Federal prosecutors have reportedly granted immunity to the executive in charge of the National Enquirer amid an investigation into hush money payments made on behalf of US President Donald Trump.
Vanity Fair and The Wall Street Journal, citing anonymous sources, were first to report the development involving David Pecker, chief executive of the tabloid's publisher American Media and a friend of the president.
It is claimed court papers connected to the president's ex-lawyer Michael Cohen say Pecker offered to help Trump squash negative stories during the 2016 election campaign.
The Journal said Pecker shared details with prosecutors about payments Cohen says Trump directed to buy the silence of two women alleging affairs with him - former Playboy Playmate Karen McDougal and porn star Stormy Daniels.
Trump's account has shifted. He said recently he knew about payments "later on".
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While Mr Trump denies the affairs, his account of his knowledge of the payments has shifted.
In April, he denied he knew anything about the Daniels payment but he told Fox News in an interview aired on Thursday that he knew about payments "later on".
In July, Cohen released an audio tape in which he and Mr Trump apparently discussed plans to buy Ms McDougal's story from the Enquirer. Such a purchase was necessary, they suggested, to prevent Mr Trump from having to permanently rely on a tight relationship with the tabloid.
American Media's chief content officer Dylan Howard is also reported to have been granted immunity.
