Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Major RNC fundraiser resigns due to Michael Cohen-arranged sex scandal hush money payment

Cohen allegedly helped RNC finance committee member Elliott Broidy arrange a $1.6 million payment to a former Playboy model.

Michael Cohen, left, a personal attorney for President Trump, and his lawyer Stephen Ryan address the media in Hart Building after a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election was postponed on September 19, 2017.
Michael Cohen, left, a personal attorney for President Trump, and his lawyer Stephen Ryan address the media in Hart Building after a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election was postponed on September 19, 2017.
Michael Cohen, left, a personal attorney for President Trump, and his lawyer Stephen Ryan address the media in Hart Building after a Senate Intelligence Committee meeting to discuss Russian interference in the 2016 election was postponed on September 19, 2017.
Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call

On April 3, 2017, Republican National Committee finance chair Steve Wynn announced the addition of new members to the committee’s leadership team, with two names leading the pack as national deputy chairs: Elliott Broidy and Michael Cohen. “The challenge of guiding a swollen and overreaching government to a position that serves its citizens in a truly efficient manner will be best served by the leadership our team hopes to achieve,” Wynn said in a statement.

In January of this year, Wynn resigned from the committee after dozens of women accused him of sexual assault and abuse. On Monday of this week, Cohen’s home, office, and hotel room were raided by FBI agents investigating his role in making hush money payments to two women on behalf of Donald Trump.

And Friday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Cohen helped make another payment: $1.6 million to a former Playboy playmate reportedly impregnated by Cohen’s RNC committee colleague Elliott Broidy. Broidy has reportedly resigned from the RNC.

According to the Journal, in the settlement agreement, Cohen even used the same pseudonyms for Broidy and the former Playboy model as he used in the nondisclosure agreement between Trump and porn actress Stormy Daniels: David Dennison and Peggy Peterson.

Cohen is still a member of the RNC finance committee as of today. And the RNC (and a Trump 2020 Super PAC) have refused to return Wynn’s donations.

More in Politics

Podcasts
The Supreme Court abortion pills case, explainedThe Supreme Court abortion pills case, explained
Podcast
Podcasts

How Louisiana brought mifepristone back to SCOTUS.

By Peter Balonon-Rosen and Sean Rameswaram
Politics
Trump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expectedTrump’s China policy is nearly the exact opposite of what everyone expected
Politics

As Trump heads to China, attention and resources are being shifted from Asia to yet another war in the Middle East.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Are far-right politics just the new normal?Are far-right politics just the new normal?
Politics

Liberals are preparing for a longer war with right-wing populists than they once expected.

By Zack Beauchamp
The Logoff
Flavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA headFlavored vapes doomed Trump’s FDA head
The Logoff

Why Marty Makary is out at the FDA, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Virginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymanderVirginia Democrats’ irresponsible new plan to save their gerrymander
Politics

Democrats just handed the Supreme Court’s Republicans a loaded weapon.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
Can Trump lower gas prices?Can Trump lower gas prices?
The Logoff

What suspending the gas tax would mean for you, briefly explained.

By Cameron Peters