White House deputy press secretary Raj Shah says porn star Stormy Daniels “has been inconsistent” in making claims of an affair with President Trump.
Shah, speaking at the daily White House press briefing, dismissed claims made by Daniels that were aired Sunday in a widely watched “60 Minutes” interview.
“With respect to that interview I will say the president strongly, clearly and has consistently denied these underlying claims and the only person who has been inconsistent is the one making the claims,” Shah said Monday.
“He has denied the accusations that she made last night and has been consistent in doing so. She has not,” Shah repeated later in the briefing.
Daniels alleged in the “60 Minutes” interview that she had sex with Trump in 2006 and spanked him with a magazine that had his face on the cover.
Shah did not offer specifics on the alleged inconsistencies, but said that Trump “does not” believe a claim from Daniels that she was threatened by an unknown Trump backer in 2011. “There’s nothing to corroborate her claim,” Shah said.
When pressed for details on the alleged inconsistencies, Shah said: “My understanding is she’s signed some statements that conflict with what she said last night.”
During the briefing, Shah confirmed that Trump dined with longtime personal lawyer Michael Cohen on Saturday in Florida. Cohen brokered a $130,000 non-disclosure deal with Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, in October 2016.
Regarding why there would be a settlement if Trump did not have an affair, Shah said: “False charges are settled out of court all the time.”
Michael Avenatti, an attorney representing Daniels in a lawsuit arguing the non-disclosure deal is invalid, did not address in detail Shah’s claim that Daniels has been inconsistent.
“When do we hear from the President?” Avenatti said in an emailed statement.
