A lawsuit brought against President Donald Trump by adult-film performer Stormy Daniels was tossed by a judge on Thursday, the Associated Press reports.
According to the Associated Press, the suit, which hoped to nullify a nondisclosure agreement Daniels had entered into, was found to be moot by U.S. District Judge S. James Otero because Trump and his former lawyer, Michael Cohen, had previously agreed not to hold Daniels responsible for breaching the agreement. In essence, granting Daniels’ wish.
Daniels contended that the agreement, entered into shortly before the 2016 presidential election, should be deemed invalid because Trump never signed it.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, maintained that she had an affair with Trump in 2006, a claim that Trump has denied. Cohen arranged for Daniels to receive $130,000 to keep quiet about her story.
Trump and Cohen said they would not seek penalties from Daniels when they sought to have her suit dismissed, the AP reported.
Judge Otero sent the case back to Los Angeles Superior Court, noting that Daniels may be able to recuperate legal fees, according to the Associated Press.
Attorneys for both sides claimed victory from Thursday’s decision, with Trump attorney Charles Harder saying that the decision — coupled with Otero’s previous order that Daniels reimburse the president $293,000 in legal fees stemming from her defamation suit against Trump, which was dismissed — constituted a “total victory” for his client, according to the AP.
Meanwhile, Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, tweeted Thursday afternoon, “Yet again, lots of misreporting going on. Be clear: The Court specifically found that Stormy received everything she asked for in the lawsuit – she won. How people can claim this is a “loss” after we forced Trump and Cohen to cave and Cohen has been convicted, etc. is a mystery.”
Yet again, lots of misreporting going on. Be clear: The Court specifically found that Stormy received everything she asked for in the lawsuit – she won. How people can claim this is a “loss” after we forced Trump and Cohen to cave and Cohen has been convicted, etc. is a mystery.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 8, 2019