those laws are written regarding improper DONATIONS TO politicians, right  This what happened. Michael Cohen paid his own money.   And he paid that money to influence the election.  He had to take out a bank loan to get the $130,000. The "decade before" doesn't apply at all.  The money was paid right before the election.....more evidence that Cohen used his money to influence the election. Had Trump just paid out of his pocket, it would have been probably not illegal.