In 2018, the world was captivated by the scandal surrounding Stormy Daniels and former US President Donald Trump. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is an adult film actress who claims to have had an affair with Trump in 2006, while he was married to Melania Trump.
The story first came to light when the Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, had paid Daniels $130,000 in hush money just weeks before the 2016 presidential election. Cohen later pleaded guilty to campaign finance violations in connection with the payment.
Daniels went on to file a lawsuit against Trump, seeking to invalidate a non-disclosure agreement that she had signed in exchange for the hush money. She claimed that the agreement was invalid because Trump had never signed it himself. The lawsuit sparked a lengthy legal battle, with Trump and his legal team repeatedly denying the affair and seeking to block Daniels from speaking out about it.
In March 2018, Daniels filed a lawsuit against Trump, alleging that he had defamed her by suggesting that she had lied about the affair. The lawsuit was eventually dismissed, with a judge ruling that Trump’s tweets about Daniels were protected by the First Amendment.
Despite the legal setbacks, Daniels continued to speak out about her alleged affair with Trump, making appearances on talk shows and even releasing a book about her experiences. The scandal ultimately led to a media frenzy and added to the already tumultuous presidency of Donald Trump.
The Stormy Daniels affair remains a significant moment in US politics, highlighting the power of the media and the ongoing scrutiny faced by public figures. The scandal also raises important questions about the use of non-disclosure agreements and the role of campaign finance laws in US elections.
Source: BBC
Image Credit: Rolling Stone
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