US Atty for SDNY reveals "AMI admitted that it made the $150,000 payment in concert with a candidate’s presidential campaign, and in order to ensure that the woman did not publicize damaging allegations about the candidate before the 2016 presidential election. "
Also: “AMI further admitted that its principal purpose in making the payment was to suppress the woman’s story so as to prevent it from influencing the election.” 
Relevant case here: in 2011 DOJ prosecutors suggested that more than $1M to John Edwards' pregnant girlfriend Rielle Hunter should have been categorized as illegal campaign contributions from Dem donor Bunny Mellon and Edwards 2008 campaign finance chair Fred Baron....
Edwards' attorneys said these payments were not about the campaign but rather about hiding the affair from Edwards' wife. The jury acquitted Edwards on one charge and deadlocked on the others. Judge declared mistrial. DOJ didn't try again.
Here you have AMI, party to the proposed payment to @karenmcdougal98, stating clearly that they did what they did so as to impact the election.
