Judge set to toss Stormy suit

A federal judge said Monday he's leaning toward dismissing Stormy Daniels' defamation lawsuit against President Trump.

The porn star filed the action in April, saying Trump unfairly branded her a liar when he scoffed at her claim she was threatened in a parking lot to keep quiet about their alleged affair.

In a Twitter post, Trump likened the claim to a “con job” and said the man didn't exist.

“Just looking at the tweet here, it appears to be one that would be protected,” U.S. District Judge James Otero said at a hearing in federal court in Los Angeles on Monday.

“In the court's view, it appears to be rhetorical hyperbole,” he continued after hearing arguments from both sides.

The judge didn't issue a final ruling, but he said allowing Daniels' complaint to go forward would cause “a chilling effect for candidates running for office” and “hamper political discourse.”