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Donald Trump’s unfaithfulness to his wife Melania Trump has long been public knowledge. But now the American President’s infidelity is officially in the history books.
Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen testified to the US Congress on Wednesday, after pleading guilty to lying to investigators in Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, which is looking into Russian involvement in the 2016 election.
In his explosive testimony, Cohen described Trump as “a racist,” “a con man” and “a cheat.” He also revealed that Mr Trump continued to be involved in plans to build a Trump Tower in Moscow throughout his 2016 presidential campaign, something Trump has repeatedly denied.
But taking centre stage is President Trump’s affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford.
Cohen admitted to paying $130,000 to Daniels at the direction of Mr Trump, just days before the 2016 election, to silence Clifford from speaking out about her months-long affair with the President, which began in 2006.
Cohen provided the Congress with cheques signed by the President himself. It’s particularly incriminating evidence for the President, especially since he has previously claimed to have no knowledge of the payments to Clifford.
In an extraordinary scene, Cohen made a public apology to Melania Trump for lying to her about her husband’s extra-marital affairs and the cheques made to Clifford.
“He [Trump] asked me to pay off an adult film star with whom he had an affair and to lie to his wife about it, which I did,” Cohen told a packed congress, which included Democratic senator Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
“Lying to the First Lady is one of my biggest regrets. She is a kind, good person.
“I respect her greatly and she did not deserve that.”
Coincidentally – or perhaps not – Melania Trump is not with the President right now as he attends a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un in Hanoi Vietnam.
It’s unusual for the First Lady not to join the President on an overseas trip unless there’s a specific reason.
A spokesperson for Mrs Trump confirmed she was not attending the Vietnam summit, but did not say why.
While Melania did not attend Trump’s last summit with Kim Jong Un in Singapore in June 2018, the reason given was that she was recovering after being treated for a benign kidney condition.
So it’s odd that the First Lady would not be by the President’s side for the Vietnam summit, such a crucial and historic event, and give no reason for her absence.
Melania has been forced to endure the shame of her husband’s infidelities being broadcast to the public since he became America’s president. But perhaps the thought of standing by Trump’s side at the Vietnam summit, smiling and waving while her husband’s cheating was being recorded in the United States history books, was just too much of an indignity to bear.