Trump lawyer seeks $20 million damages from ex-porn star
A law firm representing US President Donald Trump said in a court filing that it was seeking at least $20 million in damages from a former porn actress for multiple violations of a nondisclosure agreement after she revealed an alleged sexual encounter with Trump.
The Blakely Law Group filed the lawsuit on Friday on behalf of Trump at a US federal court in Los Angeles, California, US media reported Saturday.
Trump's lawyer had arranged a $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, a month before the 2016 presidential election to prevent her from publicly discussing the alleged sexual encounter.
Under the nondisclosure agreement, Daniels could be subjected to a $1 million penalty each time the deal was broken.
Daniels has alleged that she had an affair with Trump that began in 2006 and lasted several months.
"This is simply more of the same bullying tactics from the president and Mr. Cohen. They are now attempting to remove this case in order to increase their chances that the matter will ultimately be decided in private arbitration, behind closed doors, outside of public view and scrutiny,” said Michael Avenatti, Daniels’s lawyer.
"To put it simply - they want to hide the truth from the American people. We will oppose this effort at every turn," he added. "The fact that a sitting president is pursuing over $20 million in bogus 'damages' against a private citizen, who is only trying to tell the public what really happened, is truly remarkable."
Avenatti has filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles claiming Trump never signed the nondisclosure agreement, rendering it null and void.
Earlier on Friday, Avenatti told several US news outlets that Daniels had been physically threatened and warned to remain silent about her relationship with Trump.
Weeks before the 2016 US presidential election, The Washington Post released a tape in which Trump boasted about how he sexually assaulted women because he was famous and powerful.
Nearly 20 women have accused Trump of sexual misconduct, ranging from unwanted touching to groping to assault.
Trump has denied any wrongdoing, and sometimes claimed that he does not know the women. The White House has called his accusers liars.
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