The curious timing of a Wall Street Journal story alleging a hush money payment to porn star through Trump's lawyer

Fox News:

A personal lawyer for President Trump and a former porn star both denied a late Friday report claiming the adult-film actress was paid in exchange for her silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that Trump lawyer Michael Cohen arranged the payment of $130,000 to Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels, in October 2016. This reportedly was after she and her lawyer negotiated a nondisclosure agreement to prevent her from publicly discussing the supposed sexual encounter with the billionaire businessman.

But Cohen vehemently denied the claim.

“These rumors have circulated time and again since 2011," Cohen said in a statement to Fox News. "President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms.Daniels.”

In a letter, obtained and reviewed by Fox News, Clifford also denied all allegations.  Stormy Daniels


...

Clifford wrote in the letter that when she met Trump, he was “gracious, professional and a complete gentleman to me and EVERYONE in my presence.”

...

This week, Cohen filed a "defamation action" against BuzzFeed News and its editor-in-chief over allegations about him that were published in the anti-Trump dossier compiled by a former British spy.

Cohen also filed a federal defamation lawsuit against Fusion GPS, the research firm that hired former MI6 agent Christopher Steele to compile the dossier.
I draw your attention to the last two paragraphs.  Fusion GPS has been accused of hardnose tactics when under attack by people who feel mistreated by the company.  Fusion management is made up of some with ties to the Wall Street Journal as reporters in the past.  The coincidence of this story about someone who just sued the firm is too interesting to ignore.

It does appear that the two people mentioned as doing a deal in the story completely deny such a deal was needed or happened.

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