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The Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump story explained Why the Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump story matters
(1 day later)
Adult film star Stormy Daniels is suing President Donald Trump over a so-called "hush agreement".Adult film star Stormy Daniels is suing President Donald Trump over a so-called "hush agreement".
Ms Daniels claims she and Mr Trump had an affair starting in 2006. Ms Daniels alleges she and Mr Trump had an affair starting in 2006, and that he has been trying to keep it quiet ever since.
The president denies the allegations, and lawyers are suing Ms Daniels back for breaking this deal. A lawyer for Ms Daniels made claims of a cover-up, and others have raised questions about potentially illegal campaign payments.
So why is this story important? And what do you need to know? The president denies all the allegations, and lawyers are suing Ms Daniels back for breaking this deal.
As Ms Daniels' lawyer Michael Avenatti put it - "Time to buckle up." But while President Trump's supporters have largely ignored the story, along with allegations of sexual assault and the infamous Access Hollywood tape, the Stormy Daniels case could see the president testify in court - with 2018 midterm elections just around the corner.
Who is Stormy Daniels?Who is Stormy Daniels?
Stormy Daniels was born Stephanie Clifford in Louisiana in 1979.Stormy Daniels was born Stephanie Clifford in Louisiana in 1979.
She moved into the adult film industry first as a performer, before in 2004 branching out into directing and also writing.She moved into the adult film industry first as a performer, before in 2004 branching out into directing and also writing.
Her stage name, Stormy Daniels, comes from Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx's daughter Storm, and the US whisky Jack Daniels - which southerner Ms Clifford chose after reading an ad calling the drink "a Southern favourite".Her stage name, Stormy Daniels, comes from Mötley Crüe's bassist Nikki Sixx's daughter Storm, and the US whisky Jack Daniels - which southerner Ms Clifford chose after reading an ad calling the drink "a Southern favourite".
You may also recognise her from such films The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and the music video for Maroon Five's song Wake Up Call.You may also recognise her from such films The 40-Year-Old Virgin and Knocked Up, and the music video for Maroon Five's song Wake Up Call.
Anything else?
She also thought of running for a US Senate seat in Louisiana in 2010 but called off her run after she said her candidacy was not being taken seriously.She also thought of running for a US Senate seat in Louisiana in 2010 but called off her run after she said her candidacy was not being taken seriously.
What does she allege?What does she allege?
It all goes back to July 2006 - when the White House was merely a twinkle in Donald Trump's eye.It all goes back to July 2006 - when the White House was merely a twinkle in Donald Trump's eye.
Ms Daniels says she met him that month at a charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada.Ms Daniels says she met him that month at a charity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, a resort area between California and Nevada.
In a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly, published in full in January, she says Mr Trump invited her to dinner and that she went to meet him in his hotel room.In a 2011 interview with In Touch Weekly, published in full in January, she says Mr Trump invited her to dinner and that she went to meet him in his hotel room.
"He was all sprawled out on the couch, watching television or something," she said in the interview. "He was wearing pyjama pants.""He was all sprawled out on the couch, watching television or something," she said in the interview. "He was wearing pyjama pants."
Ms Daniels alleges the pair had sex in the hotel room (Mr Trump's lawyer said he "vehemently denies" the allegation.) Ms Daniels alleges the pair had sex in the hotel room, something Mr Trump's lawyer said his client "vehemently denies".
If Ms Daniels' account is true, this would all have happened just four months after the birth of Mr Trump's youngest child, Barron.If Ms Daniels' account is true, this would all have happened just four months after the birth of Mr Trump's youngest child, Barron.
So what more has she said? In a 60 Minutes interview Ms Daniels claims she was threatened to stay quiet about the affair.
Ms Daniels said Mr Trump suggested he could bring her on to his TV show The Apprentice. She alleges a man approached her in a Las Vegas car park in 2011, shortly after she agreed to the In Touch Weekly interview, and told her to "leave Trump alone".
She also recounts watching a shark documentary with the future president. Ms Daniels said the last time they spoke was in 2010, around the time she called off her US Senate bid.
Ms Daniels says he's "terrified" of the animal and - look away, shark fans - he apparently told her "I hope all the sharks die." Why has the story only surfaced recently?
She claims the pair kept speaking for years afterwards. Ms Daniels said the last time they spoke was in 2010, around the time she called off her US Senate bid.
Rumours of the affair started to appear before the November 2016 presidential election.Rumours of the affair started to appear before the November 2016 presidential election.
The Wall Street Journal reported just days before the vote that Ms Daniels had been in discussions with ABC's "Good Morning America" programme to tell all about the reported affair, before abruptly cutting off talks.
Why is the story in the news now?
It's been building up for a few months and isn't going away.
In January, the Wall Street Journal published an article claiming President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, made a $130,000 (£94,000) payment to Ms Daniels in October 2016, one month before the election.In January, the Wall Street Journal published an article claiming President Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, made a $130,000 (£94,000) payment to Ms Daniels in October 2016, one month before the election.
The Journal said the money was part of a non-disclosure agreement with Ms Clifford, which said she couldn't discuss the affair publicly.The Journal said the money was part of a non-disclosure agreement with Ms Clifford, which said she couldn't discuss the affair publicly.
"These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election," a White House official said."These are old, recycled reports, which were published and strongly denied prior to the election," a White House official said.
Mr Cohen denied the payment. In a statement to the Journal, he called the allegations "outlandish", and said they'd been "consistently denied by all parties" for years.Mr Cohen denied the payment. In a statement to the Journal, he called the allegations "outlandish", and said they'd been "consistently denied by all parties" for years.
But in February he announced he had in fact paid Ms Daniels the money.But in February he announced he had in fact paid Ms Daniels the money.
In a statement to the New York Times, Mr Cohen said neither the Trump campaign nor the Trump organisation knew anything about the payment, which he had made from his own pocket. He says he wasn't repaid.In a statement to the New York Times, Mr Cohen said neither the Trump campaign nor the Trump organisation knew anything about the payment, which he had made from his own pocket. He says he wasn't repaid.
"The payment to Ms Daniels was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.""The payment to Ms Daniels was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone."
(She's since offered to return the full sum so she can tell her story, but didn't get an answer from Trump or his lawyer.)(She's since offered to return the full sum so she can tell her story, but didn't get an answer from Trump or his lawyer.)
Shortly after the Journal article, Ms Daniels launched her "Make America Horny Again" tour at a South Carolina strip club on the anniversary of President Trump's inauguration. Michael Avenatti, Ms Daniels' lawyer, claimed in his own 60 Minutes interview that the non-disclosure deal Ms Daniels signed was delivered to Mr Cohen at his Trump Tower office.
The manager of the club, Jay Levy, said he had booked her the day after the Wall Street Journal article about the $130,000 payment. "This idea that there's a separation now between Mr Cohen, individually, and the Trump Organization or Mr Cohen, individually, and Donald Trump, it's nonsense," he said.
A leaflet for the launch poked fun of the alleged affair. "He saw her live," the flier said. "You can too!" Where are we now?
What's the latest news? The 60 Minutes interview was highly anticipated, with the New York Times writing about viewing parties across the US and "Dark and Stormy" cocktails on offer in bars.
President Trump's lawyers are seeking $20 million from Ms Daniels and to keep the case out of the public eye. He claims she broke their non-disclosure deal, or "hush agreement". Shortly after it aired, lawyers for Mr Cohen filed a cease-and-desist against Ms Daniels and her lawyer, saying the allegations of a threat defamed Mr Cohen.
"Mr Cohen had absolutely nothing whatsoever to do with any such person or incident, and does not even believe that any such person exists, or that such incident ever occurred," the letter reads.
Before the 60 Minutes episode, President Trump's lawyers sued Ms Daniels for $20 million and to keep the case out of the public eye. The lawyers claim she broke their non-disclosure deal, or "hush agreement".
This follows Ms Daniels saying she was suing Mr Trump, claiming he didn't even sign the "hush agreement".This follows Ms Daniels saying she was suing Mr Trump, claiming he didn't even sign the "hush agreement".
Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, tweeted about the lawsuit with a link to the documents filed in a California court.Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, tweeted about the lawsuit with a link to the documents filed in a California court.
There were reports that President Trump had won a restraining order against Ms Daniels in February. There were also reports that President Trump had won a restraining order against Ms Daniels in February.
The order, won in private arbitration proceedings, reportedly stopped her from sharing "confidential information" about their alleged relationship. Why does this matter?
"This case has already been won in arbitration and anything beyond that, I would refer you to the president's outside counsel," White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said on Wednesday. Mr Cohen's $130,000 payment to Ms Daniels just before the 2016 election could count as an illegal contribution to President Trump's campaign.
Ms Daniels' lawyer called the White House comments "ludicrous". Trevor Potter, president of the Campaign Legal Center, said if Mr Cohen did this on Mr Trump's behalf, "that is a coordinated, illegal, in-kind contribution by Cohen for the purpose of influencing the election".
What's been the reaction? Democrats Ted Lieu and Kathleen Rice, representatives for California and New York respectively, have asked the FBI to investigate Mr Cohen's payment to Ms Daniels.
South Carolina congressman Mark Sanford is one of the few Republicans to comment. He told the Washington Post the claims are "deeply troubling". More importantly, the fact there was a payment made at all by Mr Cohen has not been fully explained. Asked whether the affair is important, Ms Daniels lawyers said: "This is about the cover-up.
"This is about the extent that Mr. Cohen and the president have gone to intimidate this woman, to silence her, to threaten her, and to put her under their thumb," said Mr Avenatti.
One of the few Republicans to comment, South Carolina congressman Mark Sanford, told the Washington Post the claims were "deeply troubling".
"If it was a Democratic president and hush money had been paid in the campaign, would there be a series of hearings going on?" Mr Sanford asked. "I think you could probably point to a fair number of indicators that suggest there would be.""If it was a Democratic president and hush money had been paid in the campaign, would there be a series of hearings going on?" Mr Sanford asked. "I think you could probably point to a fair number of indicators that suggest there would be."
Democrats Ted Lieu and Kathleen Rice, representatives for California and New York respectively, asked the FBI to investigate Mr Cohen's payment to Ms Daniels. President Trump's supporters, even those on the religious right, have largely brushed off his past behaviour and women's accusations against him.
The Daniels-Trump debacle has also trickled down to a rather more local level. But the growing scandal could have a bearing on the midterm elections, with Democrats already making gains in traditionally Republican areas, to the concern of the party.
In Utah, Republican representative Mike Noel introduced a bill to rename a road to Donald J. Trump Utah National Parks Highway. And the Stormy Daniels scandal could see President Trump called in to testify in court - bringing even greater exposure to the case.
But Democratic state senator Jim Dabakis told local press that if the bill makes it to the upper house, he would propose a change to rename an adjoining road the Stormy Daniels Rampway.
What could it mean for President Trump?
The allegations surfaced at a tricky time for White House officials, and don't appear to be going away.
As well as the ongoing investigation into possible collusion with Russia, more and more of Mr Trump's staff have left or are under scrutiny.
The last thing the White House needs is another scandal to respond to.
It's also raised the spectre of a former president.
Remember that Bill Clinton faced impeachment proceedings after lying about his affair with staffer Monica Lewinsky.
Lanny Davis, a lawyer who served as special counsel to President Clinton, on Wednesday accused Republicans of "utter hypocrisy" for the way they're treating Mr Trump compared with how they treated Mr Clinton.