A top GOP fundraiser and prominent backer of President Donald Trump stepped down from his Republican National Committee post Friday after revelations that Trump lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a $1.6 million settlement with a former Playboy model the donor had impregnated. In the wake of the revelation of the deal Friday afternoon, Broidy stepped down from his post as RNC deputy national finance chairman, according to two people familiar with the situation who, like others, spoke on the condition of anonymity. ….The deal, which hasn’t previously been reported, prohibits the Los Angeles woman from disclosing her alleged relationship with Mr. Broidy in exchange for $1.6 million to be paid to her over two years in quarterly installments, these people said. Los Angeles-based investor Elliott Broidy, who has been a top fundraiser for Trump and the party, issued a statement Friday acknowledging that he "had a consensual relationship" with the woman, who got pregnant. According to The Journal, the deal was negotiated late last year and blocks the woman from disclosing details of her relationship with Broidy. He said that “she alone decided that she did not want to continue with the pregnancy and I offered to help her financially during this difficult period.”

He lamented that the issue had become a national news story, and blamed it for the investigations into Cohen. Cohen reached out to me after being contacted by this woman’s attorney, Keith Davidson,” and that he hired Cohen after Cohen “informed me about his prior relationship with Mr. Davidson.”

In fact, the contract used in Broidy’s case included the same aliases that were used in the 2016 contract relating to Trump and Clifford — David Dennison and Peggy Peterson — according to a person familiar with it. Michael Cohen, whose office, home and hotel room were raided by federal agents this week, arranged the payments to the woman on behalf of Elliott Broidy, a deputy finance chairman of the Republican National Committee with ties to Mr. Trump, the people familiar with the matter said. | Alex J. Berliner/ABImages via AP RNC fundraiser resigns after report of $1.6 million Playmate payoff

GOP fundraiser Elliott Broidy has stepped down as Republican National Committee deputy finance chair, according to three people familiar with the matter.
Elliott Broidy resigns as deputy financial chairman of the U.S. Republican National Committee following reports that he negotiated a $1.6 million payoff with a Playboy Playmate over claims he had impregnated her.