American Media Inc., a tabloid publisher run by the president’s ally David J. Pecker, admitted to paying off a Playboy model in 2016 to help protect Donald J. Trump’s election prospects.

Tabloid Publisher’s Deal in Hush-Money Inquiry Adds to Trump’s Danger

Prosecutors took a major step forward in their case that payouts to two women before the 2016 election violated campaign finance laws.

nytimes.com