The former adult film star who alleges she had an affair with President Trump has launched an online fundraiser to cover legal fees and other costs stemming from her efforts to void a nondisclosure agreement she made with Trump’s private lawyer precluding her from speaking publicly about the encounter.
“I am attempting to speak honestly and openly to the American people about my relationship with now President Donald Trump, as well as the intimidation and tactics that he, together with his attorney Michael Cohen, have used to silence me,” Stormy Daniels wrote on her fundraising website.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, filed a lawsuit against Trump in court last week attempting to invalidate the agreement she signed with Cohen just before the 2016 election. She and her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, argued Daniels should be freed from the nondisclosure agreement because Trump never signed it.
In exchange for keeping the affair with Trump quiet, which she alleges occurred after they met at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006, Daniels received $130,000.
Cohen acknowledged he facilitated the payment to Daniels.
The former adult film star said she plans to use the money raised to cover lawyers’ fees and other out-of-pocket costs stemming from her lawsuit against Trump, security expenses, and damages she may be forced to pay if Trump and Cohen win the lawsuit.
She has also offered to repay the $130,000 she received through her agreement with Cohen.
“I am more fortunate than many, many people in this country. And for that I am grateful,” Daniels said. “But unfortunately, I do not have the vast resources to fight Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen alone.”
As of publication, Daniels has raised $3,561 from 147 donors.
The White House has denied Trump had an affair with Daniels and said the president was not aware of the $130,000 payment to her.
White House press secretary Sarah Sanders told reporters last week Trump settled a dispute with Daniels during private arbitration and prevailed.
