MSNBC’s Ari Melber and a legal professional for Donald Trump had a heated dialogue about whether the previous president lied a couple of hush cash payment he made earlier than the 2016 election.

At issue is a $130,000 payment Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, made to Stormy Daniels, who alleges she had an affair with Trump. The Big apple district attorney is at the moment investigating the payment, which isn’t necessarily unlawful, however the DA has reportedly been having a look into whether or not Trump falsified industry data to cover the fee.

Cohen stated Trump reimbursed him for the fee, which Trump denies authorizing. Melber stated a report about Cohen’s fee to Daniels.

“I want to get the benefit of your response,” Melber told Joe Tacopina earlier than quoting a New York Instances record. “‘Prosecutors could argue that $one hundred thirty,000 was a donation to Trump’s campaign underneath the speculation the money was once silencing Daniels.’ So, two-section query. Why lie about this and why misidentify the cost if it used to be felony? And 2d, your response to that thought of the case?”

“This is Donald Trump paying with his personal cash,” Tacopina answered. “First of all, there’s a a very powerful difference between separating marketing campaign cash from non-public dollars, right? And on personal fund usage, here’s the bright line check. And it ends this case. It ends any case concerning Stormy Daniels. If the spending or the success of a commitment or the expenditure would exist without reference to a marketing campaign, it’s now not a marketing campaign law violation. End of story. This could ive exist without reference to the campaign.”

Tacopina’s response led into this exchange:

MELBER: You’re making a potential security that he would’ve paid this out, regardless?

TACOPINA: It’s–now not most effective would I say that. His legal professional at the time, who pled guilty to all sorts of lies and frauds who’s now a cooperator mentioned that underneath oath. He stated that below oath.

MELBER: Are you able to point to different payments that Trump made like this outdoor of a campaign?

TACOPINA: All the way through the time of the campaign?

MELBER: Out of doors of that campaign 12 months, in his different a few years on planet Earth, has he ever made a payment like this?

TACOPINA: How would I–I have no idea, Ari. I don’t know. But Donald Trump is a litigious individual, who will get sued by a lot of people, adequate? Commences proceedings. And all the time, issues are settled. I’ve represented a whole bunch of people in an identical situations the place they make funds for what’s called a nuisance statement. Look, $125,000 [sic] to you it’s nothing, however to me it could be important. However to Donald Trump, it’s what’s known as a nuisance agreement, adequate? And whilst you do this, it’s to make an issue, an embarrassing downside go away. Doesn’t imply it’s real, as a result of he vehemently denies an affair. So, it doesn’t imply it’s actual or now not. It approach you’re settling one thing to not have to deal with the aggravation of it.

MELBER: It feels like a lot of money to me. And we’ve never carried out that so much collectively, however for those who’re on the early hen different with me, you’d understand I wish to keep things as value effective as imaginable. But I’ll ask you this. If all of what you say is right–

TACOPINA: It is.

MELBER: –then why was once Trump hiding it and mendacity about it on the time?

Melber then performed a clip of Trump denying he knew about Cohen’s fee to Daniels.

TACOPINA: Ari, that is–if that’s what you’re gonna believe a lie, a lie to me is something subject material below oath in a proceeding.

MELBER: I didn’t say perjury. I said a lie.

TACOPINA: Yeah, however that’s no longer a lie.

MELBER: That’s no longer a lie?!

TACOPINA: right Here’s why it’s not a lie.

MELBER: That’s no longer a lie?!

TACOPINA: Here’s why it’s now not a lie. [Tacopina reaches for a sheet of paper Melber is holding.] May you put the paper down? Put the paper down. Let me resolution.

MELBER: Did know about this?

[CROSSTALK]

TACOPINA: right Here’s why it’s no longer a lie. As a result of it used to be private settlement. So, if he recounted that, he could be violating the exclusive settlement. So, is it the reality? After all no longer it’s no longer the reality! Was he suppose to tell the reality? He could be in violation of the agreement if he advised the truth. So, by him doing that, by him doing that he was once abiding with the aid of, not simplest his rights however Stormy Daniels’ rights.

Melber responded by way of telling Tacopina, “It looks like we’re drawing some blood here because you’re having a robust response. He did lie about it and in a private settlement that you could simply say, ‘No remark’ or ‘I’m now not getting into it.’”

Watch above by way of MSNBC.

The post ‘That’s Now Not a Lie?!’ Ari Melber Throws Down with Trump Lawyer Over Hush Money Fee first seemed on Mediaite.