THE National Enquirer paid a Playboy model $150,000 for the story of her alleged affair with Donald Trump but failed to run the story. Karen McDougal insists she had a 10-month affair with the Republican candidate in 2006, a year after he married third wife Melania, according to the Wall Street journal. The National Enquirer reportedly paid McDougal, the 1998 Playmate of the year, six figures for the information, yet never published any of the allegations. McDougal and American Media Inc, which owns the National Enquirer, reportedly agreed to the transaction in early August, according to the Wall Street Journal. American Media Inc claimed in a statement that the $150,000 was for the exclusive life rights to any story related to a relationship McDougal may have had with a married man. It is also believed to have covered payment for fitness columns written by her. The National Enquirer has supported presidential candidate Trump throughout his bid for the White House. In a statement, the company said: "AMI has not paid people to kill damaging stories about Mr Trump." In a statement to the Wall Street Journal, AMI CEO David Pecker said it was known that he and Trump are friends. But he claimed the publication is impartial and used the example of the National Enquirer's coverage of Trump's affair with Marla Maples while he was married to his first wife Ivana as proof. Trump spokeswoman Hope Hicks said the alleged affair with McDougal was "totally untrue" and said the campaign had no knowledge of a possible agreement with the ex-Playmate.
The National Enquirer reportedly paid former Playboy model Karen McDougal US$150,000 for a story about an alleged affair she had with Donald Trump in 2006. The tabloid however suppressed the story.