Donald Trump admitted reimbursing $130,000 in hush money paid to the porn star Stormy Daniels by his personal lawyer, as it was reported that the lawyer's phones were monitored by the FBI.

Mr Trump said the payment was a "private agreement" intended to "stop false and extortionist accusations about an affair," stressing that the money did not come from his presidential campaign. The payment was made through his lawyer, Michael Cohen.

Last night, NBC News reported that Mr Cohen was monitored for weeks before the FBI raided his home, office and hotel room in early April.

There was at least one phone call from Mr Cohen to the White House. The FBI monitored what numbers he was calling, and which were calling him, but did not listen into conversations, according to the report.

Mr Cohen is under investigation, partly over the payment to Ms Daniels, and the FBI sought documents relating to that in the raids.

Mr Trump had previously publicly denied knowing about the payment.

But yesterday Rudy Giuliani, a member of his legal team, confirmed the president paid back Mr Cohen from one of his own accounts over a period of several months.