Karen McDougal Free to Tell Trump Story After Settlement

Karen McDougal Free to Tell Trump Story After Settlement

MIAMI — Karen McDougal, the former Playboy model who claims she had an affair with President Trump in 2006, has settled her lawsuit with the tabloid news company she said paid her off to keep her mouth shut.

McDougal said the settlement with the National Enquirer's parent company "restores to me the rights to my life story."

In August 2016, American Media Inc. paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story about the alleged relationship; however, the story never ran online or in print.

The suit alleged Trump's longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, was secretly involved in her discussions with American Media.

Under the deal made today, McDougal can keep the $150,000 she was paid.

American Media has rights to up to $75,000 for any future profits from her story about the alleged relationship.

Trump has denied having an affair with her.

McDougal told USA Today that her mission in filing the legal claim was to restore her rights and "not to achieve any financial gain."

"I am relieved to be able to tell the truth about my story when asked, and I look forward to being able to return my private life and focus on what matters to me," she told USA Today.

With the settlement, McDougal will appear on the September cover of Men's Journal and be featured in an article in that issue.

Men's Journal additionally will publish five health and fitness columns by McDougal.

Pictured: Karen McDougal in 2007 at the Playboy Mansion

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