Porn star suing Trump over non-disclosure deal
LOS ANGELES— Donald Trump never signed the nondisclosure agreement lawyers had presented last year to a pornographic-film actress, rendering it null and void, according to a lawsuit filed Tuesday by a lawyer for the actress.
The filing in Los Angeles represents the latest salvo in a continuing soap opera involving Trump and the actress, Stephanie Clifford, whose stage name is Stormy Daniels.
The lawsuit, a copy of which was obtained by The New York Times, alleges that Trump “purposely did not sign the agreement so he could later, if need be, publicly disavow any knowledge of the Hush Agreement and Ms. Clifford.”
Despite not having a nondisclosure agreement in place, the lawsuit says Michael D. Cohen, Trump’s longtime personal lawyer, proceeded to wire $130,000 to a trust account held by a lawyer for Clifford. The court documents filed Tuesday do not make clear when that payment was made.
The lawsuit asks the judge to formally declare that either no agreement was formed, or that, to the extent an agreement was formed, it is invalid.
“We fully intend on bringing as much sunlight to this matter as possible,” said Michael J. Avenatti, a lawyer representing Clifford in the suit.
Cohen did not immediately respond to a telephone mes- sage seeking comment. The White House also did not respond to emails for comment.
Last month, Cohen said he had paid $130,000 out of his own pocket to Clifford, and that he had not been reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the campaign.
Cohen has previously said that Trump has denied an affair with Clifford. She has said it took place soon after Trump’s wife, Melania, gave birth to the couple’s son, Barron.