Wall Street Journal: National Enquirer Parent, Ex-CEO Fined for Breaking Election Law in 2016 Campaign

The publisher of the National Enquirer agreed to pay $187,500 as part of a settlement with the Federal Election Commission over a 2016 scheme to buy and suppress the story of a woman who alleged an affair with former President Donald Trump.

The May 17 agreement between A360 Media LLC and the FEC characterized the $150,000 payment to model Karen McDougal as an illegal corporate campaign contribution. Federal law prohibits companies from making contributions to candidate committees. …

The FEC investigation of American Media stemmed from a 2018 complaint filed by Common Cause, a Washington, D.C.-based watchdog group. The complaint also alleged violations by Mr. Trump and his campaign, but the FEC has taken no action against the former president.

In a decision made public in May, the FEC said it wouldn’t pursue a complaint by Common Cause against Mr. Trump in connection with Mr. Cohen’s $130,000 hush-money payment to Ms. Daniels days before the 2016 election.

The FEC’s nonpartisan staff recommended the commission find reason to believe that Mr. Trump violated campaign finance law. Commissioners Trey Trainor and Sean Cooksey, both Republicans, blocked that move, citing Mr. Cohen’s prosecution, the age of the allegations and the commission’s backlog of enforcement cases. …

Paul S. Ryan, vice president of policy and litigation at Common Cause, expressed frustration that Mr. Trump has faced no repercussions for the hush money paid on his behalf. “The mastermind of this illegal operation has not been punished, has not been held accountable,” he said.