Kiss-and-tell boss strikes deal to squeal on Donald Trump

The National Enquirer chief has been given immunity to testify about hush money paid to two alleged Donald Trump lovers.

Donald Trump's former fixer, Michael Cohen, returns to his Trump Tower flat in New York yesterday. Picture: MEGA

The controller of the National ­Enquirer has been given immunity from prosecution to assist special counsel Robert Mueller uncover arrangements to buy the silence of ­two of Donald Trump’s alleged former lovers.

The immunity was granted to David Pecker, a long-time friend of the US President who met prosecutors to tell them how the payments to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels were made.

In return for the information, the Mueller team will not pursue charges against him.

Mr Pecker, who is chief executive of American Media Inc which publishes the Enquirer, revealed to Mr Mueller’s team how the magazine played a central role in using payments to “catch and kill” ­stories harmful to Mr Trump.

The magazine used money provided by Mr Trump’s then personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, to pay $US150,000 to Ms McDougal and $US130,000 to Daniels to buy their silence.

News of Mr Pecker’s assistance to the Mueller probe is certain to anger Mr Trump, who on Thursday criticised Mr Cohen for “flipping” and assisting prosecutors as part of his plea deal this week on tax fraud charges and campaign ­finance violations. As part of Mr Cohen’s deal, he implicated the President in campaign finance violations by claiming the hush money to Ms McDougal and ­Daniels was paid at the direction and co-ordination of Mr Trump.

“I’ve had many friends involved in the stuff, it’s called Flipping and it almost ought to be illegal,” Mr Trump told Fox & Friends. “For 30, 40 years I’ve been watching flippers. Everything’s wonderful and then they get 10 years in jail. They flip on whoever the next highest one is, or as high as you can go.”

Mr Trump yesterday broadened his attack to include the ­Justice Department and the performance of his Attorney-General, Jeff Sessions, prompting Mr Sessions to take the rare step of hitting back at the President. “Jeff Sessions never took control of the Justice Department and it’s sort of an incredible thing,” Mr Trump said. “Jeff Sessions recused himself, which he shouldn’t have done, or he should have told me.

“He took my job (offer), and then he said, ‘I’m going to recuse myself.’ I said, ‘What kind of man is this?’  You know, the only reason I gave him the job (was) because I felt loyalty, he was an original ­supporter.”

Mr Sessions hit back at the President, saying the Department of Justice would not be ­“improperly influenced by political considerations”.

“I took control of the Department of Justice the day I was sworn in, which is why we have had unprecedented success at ­effectuating the President’s ­agenda — one that protects the safety and security and rights of the American people,” he said.

Mr Sessions said he was “proud of the work we have done in successfully advancing the rule of law”. “While I am Attorney-­General, the actions of the Department of Justice will not be improperly influenced by political considerations.”

Mr Trump has had an ongoing feud with the Attorney-General since Mr Sessions recused himself from the Russia investigation, leaving Deputy Attorney-General Rod Rosenstein in charge. Mr Trump believes Mr Rosenstein’s decision to appoint a special counsel to take over the FBI’s Russia ­inquiry would not have happened if Mr Sessions had remained in charge.

Republican senator Lindsey Graham said he believed Mr Trump would eventually sack Mr Sessions. “The President’s entitled to an attorney-general he has faith in, somebody that’s qualified for the job, and I think there will come a time, sooner rather than later, where it will be time to have a new face and a fresh voice at the ­Department of Justice,” he said.

“Clearly, Attorney-General Sessions doesn’t have the confidence of the President.”

Mr Sessions has maintained he was legally correct in recusing himself after it was revealed he had misled investigators about the ­extent of his contacts with Russian officials in 2016.

Cameron Stewart is also US contributor for Sky News Australia