by "phone, email and text" with McDougal, Daniels and Keith Davidson.[426][9] By text message, Cohen told Dylan Howard that he was making the payments on Trump's behalf.[426] He further noted that after Pecker refused to pay for the Daniels story, he took over as funder of "catch-and-kill operations".[426] [...] - ^ "Trump tried to hide news of alleged affair from wife, former aide testifies". The Telegraph. May 3, 2024. Archived from the original on May 3, 2024. Retrieved May 3, 2024.