Trump wins arbitration case against porn star, White House says
WASHINGTON – President Donald Trump has won an arbitration case against ex-porn star Stormy Daniels, who is fighting in court to tell her story about their alleged affair, according to the White House.
“I can share that the arbitration was won in the president’s favor, and I would refer you to the president’s outside counsel on any details beyond that,” White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Wednesday.
Michael Cohen, Trump’s personal lawyer, did not immediately respond to a request for more information.
Reached by phone, Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, told USA TODAY: “Yeah, and he also won the popular vote.” He declined to comment further.
The news of the arbitration case — and the White House’s refusal to answer most questions about the legal battle — marked the latest twists in the ongoing drama over the alleged relationship and efforts to keep it under wraps.
On Tuesday, Avenatti filed a lawsuit on Daniels’ behalf claiming that a $130,000 settlement to keep quiet about the relationship was no longer valid because Trump did not sign the document. The lawsuit marked the first time Daniels had openly admitted to having a “hush” agreement.
Cohen previously acknowledged arranging the payment to Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, but he did not disclose the purpose.
In the lawsuit, Daniels claimed she had an affair with Trump in 2006 and 2007. Cohen and Daniels signed the agreement to secure her silence on Oct. 28, 2016, 11 days before the election. The agreement specifies arbitration to resolve disputes, and in the lawsuit, Daniels said Cohen began “a bogus arbitration proceeding” against her last month.