Former President Donald Trump has succeeded in a final victory in a defamation lawsuit involving former porn star Stormy Daniels. The ex-adult film “star” – who publicly accused Trump of having a sexual affair with her in 2006 – now owes the former president $300,000 in attorney fees.
The lawsuit follows reports from 2018 which alleged that before the 2016 U.S. Presidential Election, then-candidate Trump’s now-disgraced lawyer Michael Cohen arranged a payment of $130,000 to ex-adult film actress Stormy Daniels to prevent her disclosing an alleged past affair with Trump in 2006.
In February 2018, Cohen said the money had been paid from his own pocket, not as a campaign contribution or with the knowledge of any Trump organisations. In August of the same year, Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, and was sentenced to three years in federal prison on various charges as well as being disbarred.
While internal reports claimed there was still “reason to believe” the Trump campaign had violated campaign finance law, the FEC abandoned the inquiry. Daniels, however, continued her claim that Trump had defamed her by denying the affair.
Now, after years-long legal feuding between Trump and Daniels, the former-pornography peddler has now been ordered by a federal appeals court to pay nearly $300,000 after the failed lawsuit.
“The 9th Circuit just issued a final ruling in the Stephanie Clifford (aka Stormy Daniels) frivolous lawsuit case against me brought by her disgraced lawyer, Michael Avenatti, upholding the lower court ruling that she owes me nearly $300,000 in attorney fees, costs, and sanctions (not including appeal costs).” Donald Trump stated Monday evening.
Following the Trump victory, the former-porn star fired back at a woman on Twitter gloating over Daniels’s appeal failure, tweeting “I will go to jail before I pay a penny.”
Daniels would have to pay the money regardless of if she went to jail.
The porn “star” was once represented by CNN favorite Avenatti, who is currently himself incarcerated for extortion, transmission of interstate communications with intent to extort, and wire fraud. Avenatti was once a corporate media favorite to run for president in 2020.
