Cohen links Falwell's Trump endorsement to racy photos

The new book from President Trump's former fixer Michael Cohen claims for the first time that an endorsement for the president from Jerry Falwell, Jr. - was tied to Cohen's role in suppressing racy photographs of the evangelical leader.

In "Disloyal: The Memoir," Cohen describes how he helped quote 'personal' photos of Falwell and his wife Becky from going public.

He links it to Falwell's 2016 endorsement of Trump's Christian virtues.

Falwell's backing of a twice-divorced candidate who had talked about grabbing women's genitals and engaging in extramarital affairs was a major surprise of the 2016 campaign.

Cohen doesn't explicitly say that the endorsement was the favor he sought in return for keeping the Falwell photos from getting out.

But his book marks the first time he has linked the two issues, saying quote, "In good time, I would call in this favor, not for me, but for the Boss, at a crucial moment on his journey to the presidency."

Cohen was convicted of campaign finance violations and other crimes and is currently serving the remainder of his three-year term in home confinement.

He says he became close to the Falwells in 2011 and that he saw the help he offered them as transactional -- and enormously significant.

Cohen claims he helped persuade Falwell to endorse Trump just before Republican voters gathered in Iowa in February 2016 to nominate a presidential candidate.

Falwell - who at the time ran Liberty University - not only publicly vouched for Trump but also barnstormed with the candidate.

Cohen did not immediately respond to efforts by Reuters to reach him, and the White House also dismissed Cohen's account.

Falwell spoke to Reuters on the phone after this story was published, saying quote "someone stole some pictures I took of my wife in the back yard. Topless. Big deal. OK?"

He added that his endorsement of Trump had nothing to do with Cohen's role in suppressing the racy photographs and there was quote "no quid pro quo".

Toward the end of the call, Becki Falwell, who has not commented on the Cohen book or the photographs, could be heard urging her husband to hang up the phone.

Falwell stepped down as president of Liberty late last month after Reuters reported that a business associate alleged a years-long affair with him and his wife.

Jerry Falwell has denied involvement, saying the sexual relationship was between his wife and the associate, Giancarlo Granda.

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