According to a report from the Wall Street Journal, the chairman of the company that publishes the National Enquirer, David Pecker, has been granted immunity by federal prosecutors as part of the investigation into Michael Cohen, the longtime personal lawyer for President Donald Trump.
The Journal reports that Pecker provided federal prosecutors with details about payments Cohen made to two women who alleged having affairs with Trump. Pecker also told prosecutors about Trump's knowledge of the payments, the article states.
Cohen pleaded guilty on Tuesday to eight criminal charges, including tax fraud, campaign finance violations and faces several years in prison. Cohen reportedly struck a plea deal with federal prosecutors, and could still face additional charges.
During his appearance in court, Cohen read a statement, in which he testified under oath that Trump directed him to arrange payments to two women "for the principal purpose of influencing the election."
Prosecutors say those payments violated caps on campaign contributions and a ban on corporate contributions.
In an interview with Fox and Friends that aired Thursday morning, Trump denied knowing about the payments until "later on," saying he reimbursed Cohen from his own personal funds, not his 2016 campaign's war chest.
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