POLITCS
Who is Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model implicated in the Trump hush money trial?
Donald Trump was charged with 34 felony counts in the Stormy Daniels case, in which Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model, is also implicated.
On April 4, 2023, Donald Trump was arrested and charged with 34 counts of ‘First Degree Falsifying Business Records,’ to which he pleaded not guilty. This made him the first former President of the United States to be indicted on criminal charges.
The arrest followed the decision by a Manhattan grand jury to indict the former present over an alleged illegal hush money payment made to Stormy Daniels.
According to the case brought by Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg, Michael Cohen, Trump’s former attorney, made a $130,000 payment to the adult film actress on behalf of the former president.
Why is Karen McDougal implicated in Trump’s hush money trial?
Cohen’s testimony states the payment was to cover up an alleged affair Trump had with Daniels. With the payment, it was hoped that the news would not get out so as not to jeopardize his 2016 presidential bid. Cohen arranged for another secret, indirect “hush money” payment to made to Karen McDougal by the National Enquirer, who would bury her story to prevent similarly “damaging allegations”.
Who is Karen McDougal?
McDougal, a 53-year-old actress and former Playboy model, was born in Indiana. According to her website, she started her career in her 20s as a fitness model. In 1997, McDougal became a Playboy “playmate” and was named “Playmate of the Year” in 1998. In 1999, she appeared on the cover of Men’s Fitness magazine.
Since then, McDougal has made several appearances as a sports radio personality and featured in the film “The Arena”, also known as “Gladiatrix”, directed by Russian-Kazakh director Timur Bekmambetov.
McDougal is a national advocate for breast implant illness, as well as an active member of various advocacy groups. Her activism also includes raising awareness about deep vein thrombosis and animal rights.
McDougal’s relationship with Donald Trump
In 2018, McDougal told CNN that she had an extramarital affair with the former president that began in 2006, shortly after Trump married Melania.
According to McDougal, the affair involved having sex with Trump “dozens of times.”
Despite Trump’s denials that there was ever an extramarital affair with McDougal, the New York prosecution team has cited evidence of secret payments made to McDougal by Trump.