Stormy Daniels ordered to pay $122,000 in legal fees to Trump
Stormy Daniels, Donald Trump, legal fees
Background on Stormy Daniels and Trump
The legal battle and court ruling
Reaction to the ruling
What’s next for Stormy Daniels?
In a recent ruling, adult film actress Stormy Daniels has been ordered to pay $122,000 in legal fees to former President Donald Trump. The decision comes after a lengthy legal battle between the two, stemming from Daniels’ allegations of an affair with Trump in 2006.
Background on Stormy Daniels and Trump
Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, first came into the public eye in January 2018 when The Wall Street Journal reported that she had been paid $130,000 in hush money just before the 2016 presidential election to keep quiet about an alleged affair with Trump. The payment was made by Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Daniels later sued Trump to void a nondisclosure agreement she had signed in exchange for the payment, claiming that it was invalid because Trump never signed it. She also filed a defamation lawsuit against Trump, claiming that he had falsely accused her of lying about their alleged affair.
The legal battle and court ruling
The legal battle between Daniels and Trump has been ongoing since early 2018, with both sides filing multiple lawsuits and countersuits. In March 2019, a federal judge in Los Angeles ruled in favor of Trump and ordered Daniels to pay his legal fees, which were estimated to be around $293,000.
Daniels appealed the decision, but in November 2020, a federal appeals court upheld the ruling and ordered her to pay a portion of Trump’s legal fees. The amount of the fees was later determined to be $122,000.
In the ruling, the judges wrote that “the First Amendment does not permit a plaintiff to file a meritless defamation suit, even if the complaint is based on allegations of actual conduct.”
Reaction to the ruling
The ruling has been met with mixed reactions, with some applauding the decision and others criticizing it. Trump’s lawyer, Charles J. Harder, said in a statement that the ruling “is a total victory for the President, and a total defeat for Stormy Daniels in this case.”
On the other hand, Daniels’ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, criticized the ruling and called it “politically motivated.” Avenatti also pointed out that Trump’s legal fees were paid for by his supporters, while Daniels had to pay her own legal fees.
Many on social media have expressed their support for Daniels, with the hashtag #FightStormyFight trending on Twitter.
What’s next for Stormy Daniels?
It is unclear what Daniels’ next move will be in response to the ruling. In a statement, she said that she was “saddened but not shocked” by the decision and that she would continue to fight for her rights.
Daniels has been vocal about her opposition to Trump and his administration, and has made several public appearances and interviews discussing their alleged affair and the legal battle that followed.
It remains to be seen whether Daniels will appeal the ruling or if she will simply pay the fees and move on. Either way, the legal battle between her and Trump has come to a close, at least for now.
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