Porn star’s lawyer seeks to quiz Trump

LOS ANGELES — Stormy Daniels’ lawyer has renewed efforts to depose President Trump in the porn actress’ legal fight to invalidate a confidentiality agreement she signed days before the 2016 presidential election, according to court documents filed Thursday.

Attorney Michael Avenatti argues that U.S. District Judge S. James Otero should reconsider the order he issued last month delaying the case and force Trump to answer questions under oath and allow him to obtain documents in the lawsuit.

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had sex once with Trump in 2006 and carried on a platonic relationship with him for about a year and is suing to dissolve a confidentiality agreement that prevents her from discussing it. She argues the nondisclosure agreement should be invalidated because Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, signed it, but the president did not.

Trump has denied any sexual relationship with Daniels.

Cohen had sought a delay in the case after his home and office were raided by the FBI in April. The agents were seeking records about the nondisclosure agreement that Daniels had signed, among other things.

Last month, Otero agreed to delay the case for 90 days, citing the criminal investigation that Cohen is facing.

In Thursday’s court filing, Avenatti said he would agree not to take sworn testimony from Cohen during the 90day period, but said “new facts call into question whether Mr. Cohen’s Fifth Amendment rights relating to the matters at issue in this case are as compelling as previously argued.”

Instead, Avenatti wants to depose Trump, who he says is not under investigation for his dealings with Stormy Daniels.

A hearing has been set for June 21 in federal court in Los Angeles.