[marktwain]

The article says spending money to influence an election is a felony. Isn’t that what financing a campaign is all about?

Sure.

But there were plenty of reasons for silencing these two bimbos besides the campaign.

A candidate is forbidden from spending campaign money for personal purposes, but he can spend his own money to do so, and it is perfectly legal.

[Wayne07]

“A candidate is forbidden from spending campaign money for personal purposes, but he can spend his own money to do so, and it is perfectly legal. “

You are right, but Trump didn’t spend his own money. Cohen used a home equity loan to make one payment, and then got money from AMI (National Enquirer) for the other.