Cohen pleaded guilty in 2018 to breaking campaign finance laws, saying he had arranged both payments at the direction of Trump to influence the presidential election. Trump denied the affairs and claimed he was not aware of Cohen's payment to Daniels, but he reimbursed him in 2017. Federal prosecutors asserted that Trump had been involved in discussions regarding non-disclosure payments as early as 2014.
In 2018, Cohen admitted to breaking campaign finance laws by arranging payments at Trump’s direction for the presidential election. Trump denied involvement and claimed ignorance of Cohen's payment to Daniels until reimbursing him in 2017. Federal prosecutors suggested that discussions about non-disclosure payments began with Trump as early as 2014.