New York, January 13 (RHC)-- U.S. President Donald Trump's lawyer had arranged a $130,000 payment to a former porn star a month before the 2016 election to prevent her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump, a report says.  According to the report published Friday in The Wall Street Journal, the lawyer brokered payment to Stephanie Clifford, who Trump met at a golf event in 2006, a year after his marriage to Melania. 

In the fall of 2016, Clifford began talking with ABC News for a story involving an extramarital affair with Trump, but Michael Cohen, Trump's longtime attorney, arranged to pay her the money to stop her from going public.  The Journal reported that Cohen arranged for the payment through Clifford's lawyer, Keith Davidson.  Meanwhile, The New York Times reported on Friday that Clifford had also been in discussions with the on-line magazine Slate. 

Jacob Weisberg, editor-in-chief of the Slate Group, told the Times that Clifford, goes by the name Stormy Daniels in films, told him she had had an affair with Trump.  However, Cohen told CNN that "these rumors have circulated time and again since 2011," adding: "President Trump once again vehemently denies any such occurrence as has Ms. Daniels." 

In response to the allegation, the White House issued a statement, describing the Journal's story "old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election."  Cohen, Trump's attorney, also accused the Wall Street Journal of perpetuating "a false narrative for over a year." 

So far, at least 16 women have accused Trump of unwanted sexual advances, allegations Trump dismisses.  Weeks before the presidential election in November 2016, The Washington Post released a tape in which Trump boasted about how he sexually assaulted women because he was a powerful star.