In a New Yorker exposé titled “The Making of the Fox News White House,” published Monday, author Jane Mayer writes that Fox News knew about President Trump’s relationship with porn actress Stormy Daniels prior to the 2016 election but declined to report on it.
Entertainment industry reporter Diana Falzone “had obtained proof that Trump had engaged in a sexual relationship in 2006 with a pornographic film actress calling herself Stormy Daniels,” according to the story.
Falzone confirmed the relationship with Daniels via Daniels’ then-manager and with her former husband, Mike Moz. Falzone also had evidence including emails between Daniels’ attorney and Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen that detailed a proposed cash settlement. A nondisclosure agreement was also part of the email exchange.
Despite the scoop and the proof, Falzone’s story did not run.
Unsure why Fox had seemingly spiked the story, Falzone eventually was told the reason why by Ken LaCorte, who was the head of FoxNews.com at the time.
“Falzone told colleagues that LaCorte said to her, ‘Good reporting, kiddo. But Rupert wants Donald Trump to win. So just let it go,’” according to the piece. “LaCorte denies telling Falzone this, but one of Falzone’s colleagues confirms having heard her account at the time.”
Though Falzone knew the truth, the story about Daniels and the president didn’t come out until a Wall Street Journal story a year after the election.
A Fox News spokesperson pointed RealClearLife to past denials of the story in Mediaite and CNN Business.
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