“Stormy Daniels: Key Figure in Trump’s Criminal Trial, Here’s What You Need to Know”
Porn star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has emerged as a central figure in the legal proceedings that have led to former President Donald Trump becoming the first ex-U.S. president to face a criminal trial. The trial, stemming from a 2023 34-count felony indictment, alleges that Trump falsified business records to conceal a $130,000 hush money payment made to Daniels prior to his 2016 election victory. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Here are some essential details about Stormy Daniels and her alleged involvement with Trump:
Stormy Daniels, Adult Film Star: Daniels, aged 45 and hailing from Baton Rouge, Louisiana, has been a prominent figure in the adult entertainment industry for over two decades, featuring in and directing numerous videos.
Daniels’ Allegations Against Trump: She claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, a year after he married Melania Trump and over a decade before assuming the presidency. Daniels received a $130,000 payment shortly before the 2016 election in exchange for her silence regarding the alleged encounter. Trump has consistently denied any relationship with Daniels, asserting that the payment was made to counter her “false and extortionist accusations.” In 2023, Daniels expressed her belief that Trump should not face prison time if convicted.
Details of the Alleged Encounter: Daniels alleges that she met Trump in July 2006 at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe. She recalls dining with him in his hotel suite, during which Trump showed her a golf magazine featuring his image on the cover. According to Daniels, she jokingly suggested spanking him with the magazine, to which Trump responded by lowering his pants slightly and receiving a few swats. Trump purportedly complimented Daniels, likening her to his daughter and expressing admiration for her intellect and beauty. Daniels claims they engaged in consensual sex during the encounter. Subsequently, Trump allegedly pursued further meetings with Daniels, including a rendezvous at the Beverly Hills Hotel in July 2007, where Daniels rebuffed his advances.
Payment and Non-Disclosure Agreement: On October 28, 2016, just days before the presidential election, Daniels signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) promising not to publicly discuss her relationship with Trump in exchange for the $130,000 payment. The agreement, facilitated by Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen and Daniels’ attorney Keith Davidson, did not bear Trump’s signature. Trump’s legal team later acknowledged his non-involvement in the agreement and declined to enforce it, leading to the dismissal of Daniels’ subsequent lawsuit seeking its invalidation.
Defamation Lawsuit: In 2018, Daniels filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump over a tweet in which he labeled her account of being threatened as a “con job.” However, the lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge who deemed Trump’s remarks protected under the First Amendment. This decision was upheld on appeal, and the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case in 2021.
Daniels has also alleged being threatened in 2011 by an unknown individual in a Las Vegas parking lot, following her agreement to discuss her relationship with Trump in a media interview. In response to Daniels releasing a sketch of the alleged perpetrator in 2018, Trump dismissed the incident on Twitter as a “con job.”
As the legal proceedings against Trump unfold, Stormy Daniels remains a key figure in the ongoing scrutiny surrounding the former president’s conduct.
Here’s Michael Cohen admitting Trump never asked him to pay Stormy Daniels and was facing (70) yrs in prison, but it was reduced to (3) yrs if he worked with SDNY & Alvin Bragg
(RT) if you want Trump to sue Cohen and Bragg for defamation π
pic.twitter.com/JBoM7qHGrJβ Chicago1Ray πΊπΈ (@Chicago1Ray) April 15, 2024