Ex-Playmate’s attorney on National Enquirer immunity deal: ‘Told you so’

The attorney representing former Playboy model Karen McDougal in her lawsuit against American Media Inc. (AMI) issued a brief statement Thursday cheering the news that National Enquirer publisher David Pecker had signed an immunity deal to speak with authorities over her story.

McDougal, who is suing the National Enquirer over its ownership of her story about her alleged affair with President Trump, has sought public admission from the company that it was working on behalf of Trump or his associates to silence her.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday that Pecker met with prosecutors to discuss former Trump attorney Michael Cohen’s involvement in the president’s alleged nondisclosure payment deals with women leading up to the 2016 presidential election. 

To all media asking our firm to comment on #NationalEnquirer publisher #DavidPecker getting immunity from prosecution in exchange for corroboration of his collusion w #MichaelCohen + @realDonaldTrump in silencing #KarenMcDougal, here is our official statement: “Told you so.” https://t.co/Fkr5Gcyxot

— Peter K. Stris (@PeterStris) August 23, 2018

{mosads}McDougal has alleged that AMI — as well as her lawyer at the time — misled her about the deal, which led to her accepting $150,000 for rights to her story before the company withheld it from publication in a process known as “catch and kill” for negative press.

“AMI lied to me, made empty promises, and repeatedly intimidated and manipulated me,” McDougal said in March.

The investigation into the nondisclosure payments for McDougal and adult-film star Stormy Daniels entered a new phase this week when Cohen pleaded guilty to bank and tax fraud and campaign finance violations, claiming in court that he made the payments under Trump’s instructions (without naming the president).

Daniels, who alleges a 2006 affair with the president, is also suing Trump and Cohen for defamation for denying her claims.