A lawyer for Michael Cohen, President Trump’s longtime personal attorney, is asking a court to dismiss a defamation lawsuit against him filed by Stormy Daniels, a former adult film star.
The motion to dismiss filed in federal court and first reported by CNN by Brent Blakely, who is representing Cohen, said Daniels’ lawsuit against Cohen is “completely without merit and appears to be a desperate attempt … to keep at least a portion of this case out of arbitration.”
Cohen’s lawyer went on to list seven reasons why Daniels’ defamation claim fails.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, filed the defamation lawsuit against Cohen in March. The former adult film actress claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump after they met in 2006.
Just before the 2016 election, Daniels said she received $130,000 from Cohen in exchange for keeping quiet about the affair and signed a nondisclosure agreement that has precluded her from speaking publicly about the encounter.
Cohen has admitted to facilitating the payment to Daniels but has rejected claims she had an affair with Trump.
It’s that denial that is at the heart of Daniels’ defamation lawsuit against Cohen.
Michael Avenatti, Daniels’ lawyer, claims in the lawsuit Cohen’s denial that the ex-adult film star had an affair with Trump was “meant to convey that Ms. Clifford is a liar.”
But Cohen’s lawyer said Daniels’ has benefited from the publicity surrounding her allegations against Trump and argued in the motion to dismiss that her pay has quadrupled.
Cohen is currently involved in another lawsuit involving Trump and Daniels. The former adult film star is seeking to invalidate the nondisclosure agreement with Cohen because Trump didn’t sign it.
FBI agents raided Cohen’s office and residence Monday and took documents related to Daniels and the $130,000 payment to her.
