Daniels’ lawyer gag order called unlikely
LOS ANGELES — A federal judge said Friday that he is unlikely to issue a gag order to stop a lawyer for porn actress Stormy Daniels from discussing her lawsuit against President Donald Trump with reporters and the public.
U.S. District Judge S. James Otero made the comment during a hearing held a day after the attorney, Michael Avenatti, said he now represents three additional women who had relationships with Trump and were paid “hush money” before the 2016 presidential election.
Otero did not immediately issue a decision on the gag order requested on behalf of Michael Cohen, a longtime personal lawyer for Trump. The motion said Avenatti had been running a “smear campaign” against Cohen.
His lawyer, Brent Blakely, argued that Avenatti’s frequent interviews and near-daily tweets about Trump and Cohen could taint future jurors.
While the judge said he had some concerns about statements that Avenatti has made about Cohen, the bar for a gag order was high and it didn’t seem as though Cohen had met that burden.
The judge is also considering whether to continue delaying Daniels’ case because Cohen is under federal investigation in New York.
While Avenatti disclosed that he had additional clients, he would not provide additional details.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, but Trump has denied it.