SUBSCRIBE TO OUR FREE NEWSLETTER
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
5
#000000
#FFFFFF
To donate by check, phone, or other method, see our More Ways to Give page.
Daily news & progressive opinion—funded by the people, not the corporations—delivered straight to your inbox.
Adult film star Stormy Daniels claims to have had a relationship with President Donald Trump from 2006 to 2007, and says his lawyer tried to bribe and intimidate her into remaining silent about the affair just before the 2016 election.
The attorney representing adult film star Stormy Daniels was unequivocal on Wednesday morning when asked point-blank if his client and President Donald Trump had an extramarital sexual relationship.
"Yes," the attorney, Michael Avenatti, answered when asked by the "Today" show's Savannah Guthrie.
Watch:
\u201cWatch @savannahguthrie's full interview with Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels\u2019 lawyer\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1520428429
The disclosure comes after Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, filed suit against Trump this week, claiming that a non-disclosure agreement his attorney paid her to sign is not valid because the president never signed the document.
The agreement, which Daniels signed on October 28, 2016, just days before the presidential election, stipulated that she was "not to disclose any confidential information about Trump or his sexual partners to anyone beyond a short list of individuals she'd already told about the relationship, or share any texts or photos from Trump," according to NBC News--but Daniels and her lawyer says the agreement was never made official and therefore doesn't exist.
If Daniels's lawsuit is successful, Avenatti said, she plans to make her side of the story public.
"She believes it's important that the public learn the truth about what happened," he said. "I think it's time for her to tell her story and for the public to decide who is telling the truth."
Trump and Daniels were apparently referred to by the aliases Peggy Peterson and David Dennison throughout the agreement, and NBC reported that the signature page contained no signature for the latter.
In recent weeks, Trump attorney Michael Cohen acknowledged that the six-figure payment was made to Daniels, but said he personally financed the transaction and was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. Daniels's suit, however, alleges that the president was aware of the payment and on Monday the Wall Street Journal reported
that Cohen complained to the Trump campaign for not being reimbursed.
Reactions on Twitter offered insights and perspective:
\u201cHush agreement & side letter attached to Stormy Daniels' filing essentially shows coordination between @realDonaldTrump, Cohen & Daniels. That means the $130k payment from Cohen to Daniels to silence her during the campaign violated federal election law. Penalty is 5 year felony. https://t.co/L4DdhNCpv3\u201d— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1520394453
\u201c1. The Stormy Daniels story is not about an affair or consensual sex.\n\nIt's about a candidate for President going to extreme lengths to buy a woman's silence in an apparent violation of campaign finance law and then lying about it https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407
\u201c2. The case also suggests that, as a result of Trump's personal conduct, he is vulnerable to extortion and blackmail. \n\nHow many agreements has he pushed on women? If he's willing to pay $130K to keep this affair secret, what else is he willing to do? https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407
Donald Trump’s attacks on democracy, justice, and a free press are escalating — putting everything we stand for at risk. We believe a better world is possible, but we can’t get there without your support. Common Dreams stands apart. We answer only to you — our readers, activists, and changemakers — not to billionaires or corporations. Our independence allows us to cover the vital stories that others won’t, spotlighting movements for peace, equality, and human rights. Right now, our work faces unprecedented challenges. Misinformation is spreading, journalists are under attack, and financial pressures are mounting. As a reader-supported, nonprofit newsroom, your support is crucial to keep this journalism alive. Whatever you can give — $10, $25, or $100 — helps us stay strong and responsive when the world needs us most. Together, we’ll continue to build the independent, courageous journalism our movement relies on. Thank you for being part of this community. |
The attorney representing adult film star Stormy Daniels was unequivocal on Wednesday morning when asked point-blank if his client and President Donald Trump had an extramarital sexual relationship.
"Yes," the attorney, Michael Avenatti, answered when asked by the "Today" show's Savannah Guthrie.
Watch:
\u201cWatch @savannahguthrie's full interview with Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels\u2019 lawyer\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1520428429
The disclosure comes after Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, filed suit against Trump this week, claiming that a non-disclosure agreement his attorney paid her to sign is not valid because the president never signed the document.
The agreement, which Daniels signed on October 28, 2016, just days before the presidential election, stipulated that she was "not to disclose any confidential information about Trump or his sexual partners to anyone beyond a short list of individuals she'd already told about the relationship, or share any texts or photos from Trump," according to NBC News--but Daniels and her lawyer says the agreement was never made official and therefore doesn't exist.
If Daniels's lawsuit is successful, Avenatti said, she plans to make her side of the story public.
"She believes it's important that the public learn the truth about what happened," he said. "I think it's time for her to tell her story and for the public to decide who is telling the truth."
Trump and Daniels were apparently referred to by the aliases Peggy Peterson and David Dennison throughout the agreement, and NBC reported that the signature page contained no signature for the latter.
In recent weeks, Trump attorney Michael Cohen acknowledged that the six-figure payment was made to Daniels, but said he personally financed the transaction and was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. Daniels's suit, however, alleges that the president was aware of the payment and on Monday the Wall Street Journal reported
that Cohen complained to the Trump campaign for not being reimbursed.
Reactions on Twitter offered insights and perspective:
\u201cHush agreement & side letter attached to Stormy Daniels' filing essentially shows coordination between @realDonaldTrump, Cohen & Daniels. That means the $130k payment from Cohen to Daniels to silence her during the campaign violated federal election law. Penalty is 5 year felony. https://t.co/L4DdhNCpv3\u201d— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1520394453
\u201c1. The Stormy Daniels story is not about an affair or consensual sex.\n\nIt's about a candidate for President going to extreme lengths to buy a woman's silence in an apparent violation of campaign finance law and then lying about it https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407
\u201c2. The case also suggests that, as a result of Trump's personal conduct, he is vulnerable to extortion and blackmail. \n\nHow many agreements has he pushed on women? If he's willing to pay $130K to keep this affair secret, what else is he willing to do? https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407
The attorney representing adult film star Stormy Daniels was unequivocal on Wednesday morning when asked point-blank if his client and President Donald Trump had an extramarital sexual relationship.
"Yes," the attorney, Michael Avenatti, answered when asked by the "Today" show's Savannah Guthrie.
Watch:
\u201cWatch @savannahguthrie's full interview with Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels\u2019 lawyer\u201d— TODAY (@TODAY) 1520428429
The disclosure comes after Daniels, whose given name is Stephanie Clifford, filed suit against Trump this week, claiming that a non-disclosure agreement his attorney paid her to sign is not valid because the president never signed the document.
The agreement, which Daniels signed on October 28, 2016, just days before the presidential election, stipulated that she was "not to disclose any confidential information about Trump or his sexual partners to anyone beyond a short list of individuals she'd already told about the relationship, or share any texts or photos from Trump," according to NBC News--but Daniels and her lawyer says the agreement was never made official and therefore doesn't exist.
If Daniels's lawsuit is successful, Avenatti said, she plans to make her side of the story public.
"She believes it's important that the public learn the truth about what happened," he said. "I think it's time for her to tell her story and for the public to decide who is telling the truth."
Trump and Daniels were apparently referred to by the aliases Peggy Peterson and David Dennison throughout the agreement, and NBC reported that the signature page contained no signature for the latter.
In recent weeks, Trump attorney Michael Cohen acknowledged that the six-figure payment was made to Daniels, but said he personally financed the transaction and was not reimbursed by the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign. Daniels's suit, however, alleges that the president was aware of the payment and on Monday the Wall Street Journal reported
that Cohen complained to the Trump campaign for not being reimbursed.
Reactions on Twitter offered insights and perspective:
\u201cHush agreement & side letter attached to Stormy Daniels' filing essentially shows coordination between @realDonaldTrump, Cohen & Daniels. That means the $130k payment from Cohen to Daniels to silence her during the campaign violated federal election law. Penalty is 5 year felony. https://t.co/L4DdhNCpv3\u201d— Ted Lieu (@Ted Lieu) 1520394453
\u201c1. The Stormy Daniels story is not about an affair or consensual sex.\n\nIt's about a candidate for President going to extreme lengths to buy a woman's silence in an apparent violation of campaign finance law and then lying about it https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407
\u201c2. The case also suggests that, as a result of Trump's personal conduct, he is vulnerable to extortion and blackmail. \n\nHow many agreements has he pushed on women? If he's willing to pay $130K to keep this affair secret, what else is he willing to do? https://t.co/wx4ogHkVkS\u201d— Judd Legum (@Judd Legum) 1520433407