Hush money
Hush money is a term for an arrangement in which one person or party offers another an attractive sum of money or other enticement, in exchange for remaining silent about some illegal,
Alternatively it can be money paid to placate a disgruntled adversary who may disclose embarrassing information, even if untrue. This is to save the intended person the harm and hassle of dealing with defamation.
The person or party who presents the hush money may be attempting to avoid
Hush money can refer to money paid in exchange for a non-disclosure agreement, which can be breached under court order. It can also refer to an agreement to say a thing did not happen despite it having happened, even in court testimony. The latter type of agreement can be a criminal act itself as an obstruction of justice or perjury.
The payment of hush money may or may not be illegal, depending on the circumstances.
Origin
The Oxford English Dictionary traces published use of the term to Richard Steele in 1709.
See also
- Blackmail
- Consciousness of guilt
- Extortion
- Non-disclosure agreement
- John Edwards extramarital affair
- Donald Trump sexual misconduct allegations
- Bill Cosby sexual assault cases
References
- ^ "What is Hush Money? definition and meaning". InvestorWords.com. Archived from the original on 2020-09-29. Retrieved 2018-03-24.
- ^ The Free Dictionary by Farlex