Charges against Stormy Daniels dropped hours after arrest

COLUMBUS, Ohio — Prosecutors dropped charges Thursday against Stormy Daniels just hours after the porn star was arrested and accused of illegally rubbing undercover police officers’ faces against her bare breasts during a performance at an Ohio strip club. Her attorney said she was “set up’’ in a Columbus police sting operation, calling it an “absurd use of law enforcement resources.’’ Police said they routinely conduct such undercover operations.

The 39-year-old adult film star who claims to have had sex with President Donald Trump was charged with three misdemeanours, each punishable by up to six months in jail and a $1,000 fine. She was released on $6,000 bail around daybreak Thursday.

By early afternoon, prosecutors said they were dropping the case because Ohio’s law against physical contact between strippers and customers applies only to someone who “regularly’’ performs at a club. In Daniels’ case, it was her first appearance at Sirens in Columbus.