National Enquirer sold to group that includes indicted ex-MoviePass chairman

The National Enquirer, the tabloid astatine the halfway of galore controveries involving former President Donald Trump, volition beryllium sold to a associated task involving Theodore Farnsworth, the erstwhile MoviePass president who has been criminally charged with securities fraud.

The Enquirer's genitor company, a360 Media, agreed to merchantability the work – on with different tabloid brands the National Examiner, the Globe and the National Enquirer UK – to VVIP Ventures, a associated task made up of Vinco Ventures and Icon Publishing, the companies said Monday.

The deal's terms wasn't disclosed, but Farnsworth, the laminitis of Icon Publishing, told The New York Times that it was a small nether $100 million. The National Enquirer has been connected the artifact for about 4 years.

In November, prosecutors alleged Farnsworth and Mitchell Lowe, the erstwhile MoviePass CEO, misled investors astir the once-hot movie ticketing startup by saying its "unlimited" program would beryllium sustainable and profitable. Rather, authorities said, the 2 men knew it was simply a selling tactic. A spokesperson for Farnsworth has said his lawyers would combat the charges until he's vindicated.

The quality of the woody comes a week aft erstwhile National Enquirer steadfast David Pecker and his lawyer were seen entering a Manhattan courthouse wherever a expansive assemblage was gathering to find whether to complaint Trump implicit an alleged scheme to wage hush money to porn prima Stormy Daniels up of the 2016 election.

Pecker was known to beryllium friends with Trump. He has been accused of pulling "catch and kill" tactics connected stories that were seen arsenic perchance embarrassing to Trump. Meaning, the Enquirer nether his ticker would allegedly wage for stories astir Trump and ne'er people them.

In 2018, for instance, national prosecutors gave immunity to the National Enquirer's genitor institution implicit the $150,000 hush-money outgo the tabloid gave Karen McDougal, the Playboy exemplary who claims she had an matter with Trump.

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