Rep. Betty McCollum (D., Minn.) called on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to open an investigation into an alleged $130,000 payment from President Donald Trump's lawyer to pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels.
McCollum, who doesn't serve on the Oversight Committee, sent a letter on Monday to the committee chairman, Rep. Trey Gowdy (R., S.C.), requesting an investigation into potential wrongdoing by then-candidate Trump and his attorney in regards to interactions with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford.
I'm formally requesting that @GOPoversight open an investigation into @realDonaldTrump's hush agreement with Stormy Daniels. Americans deserve to know if the President violated federal campaign finance law to silence an adult film actress with whom he had an extramarital affair. pic.twitter.com/zqVRzCAyn8
— Rep. Betty McCollum (@BettyMcCollum04) March 26, 2018
In her letter, McCollum specifically wants the committee to investigate the origins of a $130,000 payment Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, is alleged to have paid Daniels in exchange for signing a confidentiality agreement. McCollum's letter speculates the funds were provided to Cohen by donations raised by the Trump campaign during the 2016 presidential election.
The congresswoman said it was of vital importance that the American people know if the president "violated federal campaign finance law in order to silence" someone with "whom he had an extramarital affair."
"There are few matters as consequential to the health of our democracy as upholding campaign finance laws that protect the integrity of our elections," McCollum said. "The American people deserve to know if the President of the United States violated federal campaign finance law in order to silence an adult film actress with whom he had an extramarital affair."
McCollum's letter comes one night after Daniels conducted a CBS "60 Minutes" interview during which the porn star described her relationship with Trump.
The White House has denied Daniels' account of the affair, and Trump associates have spoken out to deny key pieces of her story.