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| Stormy Daniels seeks Trump testimony on her sex claims | Stormy Daniels seeks Trump testimony on her sex claims |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Adult-film star Stormy Daniels has filed a court motion for US President Donald Trump to testify about her claim that they had a relationship. | Adult-film star Stormy Daniels has filed a court motion for US President Donald Trump to testify about her claim that they had a relationship. |
| Her lawyer wants sworn testimony from Mr Trump about a "hush" agreement the actress says she signed. | Her lawyer wants sworn testimony from Mr Trump about a "hush" agreement the actress says she signed. |
| The attorney, Michael Avenatti, is also seeking a legal interview with the president's lawyer. | The attorney, Michael Avenatti, is also seeking a legal interview with the president's lawyer. |
| Ms Daniels alleges she had unprotected sex with Mr Trump in 2006 a year after he married Melania Trump. He denies it. | Ms Daniels alleges she had unprotected sex with Mr Trump in 2006 a year after he married Melania Trump. He denies it. |
| Mr Avenatti's motion, filed in a court in the Central District of California early on Wednesday, ramps up the legal duel between the porn star and the president. | Mr Avenatti's motion, filed in a court in the Central District of California early on Wednesday, ramps up the legal duel between the porn star and the president. |
| Ms Daniels says she signed an agreement to keep quiet about her claims in exchange for $130,000 (£91,000) of "hush" money in October 2016, days before the White House election. | |
| Mr Cohen admits to making the payment, but insists it had nothing to do with Mr Trump's campaign for president. | |
| If his statement was found to be untrue, the payment could theoretically constitute an unreported - and therefore illegal - campaign contribution. | |
| In the court documents, Mr Avenatti said he wanted to take a deposition from Mr Trump and his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for no more than two hours each. | In the court documents, Mr Avenatti said he wanted to take a deposition from Mr Trump and his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for no more than two hours each. |
| The lawyer said his aim was to establish if the president had consented to the agreement. | |
| A deposition is out-of-court testimony by a witness - who commits to tell the truth on possible penalty of perjury - that may be used in a legal case. | A deposition is out-of-court testimony by a witness - who commits to tell the truth on possible penalty of perjury - that may be used in a legal case. |
| Ms Daniels legal team says she "intends to prove that the Hush Agreement did not have a lawful object or purpose". | |
| "Rather, the Agreement and the $130,000 payment made pursuant to the Agreement, was for the 'purpose of influencing' the 2016 presidential election by silencing Plaintiff from speaking openly and publicly about Mr Trump just weeks before the 2016 election." | |
| Mr Trump's lawyer's lawyer, David Schwartz, dismissed the motion as "a reckless use of the legal system in order to continue to inflate Michael Avenatti's deflated ego and keep himself relevant". | |
| Mr Schwartz called the effort "politically motivated" and added that "people see through this charade". | |
| Wednesday's court filing refers to the 1997 US Supreme Court case of Paula Jones, a former Arkansas state employee who sued former President Bill Clinton for sexual harassment. | |
| Ms Daniels' legal team notes America's highest court found in that case that the "constitution does not offer a sitting President significant protections from potentially distracting civil litigation". | |
| More than 22 million Americans tuned in on Sunday night to hear Ms Daniels allege she was threatened by a stranger in a car park in 2011 to "leave Trump alone". | More than 22 million Americans tuned in on Sunday night to hear Ms Daniels allege she was threatened by a stranger in a car park in 2011 to "leave Trump alone". |
| The exclusive pulled in the highest ratings for CBS' 60 Minutes programme in a decade. | |
| On Monday, Ms Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president, alleging the non-disclosure agreement was invalid because Mr Trump did not sign it. | On Monday, Ms Daniels filed a lawsuit against the president, alleging the non-disclosure agreement was invalid because Mr Trump did not sign it. |
| She also sued Mr Trump's lawyer, arguing he had defamed her by suggesting she was a liar. | |
| While Mr Trump has denied her claims, his lawyers are seeking $20m in damages from Ms Daniels, arguing she broke the non-disclosure deal. | While Mr Trump has denied her claims, his lawyers are seeking $20m in damages from Ms Daniels, arguing she broke the non-disclosure deal. |
| She has meanwhile reportedly extended her nationwide tour of strip clubs, Making America Horny Again, until November. | She has meanwhile reportedly extended her nationwide tour of strip clubs, Making America Horny Again, until November. |
| Ms Daniels is due to appear for two nights at a strip club in Washington DC in June. | Ms Daniels is due to appear for two nights at a strip club in Washington DC in June. |
| She has also been touting a $14.99-per-month subscription to her naked web cam service. | She has also been touting a $14.99-per-month subscription to her naked web cam service. |