Evie Summers
In 2018, former US president Donald Trump faced charges of falsifying business records to conceal a $130,000 hush-money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. The alleged sexual encounter between the two took place in 2006, when Trump was over 60 years old. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, testified in court about the incident, claiming that she felt ashamed and disgusted with herself afterward. Trump has denied any affair with Daniels, but admitted to reimbursing his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for the payment. Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including making an illegal campaign contribution, and was sentenced to three years in prison.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of sexual encounter | 2006 |
| Month of sexual encounter | July |
| Location of sexual encounter | Hotel room |
| Age of Donald Trump during the encounter | 60 |
| Age of Stormy Daniels during the encounter | 27 |
| Age difference between the two | Over 30 years |
| Trump's marital status at the time | Married |
| Trump's position at the time | Businessman |
| Hush money payment | $130,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Stormy Daniels' tell-all book
In 2018, Stormy Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, released a tell-all book about her affair with former U.S. President Donald Trump. The book, titled "Full Disclosure", provides an intimate and often salacious portrait of Trump, detailing their alleged sexual encounter in 2006 and the subsequent hush agreement.
Daniels, a pornographic actress, first met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, California, in 2006. At the time, Trump was married to his current wife, Melania, and had just welcomed their son, Barron. Daniels writes that she was invited to dinner, which turned out to be in Trump's penthouse suite. She describes a lengthy conversation with Trump, during which he boasted about his wealth and discussed the adult film industry and his stint in the WWE. Eventually, the encounter escalated, and the two had sex.
In her book, Daniels provides explicit details about Trump's genitals, describing them as "smaller than average" but "not freakishly small," with a "huge mushroom head like a toadstool." She also writes about her disgust with herself for letting the encounter happen and her growing fear as Trump's political star rose. Daniels signed a $130,000 hush agreement on the eve of the 2016 election, but the story eventually broke in 2018, leading to criminal charges and ethical questions.
"Full Disclosure" also delves into Daniels' childhood in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, marked by poverty, neglect, and sexual abuse. She recounts becoming a stripper in high school and her eventual rise in the porn industry, where she became an award-winning director, writer, and star. The book provides a candid and witty account of her life, including her struggles, her sense of humour, and her journey to the national stage.
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Hush money and NDA
In 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that former US President Donald Trump was involved in a scandal with pornographic film actress Stormy Daniels. The affair, which allegedly occurred in 2006, was reportedly kept under wraps through a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) and a payment of $130,000 in hush money. This payment was facilitated by Trump's then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to prevent Daniels from publicly discussing the alleged affair during the 2016 presidential campaign.
Daniels signed the hush agreement on the eve of the 2016 election, as Trump began to win primary contests for the Republican presidential nomination. She had previously kept the encounter a secret, even from her boyfriend, whom she started seeing after the fact. Daniels testified in court about the sexual encounter, which took place in Trump's hotel room. She also recounted their conversation, during which Trump allegedly said that he and his wife, Melania, "don't even sleep in the same room."
The hush money payment and NDA sparked widespread discussions about ethics, power dynamics, and accountability. Daniels' legal team challenged the NDA and pursued legal action against Trump and Cohen, arguing for her rights and interests in the face of intense public and legal scrutiny. Trump's legal team, on the other hand, defended against the allegations, claiming the payment was unrelated to the campaign.
The scandal led to criminal investigations and legal battles. Cohen admitted that the payment was an illegal contribution to Trump's campaign and pleaded guilty to several charges, including a campaign finance violation. Trump, however, denied any affair with Daniels and claimed he had no knowledge of Cohen's payment. In March 2019, a federal judge dismissed Daniels' lawsuit to end the hush-money agreement, as Trump and Cohen agreed not to enforce the NDA.
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Trump's cover-up attempts
In 2018, Stormy Daniels, an adult film actress, alleged that she had a sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. At the time, Trump was married to Melania Trump, who had given birth to their son Barron four months prior. Daniels claimed that Trump paid her $130,000 as hush money to buy her silence during the 2016 Trump campaign. This allegation sparked a series of legal proceedings and raised questions about potential violations of campaign finance laws. Trump, who was the President of the United States at the time, denied any sexual involvement with Daniels and characterised her allegations as a total con job".
Hush Money Payment:
Trump allegedly paid Daniels $130,000 to keep their affair a secret on the eve of the 2016 presidential election. The payment was arranged by Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer and self-described "fix-it guy." Cohen set up a shell company, Essential Consultants LLC, and made the payment through that company just before the November 2016 election. Cohen initially claimed that he made the payment out of his own pocket and that it was not a campaign contribution. However, he later admitted that it was an illegal contribution to Trump's campaign intended to influence the election. Cohen pleaded guilty to this and other charges and was sentenced to three years in prison.
Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA):
Daniels signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) or "hush agreement" as part of the $130,000 payment. In this agreement, Daniels was given the pseudonym "Peggy Peterson," while Trump was referred to as "David Dennison." Cohen suggested including a clause that would penalize Daniels $1,000,000 each time she told her story, effectively silencing her. Daniels risked a million-dollar fine by speaking out about the affair, but she chose to do so anyway to defend herself and share her story.
Threats and Intimidation:
Daniels reported being approached by an unknown man in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011, shortly after she agreed to give an interview about the alleged affair. The man warned her to "leave Trump alone" and made a veiled threat against her infant daughter, saying, "That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom." Daniels also recalled a similar incident in 2006, where she was warned never to tell her story about Trump. These incidents caused Daniels to feel afraid and doubt whether she should speak out about the affair.
Denial and Discrediting:
Trump denied the affair and attempted to discredit Daniels by portraying her as a vindictive opportunist who fabricated the story out of distaste for him and financial gain. Trump's lawyer, Susan Necheles, cross-examined Daniels and highlighted inconsistencies in her recollection of events. Trump also dismissed the allegations as "made-up stories" intended to distract from his achievements.
Obstructing Testimonies:
Trump's lawyers objected throughout Daniels' testimony, claiming that it was "unduly and inappropriately prejudicial" to their client. They moved for a mistrial, arguing that Daniels included salacious details to embarrass Trump. The judge, Juan Merchan, sustained most of the defense's objections and advised them to address their concerns during cross-examination.
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Michael Cohen's involvement
In 2018, The Wall Street Journal reported that Michael Cohen, Donald Trump's former lawyer and ""fixer", paid adult film actress Stormy Daniels $130,000 as hush money to prevent her from disclosing details of an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Cohen used his personal home equity line of credit to make the payment and signed a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) with Daniels. Initially, Trump denied knowledge of the payment, but later admitted that Cohen represented him in the "Stormy Daniels deal". Trump also reimbursed Cohen for the payment, stating that the money came from a monthly retainer and not from campaign contributions.
Cohen pleaded guilty to eight criminal charges, including a campaign finance violation for the payment to Daniels. He was sentenced to three years in prison in December 2018. Cohen's involvement in the scandal is significant, as he is expected to be a key witness in the criminal trial against Trump, who has been charged with falsifying business records to hide the hush money payments.
In March 2024, Trump lost a bid to block testimony from both Cohen and Daniels in the hush money trial, with the judge ruling that their evidence was "inextricably intertwined" and necessary for the jury to understand the narrative of events. This indicates that Cohen's first-hand account of the events surrounding the hush money payment is considered crucial to the prosecution's case against Trump.
It is important to note that there were false reports claiming that Cohen himself had an affair with Daniels, which were later retracted by the far-right One America News Network (OAN). Both Cohen and Daniels denied these allegations, and there was no evidence to support the claim.
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Court testimonies and trial
On May 7, 2024, Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, testified against former President Donald Trump in Manhattan Criminal Court in New York. Daniels, a porn actor, provided a detailed and graphic account of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, including descriptions of his silk pyjamas and gold tweezers in his hotel suite bathroom. She also claimed that Trump did not wear a condom and that he told her: "Oh, it was great. Let's get together again, honey bunch".
Trump, who was married to Melania Trump at the time of the alleged encounter, denied that it took place and was visibly shaken by Daniels' testimony, prompting Judge Juan Merchan to summon his lawyers for a quiet discussion. Merchan told the lawyers:
> "I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually and that's contemptuous. It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that. [...] I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don't want to embarrass him."
Daniels' testimony was highly anticipated, as she had emerged as a vocal Trump antagonist in the years since the encounter was disclosed, sharing her story numerous times and criticising the former president. However, some legal experts criticised the testimony as irrelevant and prejudicial, arguing that it should not have been admitted into the record. Defence attorney Susan Necheles attempted to discredit Daniels by portraying her as motivated by personal animus and profiting from her claims. Necheles also accused Daniels of attempting to extort money from Trump and tried to damage her credibility by pressing her for details on a television show she made about "talking to ghosts".
Trump's lawyers lodged two mistrial requests, which were denied by Judge Merchan. The trial marked the first time in history that a former US president had been tried on criminal charges.
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Frequently asked questions
Trump was 60 years old when he allegedly slept with Stormy Daniels in 2006.
Stormy Daniels received \$130,000 as hush money from Michael Cohen, Trump's former lawyer, to buy her silence during the 2016 Trump campaign.
Yes, Stormy Daniels wrote a tell-all memoir, titled "Full Disclosure", in which she details her time with Donald Trump and claims that he offered to cheat for her on his reality TV show.
