Porn star Stormy sues Trump for defamation in tweet
A PORN star who alleges she had an affair with Donald Trump is suing the US president for defamation after he attacked her claims in a tweet.
Stephanie Clifford, who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels, filed the lawsuit in New York. At issue is a tweet Mr Trump made in which he dismissed a composite sketch Ms Daniels says depicted a man who threatened her in 2011 to stay quiet about her alleged sexual encounter.
Mr Trump tweeted in April: “A sketch years later about a non-existent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!”
The lawsuit says the tweet was “false and defamatory,” arguing Mr Trump was speaking about Ms Daniels and he “knew that his false, disparaging statement would be read by people around the world”.
It also states Ms Daniels has been “exposed to death threats and other threats of physical violence”.
Ms Daniels is seeking a jury trial and unspecified damages. Her lawyer Michael Avenatti said: “We intend on teaching Mr Trump that you cannot simply make things up about someone and disseminate them without serious consequences.”
The lawsuit is the latest legal move from Ms Daniels, who is already suing to be released from a nondisclosure deal she agreed to days before the 2016 election in exchange for $130,000 (¤108,000).
The payment was made by the president’s personal lawyer Michael Cohen. That civil lawsuit was delayed in federal court in Los Angeles on Friday, with the judge citing a criminal probe Mr Cohen is facing.
Mr Cohen’s attorney said because the criminal investigation overlaps with issues in the lawsuit, his client’s right against self-incrimination could be adversely affected because he won’t be able to respond and defend himself.
Ms Daniels has sought to keep her case in the public eye. Several weeks ago, she revealed a sketch on ABC’s ‘The View’ that she said depicts the man who warned her in 2011 to stay quiet about a 2006 tryst with Mr Trump.
The White House says Mr Trump did not have a sexual encounter with Ms Daniels, and the president has denied the other allegations.
He is also facing a defamation lawsuit filed by Summer Zervos, a former ‘The Apprentice’ participant.
Ms Zervos has accused the president of unwanted sexual contact in 2007 and sued him after he dismissed the claims as made up. A judge ruled that lawsuit can move forward. (© Daily Telegraph, London)