Isn’t National Enquirer the one that has been accused of buying the rights to Trump’s infidelities and sitting on them? What happens if Bezos says, “Fuck you all”, buys AMI, and hands over all those delicious nuggets to the Post’s investigators?
Chisquirrel:
Isn’t National Enquirer the one that has been accused of buying the rights to Trump’s infidelities and sitting on them? What happens if Bezos says, “Fuck you all”, buys AMI, and hands over all those delicious nuggets to the Post’s investigators?
As to the first question - yep, and been more than accused.
The Office also announced today that it has previously reached a non-prosecution agreement with AMI, in connection with AMI’s role in making the above-described $150,000 payment before the 2016 presidential election. As a part of the agreement, AMI admitted that it made the $150,000 payment in concert with a candidate’s presidential campaign, and in order to ensure that the woman did not publicize damaging allegations about the candidate before the 2016 presidential election. AMI further admitted that its principal purpose in making the payment was to suppress the woman’s story so as to prevent it from influencing the election
Previous reports related to the investigation had revealed that AMI chairman and CEO David Pecker, a longtime friend of Trump’s, orchestrated a $150,000 payment in 2016 to a former Playboy model named Karen McDougal who says she had an affair with Trump. (Trump denies that it took place, but detailed notes that McDougal has said she took at the time appear to corroborate her claim.) The payment covered a nondisclosure agreement related to the alleged affair but also purported to hire McDougal as a contributor to AMI properties; as you can see above, the company is now attesting that its true purpose was simply to prevent McDougal’s story from harming Trump’s effort to become president. As such, the law dictates that it should have been disclosed publicly as a campaign contribution. (Trump has called the payment a “private transaction,” implying that it was made for personal rather than campaign-related reasons, and blamed Cohen for setting it up improperly.)
.shrug Depends on if they’re willing to sell - it’s a private company.
Oh my, lookie here. That immunity agreement that AIM signed?
The Guardian points out that there’s an interesting little clause in it:
Bur the National Enquirer may be at additional legal risk. In its plea deal with federal prosecutors, **AMI pledged not to “commit any crimes subsequent to the date of signing of this agreement.” **. The penalty for violation would be to void the immunity agreement and open the company up for prosecution.
Just a little bit of legalese buried away in something their [del]Dildo[/del] lawyers told them to sign. I mean, who really reads the fine print?
As another poster mentioned elsewhere, I immediately (well, it did take a few minutes) thought of the Duke of Wellington. For those who don’t know the story, the Duke received a letter from a rather disreputable fellow saying that a well-known London courtesan named Harriet Wilson was going to publish her memoirs which included some ‘scenes’ with the Duke. Of course, for a certain sum (left unsaid), he could do some editing. Wellington’s reply was much shorter than Bezos’s, but the sentiment was the same:
“Publish and be Damned.”
Will be interesting to see how this plays out.
It also depends on whether Bezos is prepared to fund Hulk Hogan and others to sue them for libel and mulct them for substantial monetary damages.
The_Stainless_Steel_Rat:
“Publish and be Damned.”
To go one step past Wellington, David Letterman himself actually announced on the air he was being blackmailed and spent 10 minutes acknowledging his sins.
And Rysto , you’re right.:o Exponentials are not my strong suit.
Ooh, new word!Looks up meaning
hajario
February 8, 2019, 4:09am
32
This lawyer explains convincingly that what the NE did isn’t an actual crime.
ahem post 17
Ronan Farrow@RonanFarrow
Ronan Farrow Retweeted Jeff Bezos
I and at least one other prominent journalist involved in breaking stories about the National Enquirer’s arrangement with Trump fielded similar “stop digging or we’ll ruin you” blackmail efforts from AMI. (I did not engage as I don’t cut deals with subjects of ongoing reporting.)
Original tweet here.
running_coach:
Ooh, new word!
Looks up meaning
You need to brush up on your Jeeves and Wooster stories.
And if you want to inspect AMI’s immunity agreement , it looks like the “fine print” was right up front there.
Second rule of the League of Evil Assholes is to only hire stupid lawyers.
jasg
February 8, 2019, 6:58am
37
Yep. AMI may have a Pecker but Bezos has balls!
asahi
February 8, 2019, 7:01am
38
I’ve always felt Bezos was a douche, but I almost feel like cheering for the guy. What’s that old Arab proverb? The douche bag who is the enemy of the douche bag I don’t like is…not so much a douche bag.
Try2B_Comprehensive:
What is the first?
Always speak in monologues.
