Cereal Infidelity (all his wives) is only one of the many symptomatic behaviors practiced by this emotionally insecure unstable president.
Other disordered behaviors (to which we've become accustomed and have even practically normalized) include rejection of social norms, saying no to rules and regulations; lack of empathy, inability to think about the consequences of his actions (most recently tariffs), chronic lying, creating his own reality, grandiosity, impulsivity, childish bullying and name calling, tweet storms of insults when he's been criticized. trashing our cherished democratic institutions like the justice department and even the press, making a mockery of the presidency, refusing to take responsibility for anything that goes wrong or admitting mistakes (thus never learning to do better), an insatiable need for chaos and attention, treating Putin like a friend and our allies like the enemy (thus creating constant threats to our national security) and on and on and on.
And this is only a snapshot of this president's character and dysfunctions, all of which prove he's immensely unfit for the serious life/death office he holds and should be impeached post haste before it's too late to put our country and our allies back together again. What will it take for his party to stop denying what the rest of us see and are terrified by.
12
While it's hard to believe that Cohen made the payment without any expectation of something in return from Trump and/or his cabal, even if it is true then the IRS should be looking into whether Cohen reported making what would essentially be a gift, such that he would be responsible for gift tax consequences. If he didn't, that's tax fraud.
5
Stormy’s better argument is that Cohen the only signatory to the contract is in equal breach.Cohen contacted the media to detail how much he paid Stormy and by what means. He also brought revealed Trump’s connection to the deal by clarifying neither the Trump organization or campaign reimbursed him, sidestepping the specific issue of whether Trump personally had. Logically, other than payment for services or as hush-money, there aren’t any other reasons to link a $130k payment to a porn-star, the Trump organization and Trump campaign in one statement.
5
Looks like "Stormy" weather for Reality TV star Trump aka President of the USA,
soon he will be filming another sequel to "HOME ALONE".
14
No such thing as collusion,
There's just Stormy confusion.
A secret tape of Trump,
Putting it up her rump,
Would surely disillusion.
7
The self proclaimed genius businessman isn't very good with contracts, is he.
26
Shrew move by Daniels' lawyer. Trump may had signed it but he would never produce it because that would be admission. For someone who use lawyers to intimidate opponents, here's one back at ya Mr. President.
19
It may be well true Trump could "shoot someone" and get away with it, but he just might not weather-this-Storm.
12
The problem is that nobody doubts this happened.
16
John the Baptist openly criticized Herod's flouting of marriage laws, resulting in his beheading. Although there is a quote from Jesus that characterized Herod as a fox, it was his destabilizing potential that put him on the cross. Many of the Old Testament Kings were deeply flawed. Smart people, so they believe, have gamed financial, commercial, and real estate markets, and they have fed consumer passions. It seems apparent to many the same holds true in politics. A rough beast has arrived. It might not destroy us, but the shape of things to come is giving us pause, as we pass on the torch.
5
No héroes in this story. Were he debating someone with a similar involvement, the president would refer to him as Tawdry Trump. We are stuck with Tawdry Trump for a little while longer. Unlike most readers here, I think he's had some positive accomplishments. But that's not to say that I'm proud that we have Tawdry Trump as President, and the Tawdry Trumps as First Family, though I do give the First Lady and her son a pass as they comport themselves with dignity in trying circumstances.
Interesting if an adult film actress/celebrity is able to hold Trump accountable openly and directly when Trump has gotten away with avoiding and evading accountability to lawyers, judges and wives. See if she can get disclosure of Trump's taxes.
21
Sad state of affairs when our sitting President is still paying hush money to his eight year relationship porn star mistress, all while telling his attorney to ramp up the heat on her to shut up.
Methinks Melania can't be too happy...
21
Melania now has reason to tear up her Pre-nup and get 1/2 of everything has....she is very happy.
12
I wonder what despicable thing Trump does next the American public will begrudgingly find acceptable?
16
Make no mistake - Stormy wants to end her silence because she knows a book and TV movie about Trump will make her alot more than $130K. But considering what a hypocritical liar Trump is, I hope she gets away with it. I keep remembering how Trump paraded several former Bill Clinton girlfriends in front of TV cameras a couple weeks before the election to hurt Hillary all the while knowing he had done the same thing.
45
She is throwing this in his face. Its checkmate because trump will never produce a document signed by him showing he paid hush money. Nice job Stormy!
7
"And when you’re a star they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the.... You can do anything.”
Looks like the tables have turned.
23
The president always tweets about anything. Why hasn't he tweeted about this?
26
If Stormy has to pay for breaking the NDA, I hope she breaks it big and writes a book to raise the money! I'm sure she got a good close look at his, er, hands...
19
Several construction contractors working for Trump weren't paid for their work. Now we know why he wanted to save that money.
22
Note that Mr. Cohen alleges that neither the Trump Organization or the Trump campaign reimbursed him for the $130K. But it doesn't mention Trump or his family. I can't imagine paying this sum without reimbursement.
Either way, I can only hope that if the Special Counsel cannot nail Trump, this suit will.
23
I'm sure the $130,000 will be recovered through "billable hours" over time. There's no way that can be traced.
1
California should declare NDAs involving sexual conduct as this as void against public policy. Perhaps because Stormy Daniels' relationship was consensual, it is not the best test case. But how is it OK for men like Harvey Weinstein to settle sexual assault charges, a criminal act, with an NDA? Even Daniel's NDA is a post-hoc payment for sex and silence in a situation of grossly unequal bargaining power. Why is that legal? Not to mention that it is also an "in kind" contribution in violation of Federal election laws.
11
It's ok because in the US anyway, people are innocent of a crime until proven guilty in a court of law. That means that, for example, a legally innocent Weinstein is signing that contract. What you're suggesting turns the legal concept of innocent before guilty on it's head with some kind of presumption of guilt.
1
At least this is one scandal that only hurts Trump. And not the country or the world. Which is a decided relief!
24
Given the scope of that's happening in the world, this should not even be news at all. For hundreds of thousands of years people have been having sex. How did you get here? What does an affair that ended have to do with tariffs, nuclear proliferation, war in the middle-east, climate change, or economic stability? This subject can used to point out something though. To increase tax revenue, mandate registrations, and vaccinations and health standards as well as accurate income reporting for sex-industry workers. Some states have already recognized that sex-for-money is not going away and evidence of such can be even found as far back as the Roman empire. Legalize it and tax it; otherwise, for additional revenue, require that the churches pay taxes. Surely the churches will give an honest account of their finances, since some ideologists have so much to say on the issue, they can keep speaking.. and share in the paying of the taxes too. Someone once said, "..render unto Caesar what is Caesars". And finally as it pertains to Christianity.. who was Mary Magdeline again.. one of who's best friends? Spot the hypocrisy.
1
It is not about the sex. It speaks to Donald Trump's character and his suitability to be President. The totality of how this was, and continues to be handled is important.
In lieu of an extended essay -- Trump is a self-centered amoral grifting weasel and con man. Suitable to be a businessman, particularly in real estate? Yes. Suitable to be the leader of the United States? No.
28
It is a big deal to Trump, otherwise he wouldn't have paid her off AND he wouldn't have invited Bill Clinton's accusers to the debate.
2
Meanwhille, in other articles and editorials, The New York Times continues to treat Donald Trump like a normal, legitimate, qualified POTUS and not a clear and present danger to American society who must be removed at once.
34
You know, Melania has made clear from the very beginning that her priority, first and foremost, is her son, Barron: his privacy and wellbeing. This is why (or, at least, the main "why") she did not move into the White House right away. So I wonder, independent of her feelings about all of this as Trump's wife, if all of these allegations might prompt her to leave him for Barron's sake? I'm sure the poor kid has already suffered tremendously from his father's other decisions, but she could always chalk those up to "politics" and for all I know, the kids who go to Barron's school are themselves Trump supporters on a political level. But imagine being his age and going to school while people talk about how your dad cheated on your mom with a porn star, while your mom was pregnant with you? If she is really all about Barron, she should leave Trump immediately.
28
She has probably signed an agreement with Trump that she will stay with him till the end of his Presidency and then collect millions.
11
One begins to wonder about the validity of such an agreement, should such an agreement exist: unless one were fully informed about the entire situation, how valid could such an agreement be? Prenups, yes. After the fact "agreements" where the President knows he has lied and she is being asked to accept that, and stay with him? How well is that going to work?
I suspect last minute (pre-election) accusations coming from a porn star who was looking for money to remain silent- and is now paraded by the press as if she were driven by some high moral purpose. But even if what she claims was true (consensual sex)-I think the private consensual activities of people-and none of your business- and not the public's business-no matter who is involved.
2
You know, Melania has made clear from the very beginning that her priority, first and foremost, is her son, Barron: his privacy and wellbeing. This is why (or, at least, the main "why") she did not move into the White House right away. So I wonder, independent of her feelings about all this as Trump's wife, if all of these allegations might prompt her to leave him for Barron's sake? I'm sure the poor kid has already suffered tremendously from his father's other decisions, but she could always chalk those up to "politics" and for all I know, the kids who go to Barron's school are themselves Trump supporters on a political level. But imagine being his age and going to school while people talk about how your dad cheated on your mom with a porn star, just after your mom was pregnant with you? If she is really all about Barron, she should leave Trump immediately.
1
That vehicle steered by a Trump! It
Goes clattering over a bump. It
Leaks oil in the street. It
Was SO indiscreet. It
Has broken down over a strumpet.
11
Does anyone really believe that Trump's lawyer willingly paid out 130K without asking for or receiving reimbursement? This is another one of those "stinks to high heavens" Trumpist lies. It's unbelievable how (is it gullible or willful ignorance?) republicans seems hypnotized by the golden boy-child.
20
The Donald seems to have met his match. Stormy seems to understand how to swim among the sharks. This should be good comedy
25
And in what Evangelical church will Trump be preaching the sermon this Sunday? Or will he be an honorary guest, reading scripture?
36
I am pretty sure that a dollar exchange is a contract. If I put a quarter in a gumball machine, I expect a piece of gum.
10
hmmmm... my recommendation: stick to piloting, and not lawyering
10
I don't see why Trump appears to be distancing himself from this. He should readily admit to it and provide gritty disgusting details. It will only endear him more to his deplorable base. Same with the "golden shower" story. There is nothing, literally NOTHING (and think of the vilest, most criminal, inhumane behaviour imaginable) that will loosen the grip that Trump has on his amoral followers.
54
Occam's,
I second that.
Couldn't say it any better myself.
15
A continued decline in the stock market would do it.
1
Evangelical support for Trump includes an endless supply of mulligans.
It's in the Bible.
40
well if that's the case , she ought to give back the dough, I mean I'm no fan of trumpy, but there's sure not many angles around anymore.
1
She might gladly if this means she can now write a tell-all book. The advance would be ten times what she got from Trump's lawyer, and he could finally get his money back.
10
Especially if you're looking for right angles. I find mostly acute or obtuse, these days..... It's hard to get an angle on ANYTHING, that doesn't turn out to be wrong...
1
Win/win. I like it.
Our president LOVES reality t.v. and Ms. Daniels loves to be in front of the camera. So, how about litigating this case on t.v. in front of Judge Judy? I would pay good money to watch that, the ratings would go through the roof, and we would get to hear Judy say, - Mr. President, eyes right here -
29
"Don´t know why / There´s no sun up in the sky / Stormy Daniels
Life is bad / Gloom and misery everywhere / Stormy Daniels."
Trumps' new theme song, courtesy Harold Arlen and Ted Koehler.
8
This lawsuit is a smart move by Ms. Clifford. If Mr. Trump acts on the lawsuit and claims she is bound by the contract, he acknowledges publically that they had an affair; if he continues to deny being part of the contract, Ms. Clifford is free to speak up as she will but may of course risk a defamation lawsuit from Mr. Trump. However, we are still waiting for the first defamation lawsuit from his multiple accusers so the risk she is running by speaking up may be pretty slim.
15
For those of you who have been asking that the agreement be posted, apparently it already has been, here: http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/TODAY/z_Creative/Filed%20Complaint.pdf
Thank you to the psychologist who commented earlier posting her article about Melania here, which includes a link to the lawsuit: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/7/1747165/-Smoking-gun-for-Melan...
3
Full lawsuit also here:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/apps/g/page/politics/read-the-lawsuit-fro...
1
Just Imagine if this was Obama paying a 130k hush money to a pornstar weeks before the 2012 election. McConnell, Ryan and whole GOP holier-than-thou cult would have Antonin Scalia Supreme Court invalidate the election result and declare Obama win as fraud. And if Obama will to prevail in the Supreme Court,, Ryan would have plans ready for impeachment.
The GOP hypocrisy and cowardice is really amazing.
55
To continue with the geometry theme, yes I would agree; unparalleled.
9
What's the problem? Liberals did not seem to have a problem with Bill Clinton doing stuff like this with firmer Miss Arkansass. Now they are the defenders of moral virtue. Liberal hypocrisy at it best.
5
ah yes, the two wrongs makes a right argument. Love that one!
And oh, I kind of remember the republicans impeaching a certain president for "doing stuff like this." What were you saying about hypocrisy?
25
"...doing stuff like this with firmer Miss Arkansass....Liberal hypocrisy at it best."
Conservative home-schooled writing at its best.
17
Why do people keep saying that? Plenty of liberals had a HUGE problem with Clinton's actions. Not just sexually, either; consider his moves that resulted in tons and tons of Black youth being imprisoned. He was not some liberal messiah.
11
Can't wait to hear Peggy Peterson tell us about David Denison's tiny hands. What name did Trump use on his security clearance, David Denison or Donald J. Trump? Who paid the $130,000, a Russian Oligarch?
9
David Dennison? Really?
Nothing, nothing at all is of any value to Trump at the alter of expediency. Including his very own name.
14
It would be a little more polite, and certainly more accurate, to describe her as a centerfold model. A pornstar is a very different thing.
5
"Courtesan" works for me.
5
Trump accomplishments:
1. Swamp drained.
2. Replaced with open sewer.
51
I am hoping that Stormy Daniels will call Melania Trump to testify as a character witness on her behalf. I can't wait.
25
Did Trump disclose his David Dennison pseudonym to the NSA when he obtained his security clearance?
16
President's don't need security clearances. Their clearances are obtained through the vote of the people and therefore are inherently granted after assuming office. (I'm no drumpf supporter either... This issue was clarified to me just recently is why i'm saying something is all.)
1
On NPR this morning, I heard Cokie Roberts explaining security clearances. She said that presidents don't go through a security clearance process. She said that they have been cleared by the vote of the people. Problem is, he wasn't elected by the majority of the people.
16
I drove by the White House today, I saw a storm cloud over it.
13
It's always the cover-up that get's you in trouble. That said, nothing short of Trump committing murder on prime time TV will convince Republicans to abandon this President. Maybe not even that would be enough.
26
Isn't payment to a porn star as hush money to buy silence in the run-up to a presidential race considered impacting the outcome of an election? Seems like it exceeds mere malfeasance and borders on felonious behavior and intent. Then again, it's just another day in the clown-car world of Trump and Company. He's probably lost track of all the women he's paid off over the years. What a substandard human being — a crushing embarrassment to the United States of America, and a profound disappointment to mankind in general.
42
This reminds of nothing so much as a flabby punctured balloon noisily leaking gas. What a disgrace!
You may be experiencing gag reflexes but even a very large, bloated balloon must eventually exhaust its noxious contents and fall to the ground as an empty bag that has run its course.
That's how I see this administration. In the meantime? Pinch your nose or wear a gas mask. This cannot possibly last much longer.
21
Does the N.Y. Bar Association have anything to say, any comment at all, about the actions and public statements made in this matter by President Trump's attorney, Mr. Cohen?
Is anyone from the NYT, Wapo, MSNBC, CNN or other legitimate news organization ready to pick up the phone and ask them?
And then report what they say?
21
Maybe Melania will be the next one to leave the sinking ship. One feels bad for the young son. And every other American child with this President to look down upon.
27
Only after her parents get their green cards.
17
Nothing exposes the rot and utter hypocrisy at the core of evangelical souls more than their support for this moral abomination of a man. When evangelicals claim to be "seriously religious," what they mean is "punitively religious." When I or my tribe members behave abominably, all is forgiven (think "mulligan"). When you or your tribe members misbehave, look forward to eternal perdition.
29
The Bible has a great deal to say about hypocrisy. Particularly with regard to religious hypocrisy.
7
As Trump says "No collusion!"
11
I believe that the non-disclosure agreements that Trump paid Stormy Daniels and so many other women to sign were actually a magnanimous gesture by Trump. He was trying to protect other small-handed men from being stigmatized as poorly endowed by not providing more anecdotal evidence of this absurd theory!
5
I'm with Stormy!
11
And the party of family values remains silent. Shame on them!!!
31
This has all the makings of LifeTime Cable Channel movie meets Ken Burns' documentary. Regardless, I'm guess Ms. Clifford has "trophies" she kept from her time with Dubious Donny.
6
Sadly this episode which illuminates the true character of The President will have no effect on his supporters, particularly his evangelical supporters. It has been widely reported for years that the porn center of the universe is the Bible Belt. And the truth is these " Christians " have ceased basing their " religion " on the teachings of the Christ and instead have focused their fervor on abortion and the denial of LGBT rights. One thing Trump did get right..it doesn't matter to his followers what he does..he probably could kill someone on Fifth Avenue and they would still support him.
17
How many more women are taking a look at their own “agreements” - purportedly with Trump - to see if they were signed or not?
Perhaps we’ll have a slew of claimants. Or maybe even a class action lawsuit?
Maybe Trump will try to claim disappearing ink? Fake ink?
15
If the agreement isn't valid, Post It In Full.
Please.
No more pseudonyms, just list trump under his own name. Let the world see what a Liar and Adulterer signed his name to.
20
Ironic that Trump who is reputed to try to wiggle out of contracts on some legal technicalities is now about to get a taste of his own medicine.
19
SNL recently did a skit with the theme "Does it even matter"?
Republicans won't do anything about the disgrace that is our President as long as Trump appoints the right judges, takes no meaningful action on gun control, cuts taxes and loosens regulations.
Trump is like a caricature of a fictitious sleazy bad guy in the movies and when the curtain drops everyone cheers when he gets what's coming to him.
This movie could be titled Mueller and the Angels
12
Godspeed, Stormy Daniels. Godspeed.
19
Let's not lose sight of what the operational legal issue may be. It's not about the President's personal life per se; it's about whether the alleged payment for suppressing knowledge of this alleged affair can be considered an illegal campaign contribution, and as a corollary, why the indirect secretive manner in which the payment was allegedly made. The rest of it is a lot of he says-she says. How many "illicit" affairs have former Presidents had? Let's grow up folks and stick to the issues that may have legal merit and substantive consequences.
9
Republicans and evangelicals say this doesn't matter to them. Stuff like this sure mattered to them when Bill Clinton was in office. Funny how that works.
31
Let's get some perspective:
President Clinton is impeached for lying about consensual sex with an adult female intern. The intern did NOT bring suit against Clinton.
Trump lies about consensual sex with an adult female, pays her hush money, and remains at large in the White House without any interest by Congress in impeachment.
Clearly, the GOP supports Trump's behavior whereas less behavior by Clinton was impeachable offense to the then GOP Congress.
21
Hopefully, Stormy can do to Trump, what Trump has been doing to this country since Jan. 20th, 2017.
15
well,at least we know she is telling the truth--donny IS a PHILANDERER 1st CLASS. I didn't read any denials. so now it will eventually all come out in the news if they pursue this, and if they don't we will know for sure donny is hiding something. How about all the other women with these NDA's? They can now come forward if their agreements aren't signed.
Donny, you can climb up on the Washington Monument and take of leap of faith.
"Happy days are Here Again, ....."
3
Since truth doesn't matter in the US anymore can you imagine the uproar if Stormy claims "Trump insisted on watching me go to the bathroom." Open the floodgates (no pun intended)
8
Re: Melania leaving him. Don't you think he made her sign some kind of pre-nuptial agreement that controls what she can do and how she can do it? Maybe it mentions her parents too. The poor woman is probably unable to do anything in response to her husband's behavior.
And that little boy they have. He looks so sad all the time. Melania got herself into this mess. Whether she can get out of it and help her son is unlikely.
14
Barron always looks sad but lets not read too much into it. On a Saturday morning when the guys are getting online to play some video game, you have to put on a suit and go pardon a Turkey? I would have a sour face, too.
1
The juxtaposition on a couple of sex scandals is jarring. The Democratic mayor of Nashville is forced to resign because of an affair with her security officer and also charged with theft for using state money for meeting her lover. Republicans lap it up and help force the mayor's resignation.
Contrast it with this example. The President of the United States (the President!) has allegedly been involved in at least two extra-marital affairs, plus other alleged sexual assaults of kissing and groping women and his family business is raking in untold millions of dollars in conflict with the Emoluments Clause. Republicans answer: "Boys will be boys", nothing to see here.
13
It's interesting to watch somebody try to leverage Trump through humiliation and do a better job of it than Trump does on Jeff Sessions.
12
A quick look at Fox News shows only one small mention of Stormy Daniels way down the page. If this were Obama (or any other Democratic president), we know Republicans would be howling for his head and getting ready to ship him to Guantanamo for waterboarding. The hypocrisy is blinding, with 4 out of 10 Americans *STILL* thinking Trump is their guy. Are ideology and ignorance really so intrinsic to the human brain that 40% of Americans will continue to believe just about anything from the alternate-reality conservo-media while continuing to deny all other evidence?
11
It's no joke! It is a national security issue.
Trump's reckless sexual conduct exposes the presidency to blackmail by former partners and their confidantes: porn stars, models, persons who have aborted Trump-caused pregnancies, Russian prostitutes, and Vladimir Putin.
21
I'd rather Trump was tossed out of office due to his many Constitutional or ethical infractions, but I'll settle for this. Now, how do we rid ourselves of Pence?
43
. . .Pence might be worse because Pence is a religious zealot. So we need to rid ourselves of the next several in order of succession - Ryan, etc. Maybe if we get to Mattis, we'll find a rational adult?
8
As a therapist who writes about Trump’s psychopathology, I also sometimes consider what Melania must be going through, and what would happen to Trump if he had to endure the optics of her leaving him. I wrote about this last week, and again today. This gridiron dinner joke may turn out to be prescient: "So many people have been leaving the White House. It's actually been really exciting and invigorating 'cause you want new thought. So, I like turnover. I like chaos. It really is good. Now the question everyone keeps asking is, 'Who is going to be the next to leave? Steve Miller or Melania?'
https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2018/3/7/1747165/-Smoking-gun-for-Melan...
12
At least Ms. Clifford is a civilian leveraging fame and branding opportunities off of the Trump administration. Which is more than you can say for government advisor Ivanka Trump and her spouse.
11
Something happened behind the scenes. My bet is that Daniels wanted more than $130K and used the lack of signature on the agreement to leverage more money. The "leverage" you ask? It is the Trump/Meliana Pre-nuptual agreement. Melania now has the upper hand in terms of her pending divorce because Trump violated a provision regarding marital affairs. Stormy sought to leverage that for more money and, true to form, Trump could not admit he had been out maneuvered (and by a woman). All he had to do was pay Stormy an additional $1MM....but no. Now he has to pay Melania Tens of Millions more.
The Art of the Deal.
28
Trump's base, which includes evangelicals, will give him a mulligan regardless of what he does. They love him.
It only continues to show how meaningless their commitment to religious principles are.
Essentially, they adhere to those principles except for when it's inconvenient, at which time those principles become remarkably flexible.
33
I think it has more to do with hating you (liberal/progressive/elite/educated person) than loving Trump. Trump is simply a means to an end for his followers. This is a proxy culture war, and Trump is their current General.
12
I suppose evangelicals’ calculus balanced getting Roe v. Wade overturned against the insult to morality, fleecing the national treasury, eviscerating environmental and worker protections, sensible gun control and any sense of decency toward women, and voted for Trump. Hey, what’s absolution and the forgiveness of sin for?
4
In 2012, Trump sued Miss Pennsylvania, Sheena Monnin, for saying publicly she thought the Miss USA pageant was 'rigged,' that some contestants knew who the 5 finalists were before the climax of the pageant.
Trump was angry and sued her in retaliation, eventually getting a $5 million judgement against her. Monnin was 23 at the time, with little money. She now owes Donald Trump money for the rest of her life.
Interestingly we have recently heard that Trump often picked the pageant winners himself - lending credence to her claims it was fixed.
Trump has made a career out of suing people, often suing little people and dragging out court cases to ruin them financially. Some of them were people who were trying to collect money for work they did for Trump.
Lawsuits have been vindictive sport for Trump his entire life. I'm all for Stormy Daniels trying to haul Trump into court and make him answer questions about their affair and the payoff.
Trump's got it coming.
46
‘the climax of the pageant’... Interesting word choice.
2
So she is giving back the money? If the agreement was never signed, and if that makes it void, then she owes the money back.
This was not a well-considered approach.
5
Consider trumps pre-nup and his violation of the provision regarding extramarital affairs. Stormy wanted more money. She will now pay back the $130K and make more on her book deal. Trump was outfoxed, all because he dis not want to sign the agreement.
6
I’m sure she’s done the math and believes she will make far more money telling her side of the story.
13
But who's going to make her give it back? That would just extend the story.
It’s all about publicity. Signature or not both “David Dennison” and Priscilla Poitrine or whoever acted under the agreement. That’s enough to make it enforceable. It’s not how the story will end. It’s that it is being told.
As too many have already asked, where does a porn star sue a President? Only in Don’s America.
How long do we have to endure this?
17
@Tony C: But Cohen, who signed the agreement, violated it by breaking the confidentiality both sides had agreed to. Daniels' lawyer says that renders the agreement null and void. If Cohen can give his side of the story, she should be able to tell hers.
5
Somebody else said this first, but when you're dealing with a porn star you know you're dealing with an exhibitionist. I watched one interview with Ms. Clifford, and it was clear that she was having great fun. For those of us trying to find some entertainment in events as our nation circles the drain, there is a clear upside to this story. Let's hope it stays in the news. The hypocrisy of Republicans and particularly of Evangelical (read lower class) Christians does continue to amaze.
40
It is interesting to read these comments. People criticizing Republicans and evangelical Christians.
I normally vote Republican but I would not vote for Trump - for all of the obvious reasons. Did anyone really believe this would not be a reality show White House? I didn’t think otherwise.
I voted for Gary Johnson, not because I thought he was the best possible candidate got our President but because he was, at the time of the election, the only reasonable choice left for me.
People in NY can feel as they do about their former Senator, Hilary Clinton, but she was as complicit in covering up her husband’s affairs and alleged assaults, as President Trump’s attorney is now.
This does make me sad because there were other good individuals early in the election process, but honorable people were not chosen as the candidates for either the Democratic Party or the Republican Party. Now we are living with the result.
21
I completely agree, the truly conservative candidate was Gary Johnson. If Republicans really wanted change, less government and all those things they said they wanted Johnson was the obvious choice. This says a lot about people who voted for the guy who sleeps with porn stars like it’s a sport.
8
I don't really get the comparison here. Trump's attorney wasn't running for president. And being "complicit" requires a level of knowledge that I wouldn't presume to have. If we're delving into people's marriages here and why a spouse acts or doesn't act in a certain way, shouldn't you also be concerned then that Melania isn't doing enough to trim Trump's abuses?
14
@Col Flagg: I respect your rationale for voting for Gary Johnson. This past election shows how badly the party machinery needs to be dismantled on both sides. You had a craven GOP that could not stand up to destructive forces both inside and out because it put party over country, and a Democratic Party so out of touch with many of its constituents that it was at war with itself and basically just self-destructed.
(In the interest of full disclosure, I was a staunch Bernie Sanders supporter who wound up unhappily voting for Clinton, because I could not reconcile myself to any third party candidate. So we’re kind of in the same boat.)
The two-party system as it stands today is irreperably broken. We’re all living with the results of that, no matter who we voted for. How I wish a viable alternative would rise frm this morass.
11
A suit by Karen McDoughal could open the floodgates on this matter, allowing a presumed avalanche of suits involving sex payoffs after his last marriage. At that point, the question would be if his pre nup that Melania signed could be invalidated.
41
Personally, I have never cared about sex scandals, and it appears that Stormy Daniels is in this entirely for personal gain.
Nevertheless, if she can bring Trump down through scandal or whatever, she deserves to be awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
349
I think she's doing this because she feels taken advantage of by Trump and Cohen, not necessarily to make money. From what I understand she isn't asking for any money in her lawsuit, only that it be dismissed as invalid. That isn't to say she could eventually make some money, especially if she sold any photos or text messages. And if she is successful in helping bring down Trump we should all be grateful and not begrudge her anything she makes for doing so.
14
For the future good of the country I hope this isn't what brings him down. I want the money laundering and Russian collusion to be brought to light. And I want some state charges that he can't be pardoned for. i.e. I want an example set. A lot of people have sex scandals--not a lot of people commit treason.
12
Peace of what?
We had enough of phony Prizes with #44.
I realize that this semi-sleazy sideshow is just that -- a sideshow but I hope Ms Clifford can stuff her very ample bustier with $1000 bills from Cohen/Trump.
This country celebrates its independent business people. Good luck Stormy.
40
Ever seen a $1000 bill?
They’d be fakes!
1
@TheraP: Those giant, grotesque things filling the bustier are fakes, too. How appropriate.
1
By far the saddest thing about this is the fact that more than 50 million people just don't care.
44
About a 100 million people DO care. So smile.
3
Hey, another "Teflon Don!" Not as dapper or intelligent as the original (John Gotti), and certainly a lot more erratic...Teflon Don II has normalized being a morally bankrupt President...Doesn't really bode well for America's future. What a dark legacy!
28
Let me get this straight. Two ex-porn stars get money from our president for presumably not going public with their accusations. One gets 150 thou and the other gets 130 thou. Ms. Daniels is apparently the cut-rate blackmailing ex-porn star. I guess I object more strenuously to the cut-rate one.
11
If you were accused of having an affair with one of these women and you knew the accusations were untrue would you pay them hush money or sue them for defamation if they publicized their story? Maybe you would pay if you had a sleazy reputation anyway or thought that all human interactions are transactional. Apparently you believe that the former occupation of the women proves they are lying gold-diggers. As I recall, the proposal of money for silence was not initiated by either of these women.
1
Whether the lawsuit goes anywhere or not, where else in the world is the leader of a country sued by a porn star? How is that making America great again? Come on Republican's, wake up.
123
Porn star, Stormy Daniels, has filed suit against President Obama and is very much looking forward to telling her story in open court...would the ho-hum reaction to this situation be any different?
21
Without question. The impeachment vote would be on the floor immediately.
2
@JB
One problem, sir.....President Obama is faithful to his wife. trump has NEVER been.
3
But that didn't happen. I think that's the point. Obama DIDN'T have an affair with Ms. Clifford, or any porn star, or apparently with anyone. Because if he had, I think we'd know it by now, wouldn't we??
So regardless of how we might react based on our political leanings, the FACT is -- no affair, no story to react to.
1
"Pastor and Mother Pence, Franklin Graham, the Family Research Council, Focus on the Family and America's entire deranged 'religious' hypocrite community would like to take this opportunity to publicly renew and reaffirm our blind 'religious' support for America's pornographic Messiah-In-Chief, Donald J(udas) Trump, who remains the single greatest friend to America's anti-Christ Christians and the single greatest Russian-Republican patriot this country has ever known."
Love...Whited Sepulchers R Us 2018
180
Socrates, you've outdone yourself today. I laughed out loud...then i started to cry a little because, well, this is real.
4
This story needs more info, background and explanation as to the chances that Stormy will prevail or will not prevail. Too many questions left hanging. Thanks to letter-writer "Paul'52" for providing some answers. Common sense dictates that if a party to a contract fails to sign, then the contract should be considered void. In any case, our president cheated on his wife and his evangelical supporters need to be reminded of that before the 2020 election.
28
Trump should be gone well before 2020 if Mr. Mueller is successful.
41
Don't hold your breath. Mueller is chasing his own tail, so far.
1
This needs to be investigated. Has anyone used the transaction in IRS filing? Maybe the lawyer (Cohen), who was not reimbursed? If it was used as a business expense, what was the justification of the expense? Also since Trump did not pay, he may owe to the IRS for the benefit!
31
This is a matter for the FEC. The timing suggests a indirect campaign contribution in both cases. As much as these people talk Cohen is bound to have bragged. He practically did in his statement. There is reporting that he has privately complained about not being reimbursed. I think this crew might rival the Nixon gang for indictments.
5
'Business expense' ... love it!
She can just ask her first interviewer to pay the $1 million fine for violating the agreement and then cash in from then until Trump is impeached.
32
To the Republicans who are protesting that this issue is not important, I offer this:
The Republican Party has made itself the home of ‘family values’ evangelicals for decades. They have used that status as the basis for trying to use the force of law to impose a set of Christian-based values (or at least certain conservative interpretations of Christianity) on the rest of the country. They have used that status to seek to restrict women’s reproductive rights. They have used that status to impose restrictions on everyone’s rights to choose who they love. The list goes on.
So now these same evangelicals have used the Republican Party to embrace a US President who shares none of these Christian-based family values, in the hopes that he will nonetheless serve as a vessel through which they can continue to use the power of government to enforce those values on everyone except the President. This is important, then, because it forces this hypocrisy out into the open, exposing the fact that GOP’s family values platform is only a means to exert power, not a closely held belief that these things represent some universal truth.
243
In short, their politics are more important to then than their religion. But that has been clear for quite some time before this.
11
Brilliant theater. Generating press coverage by suing to nullify an NDA.
10
And in the process revealing many of the facts Trump is trying to cover up. Brilliant.
3
So what if she signed a non-disclosure agreement? She can always renege on her contract and extort more money from Trump against her threat of bad publicity. That's just what DJT would do in her position. In Trump's world no one is honorable or keeps promises.
38
*If* this gets past summary judgement (the judge allows the matter to proceed on the merits), then Trump will be in the position of "How long have you been beating your wife?" In other words, no matter how he answers, he will have to answer to the fact that he had an affair with Ms. Daniels to the extent that his counsel actually drew up an agreement to make her go away. His signature on the agreement or lack thereof is irrelevant.
105
Even answering has implications. He'll have to affirm or deny the agreement and the allegation that he had an intimate relationship with her. If he lies, whoever signed that pleading is subject to California's version of Rule 11 and potential disciplinary action. Trump's lawyer may be trouble already because of his financial transaction with Trump in paying for the settlement agreement, but the defense of this lawsuit is fraught with legal ethics issues. I think Stormy's lawyer has done an excellent job backing Trump and his lawyer into a corner.
6
Since Stormy Deniels says the deal wasn't signed, I suppose she will now send the $130K back, right?
Perhaps Trump realized that actually signing an agreement with one of the less upstanding members of society made little sense. At least the story has been delayed. It would have been more damaging during the campaign.
And Stormy Daniels is now playing the media, who are falling into line. She will get more interviews and paychecks, and what may have actually happened might be embelished to make the story more profitable. Who knows?
Somebody said that 60 women couldn't lie about sexual harassment of Bill Cosby. But women who give their stories to the media often have a mixture of motives.
At least Stormy Daniels will agree that whatever contact she had was consensual. After all she displays herself on stage for anybody who will pay the price.
Monica Lewinsky on the other hand has changed her mind. She earlier said that her relationship with Bill Clinton was consensual.
But she needs money for her lifestyle and her story has changed. Now she says she has been enlightened by the MeToo movement and realizes that her dalliance with Bill could not possible have been consensual because of the power differential.
But every one of the 60 Bill Cosby accusers could make the same argument.
That's the problem with trying cases in the media. Better to have a trial before rushing to judgment.
Liberals have to ask: why isn't Bill Clinton being shamed?
In what universe do you think Bill Clinton hasn’t been shamed by his inappropriate affair with Ms. Lewinsky? Were you born after the scandal or his impeachment? You are either being very disingenuous or have no awareness of the world you live in.
95
"Perhaps Trump realized that actually signing an agreement with one of the less upstanding members of society made little sense".
Who exactly is the "less upstanding member of society" here? The ahem..actress who is upfront about how she makes her money, or the philanderer (multiple divorces and bankruptcies noted) who has sex with her while his wife is at home with their newborn, and pays the actress to go away? I really am dying to know the answer to this one!!!
62
Clinton was shamed for years. Most of us have moved on by now.
54
Wasn't Bill Clinton impeached for much less than this? Why does Trump get a "get out of jail" card? I'm bothered more about GOP's double standards and their willingness to enable and allow Trump to exist than with Trump's actions.
256
Clinton was impeached for (allegedly) lying in a deposition. Stormy's lawyers need to get beyond the summons and complaint stage and into discovery, which is where the trap was set for Clinton.
11
Bill Clinton was impeached for perjury — for lying about his affair with Ms. Lewinsky — not for the affair itself.
9
Yes, Trump needs to be deposed on many issues. Was it his voice confessing on tape to multiple sex assaults on women? Is he a criminal, in fact, by his own admission? Are the women whose testimonies support his self-claims of criminal behavior not to be believed? Perjury will not be far behind, I think, nor difficult to prove by way of impeachment and trial.
1
So Trump was unfaithful ---again. Why is this news? What DT did is not illegal and is not proof of Russian collusion or obstruction of justice. It is just more Trump being Trump. We get it. In a way the whole business is in a side show way interesting because it suggest that Trump was subject to being blackmailed. Stormy was going to go public with their consensual sex, indicated so, and so Mr Cohen pays her off. DT was in fact blackmailed. Sordid. And, then there was the play boy model too. A foot note to this is the attorney who filed suit to make it all the more public, but any dispute was supposed to be resolved in confidential arbitration. It hardly matters if the "agreement " is void, the suit that the attorney knew should not have been filed, made the agreement pointless. The cat was out of the bag, so to speak. What does Stormy get from this? The publicity the aging porn star wanted. Is Trump going to contest or be deposed? No! The damage is done for him. It is hard to see what this is all about except Stormy and her attorney are front page, and maybe she gets a book deal and the atty gets a piece of it. Yup, that is it.
1
as LONG as he is still in office, the damage is NOT done yet. If Harvey got the boot, trump needs the same thing. The nation of trump supports needs to wake up--we need a KONGRESS with some spine. IT all goes together. If Stormy makes out, great for her---my interest in her story is the jailing of DJT.
2
Bian, I think the possibilities are great for Stormy. If she gets creative with her book deal she can make all sorts of claims about his physical prowess. Whether or not what she says is true it will cause a strong reaction even among his base.This is the man who felt the need to defend the dimensions of his junk on national TV after hearing claims about the size of his fingers. This will definitely not be inspirational for US youth, but I, for one, look forward to the conversation. This is the perfect response to his offending almost everyone he knows with his tariffs. Finally, McConnell can say "Take that Mr Trump".
Stormy,
Can you turn this into a class-action lawsuit that includes everyone The Donald did not pay?
45
Why this is important beyond the salacious gossip: Trump is an empty placard of a person who knows what he knows from TV and movies. As such he is playing the role of president following a long run of paying the part of businessman. Another thing he learned from fiction-- a big time mafia boss never leaves a paper trail. So, like Tony Soprano, he doesn't sign anything that would implicate him. Which, of course, makes Mueller's job all the more difficult. And when he does lend his signature, it's in dramatic fashion in front of cameras. There is nothing real about this reality TV personality.
17
I am a lawyer. Stormy Daniels cannot claim that the so-called Hush Agreement is invalid and also keep the money she was paid as consideration for signing the agreement. If the judge concludes the agreement invalid, he or she will order her to return the money. If the agreement wasn’t signed by Trump, there’s no reason why he can’t sign it now. The whole suit is silly. This woman is using this suit in order to keep her name in the headlines for as long as possible and getting as much free publicity as she can get.
23
Trump can't sign it now or ask for the money to be returned without acknowledging his relationship with Ms. Daniels. In other words, he'd have to admit that while his wife was at home nursing their newborn, he was out messing around with a porn star. Not nearly as simple as you're portraying it.
47
If Trump takes ownership of this agreement, Stormy's Go Fund Me appeal to raise and return the hush money will be oversubscribed in a matter of seconds. He's in a bit of a box now, isn't he? Deny the agreement, risk sanctions, admit the agreement, expose even more of his loathsome self to the world.
31
If the agreement is ruled invalid and she has to return $130,000, then she is free to tell the story to anyone and even write a book about it and potentially earn an amount in excess of $130,000.
5
No respectable and intelligent woman would talk with Trump for more than 15 seconds. Regardless of everything, she is not a respectable woman.
11
Despite everything, she is still more respectable than Trump.
7
Anybody else totally exhausted by this continuing clown show?
Trump was low-hanging fruit during the campaign for the “Access Hollywood” tape. If the star-struck media had treated him like a presidential candidate instead of a celebrity, he would have been washed up within weeks.
Just think of all the grief that would have saved us.
34
What a cheapskate. The value of this information is way more than $130,000. I can't wait for the media coverage, the book, the movie, and the upcoming elections.
23
How interesting that all the liberals who were indignant about the intrusion into the Clintons' marriage and private lives over the Lewinsky affair, who insisted that the President's sex life with a woman who was clearly a consensual partner and at least 21, that took place IN the Oval Office, now feel that the sex life of a hugely disliked (and, I might add, with good reason) Republican president that took place before he took office, is somehow completely appropriate.
I loathe Mr. Trump myself, but the hypocrisy on display here is breathtaking.
20
Clinton didn't align himself with bible thumpers who like to lecture the rest of us about morality.
43
How interesting that conservatives who thought that Bill Clinton's sex life was a matter of public concern are now so sanguine at the thought of the President messing around with a porn star while his wife was at home with their newborn. The hypocrisy on display is breathtaking.
44
best and the brightest.
1
I'm ready for the entire Trump criminal clan and their shady friends, unethical attorneys and lawbreaking hangers-on to be prosecuted and sentenced to the full extent of the law. Enough of the degrading of our country!
31
The problem with this is that the Trump supporters -- for reasons only understood by them -- simply do not care.
Trump is ON TAPE bragging about his success in habitually sexually assaulting women, mocking the disabled, kicking off his campaign with a racist slur against Mexicans, explaining that he would be dating his daughter with the great body if she weren't his daughter, blurting every manner of misogynistic insults, bragging that he barges into dressing rooms, and compulsively lying about a wide range of relevant topics. Mueller is getting closer every day, so it's looking like a sure bet that Trump is compromised by a hostile foreign power.
Given all of that, who has the energy to care that he cheated on his third wife with a porn star?
20
The truly sad news is that this will have absolutely no affect on Himself and his administration. He'll sic his minions on the lawsuit, and his wife-in-name-only will be upset.
8
Where's Ken Starr!? We as a nation cannot suffer anymore of these indignations.
Stay tuned for:
Divorce
Impeachment
Imprisonment
Brought to you by Donald Trump, the Reality TV POTUS!
10
Gives a whole new meaning to: "I'm with her!"
15
Where are the Fundamentalist preachers who are rebuking Trump the adulterer and abuser of women?
Where is Billy Graham now that we need him?
When are Melania and Ivanka going to speak out publicly and honestly about this issue?
When is Fox News going to call for an FBI investigation into his conduct
and his impeachment?
When is Hillary Clinton going to begin saying to her critics “I told you he was a creep and you wouldn't believe me?”
When is President Dennison going to make good on his promise to sue the dozens of women who he claims falsely accused him of grabbing them?
When is Hollywood going to make the X-rated movie?
When are the Girl Scouts going to announce that they will no longer sell
cookies at the White House?”
When is Mueller going to grab him under the Mann Act?
When is Michael D. Cohen going to be disbarred?
There’s a great deal of work to be done here, and it’s time we got started.
108
This sounds logical, I assume you are an attorney. Having said that, the legal minutiae does not mask the horror of the larger issue: the character (lack thereof) of our national leader. Our headlines are discussions of whether he consorted with a porn star. Or Russian prostitutes. Or Panamanian gangsters. The list goes on. Or "settled" in a variety of fraudulent businesses. Much of the evidence is compelling, if not proven legally. The idea of a "higher standard" has disappeared. Of character. May the true investigations yield what I think is the undeniable truth about this man: he does not deserve to walk freely among us, but deserves censure, banishment, perhaps even prison. When will decent citizens declare, "ENOUGH!"?
21
Whether the lawsuit goes anywhere or not, where else in the world is the leader of a country sued by a porn star?
15
I think that Berlusconi also had legal problems with prostitutes and porn stars. Italy, during his terms of office, certainly didn't thrive. I hope that DT's admiration for Putin doesn't lead to emulation of such actions as assassination by poison, imprisonment of opposition, and taking over of most media. The womanizing seems a small part of DT's playing a role of a powerful man. If so, we have deeper troubles than his infidelity. His role models include Putin.
9
Vice President Pence? Hello? Are you there?
10
Very surprised this is happening. Trump should have years of experience in using his lawyer to hide and silence his paramours. What went wrong this time? Was Michael Cohen not diligent?
Only now we have the POTUS being sued by a porn star.
7
I don;t think there is one past presidential administration (Republican or Democrat) that could survive a scandal like this....Not because because Trump had an affair, or because she's a porn star, but the fact that where did the $130,000 come from?.....Campaign funds?....Was she ever threatened to not tell her story?.....
But with this God awful administration, this scandal still does not even break into the top 10.....
14
Who you gonna believe, the President of the United States, or some sleazy porn star? The porn star, duh.
43
So Trump's side proposed a non-disclosure agreement and paid the money but he never signed it because they thought somehow that would afford him more protection. Good thinking.
100
This is really funny, all important information is already know about Stormy Donald's affair, only discussion is about any effective non-discloser agreement.
But for another $130.000, nothing has happened, as all parties will confirm.
2
I'll be waiting for David Dennison to appear in court to testify.
But meanwhile, the original proposed contract and hush money achieved its purpose of keeping the Daniels affair out of the news until after the election, so what harm has been done by now letting the affair come to light?
19
True, except if you are Melania Trump.
2
At least they were both adults.
With creeps like Roy Moore still around, watch out!
2
How many more women would be saying "me too" if Trump hadn't bought them off before the election? Remember the 13 year old who filed a lawsuit before the election? Whatever happened to that? Roy Cohn probably did a better job of keeping agreements hidden, but that was in the past and a very different environment.
32
This lawsuit may present an opportunity for Stormy to depose Trump and Cohen about the $130,000 payment that reportedly was paid to silence her about an affair prior to the 2016 election. Hopefully it will shed some light on Donald's motivation to pay hush money when previously he has just denied sexual allegations. It might also give the public a better idea if there is a quid pro quod between Cohen and Trump for Cohen " facilitating " the payment. Maybe John Miller or John Barron will be called to testify on Trump's behalf about his " character".
33
Is it possible that the reason Mr. Cohen paid the $130,000 out of his own pocket was to have the effect of an agreement in place without an actual agreement so he wouldn't have to tell Donald that there isn't really an agreement? Covering up for the shoddy work?
13
According to the Wall Street Journal, Cohen has been complaining to friends that Trump has't reimbursed him. Clearly the "President" had agreed to do so. Trump can't plead ignorance, at least not in this instance.
2
If it were any other President or a prominent political member, this news would tarnish their reputation and would possible force them to step down, NOT with DJT. Nothing will move him or humiliate him because, by his own accounts, he loves chaos... any publicity is good publicity for the President.
15
You mean the way the Lewinsky affair and the Ken Starr investigation forced the notoriously womanizing, philandering Bill Clinton to step down?
How short memories are.
1
As Trump himself said, he could shoot someone on fifth avenue and not lose any of his supporters.
6
Speak for yourself. I remember it very well, was appalled and disappointed by the tawdry affair. But still think he was a good President over all and better than the current occupant of the White House.
7
What an incredible class-act our President is. Thinking back to President Obama, the impeachment trial would already be underway in the Congress if this kind of situation happen on his watch.
I use today's Republicans as examples of politicians at their worst when I teach. Tribalism above morals. Party above Country.
401
So this lawsuit is just to declare their NDA null and void?
Ok...hope she wins.
24
None of this affair with Stormy Daniels matters, because his base and the other benefactors of his presidency ultimately don't care. He's giving the evangelicals and hid big business cronies all they could dream of and more. Its just like Trump said in his campaign: "I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody, and I would not lose voters." Indeed.
36
How is it that this payment is not money laundering? Like Cohen did it out of the goodness of his heart? How can a payment made for Donald Trump's hush money not show up on someone's tax returns?
This while hundreds of thousands of people INCLUDING Reality Winner because someone says she "hates" America (she's a whistleblower against fascism) are incarcerated in Republican owned private jails.
17
Michael Cohen, the president's attorney, tells us that he just payed $130,000 out of his own coffers to Stormy Daniels to be a good Samaritan. Maybe the lady outfoxed the president at his own game if he didn't have a nondisclosure agreement in place. The payout for services rendered would bear out that an assignation between the president and the lady indeed took place.
Bringing "sunlight to this matter" is what this president seems to be afraid of, as Count Dracula might fear the coming of dawn. Like Ms. Daniels' attorney, maybe Robert Mueller can bring plenty of sunlight to shine on the matters he is investigating for the good of the country.
124
@Masked Man: Please recall that, besides “coming of dawn,” the Prince of Darkness also feared to look into a mirror. Afraid, perhaps, of what he might he might see. Perhaps this “president” is afraid of the mirror’s returning gaze.
7
...and now the kind-hearted Mr. Cohen is complaining that the Trump organization has not reimbursed him! I thought it was simply a gesture of friendship for Mr. Trump Michael. Your ability to judge character seems to have failed you Mike. There has always been ample evidence that Donnie stiffs his vendors and nowhere more so than in the case of Miss Daniels
14
I hope her suit goes to trial. I'd pay to watch it.
4
I'd be curious as to how the $130K amount was listed on Stormy Daniel's 1040. Is it listed under Hush Money or what?
168
that's simple, misc income, or consulting whatever - line 21. its not illegal to be paid to do something or to do nothing.
did she report it? prolly not. did Cohen issue her a 1099-misc? prolly not which might be a problem for him, not his dopey client.
for a "smart" guy Trump has paid an awful lot for sex - even spitzer didn't pay this much.
13
How about Cohen’s taxes? Of course, we will NEVER see those of the Resident.
10
@Susan Wladaver-Morgan: News broke today that Mueller has Trump's tax returns. We'll see them.
6
During an otherwise boring (or normal) presidency, this would be big news. The evangelicals would be out in droves carrying pitchforks and torches. During the trump presidency, however, this news item falls into the category of "business as usual." Another day, another scandal. Who cares about Stormy Daniels when high-ranking members of the administration are being indicted for criminal conspiracy and possible treason?
87
If all this proves true, it still won't matter to Trump supporters. Once you belong to a cult, the leader can do no wrong. Trump could shoot someone in Times Square and his numbers would not go down, which is why democracies are dying all over the world. There are so few people in this country who vote, and many of those who do can't be bothered to educate or inform themselves on any matters other than what affects them directly. And so we have politicians elected by emotions and tribal connections.
69
Remember, diehard Trump supporters are a minority, perhaps 35% of voters.
6
But they matter more than anyone else because they serve the oligarchy.
3
There are way too many women accusing Trump of horrible immoral behavior for there to be nothing to it all. This man is not moral enough to be our leader. What on earth is this teaching our children about honor, fidelity, and self-control? I hope so much he will have to resign and we can start to rebuild our country and regain our dignity and respect around the world.
86
Would you like to review the handling of the many women who came forward about Bill Clinton's behavior, and the dismissive blaming his "feminist" wife shunted onto all of them to save his political face?
3
So why aren't Republicans attacking Trump the way they did Clinton?
31
@elizabeth renant: Trump bragged on tape about assaulting women, more than a dozen of whom have come forward to accuse him of having done so. Clinton's extramarital relationships were consensual. No credible charges of assault were made against him.
10
Wow, say what you will about Donald Trump's ethics, intelligence, demeanor, and general distastefulness, but the man is some sort of genius if he got his attorney to shell out $130k without reimbursement.
222
And there are not enough Brooklyn bridges to sell if you believe he is "some sort of genius"!!!
8
Said sarcastically..... His lawyer is taking "responsibility" so a "John Edwards" can't be placed on trump.
7
A stable genius at that!
4
I might be mistaken, but I can't remember the occurence that a president of the US was ever sued by a porn star because he did not hold up his part of a mutual agreement.
That we are falling lower and lower everyday since last year as a nation, we knew already, but that we are constantly accelerating and picking up speed, descending into ..-well, -"swamp" is to kind-, it actually is, a cess pool.
Once this "show" is over, we need to hold Nuremburg style trials to hold people accountable for this train wreck, to cleanse ourselves from these deep, deep muck stains on our history.
McConnell, Pence, Ryan, we got front row seats for you reserved. "I did not know" and "I was only following orders from the GOP" will not cut it....
251
I think this needs a full investigation, on the level of Monica and Bill, and should be headlines daily for the next five years. Trump is the tip of the iceberg in terms of GOP corruption.
127
Where is the outrage from the moral values soldiers? Franklin Graham?
142
They suddenly found the virtue of "forgiveness".
19
Remember when the GOP was in such high dudgeon because Obama had the temerity to wear a tan suit? Yet this sordid situation, like so many others, merits nary a peep. I guess it really is OK if you're a Republican.
275
They were also mightily upset when Obama asked for Gray Poupon mustard when he ordered a hamburger in a restaurant. Fox News covered this outrage for days.
7
Donald Trump: The evangelicals' choice.
360
Stormy weather, indeed. You go, Girl, don't back down.
175
If she didn't declare the $130K you may be writing letters of support to her while she is serving a tax evasion sentence. You could be her "pen" pal.
Erin, at least she does honest work, unlike the Trump Regime.
23
A judgment of thins type is not necessarily taxable. It ain’t for lost wages
1
David Dennison, family man.
61
Trump is aka John Miller.
2
Trump used to be "John Barron" when he would pretend to be his own publicist, leaking gossip about his own sex life to Liz Smith and others.
3
Who cares? This was 2006 and she's a woman of questionable character just like the accused. The Times never gave Bill Clinton's accusers this kind of press. Aren't there more important things going on? Stop the blatant bias!
3
Did you sleep through the 1990's?
27
The bias bias and hypocrisy are that the GOP no longer cares about anything that used bring out the tar, feathers, pitchforks, and moral outrage.
14
This matters along with the 100 or so other scandals Trump has brought to the office. We can do better and will in the near future. By the way Clinton was eighteen years ago, Trump is now and he presents a danger that the world has never seen before.
11
Stormy Daniels and even Stormier Trump, a pair to live in infamy.
5
I hope she is successful and tells the story about this sexual predator in the White House.
18
So, a porn star found a better attorney than the decades-long personal attorney for the President of the United States, a self-proclaimed "stable genius" who only hires "the best people".
So much WINNING!
89
I wonder if the 1st Lady Melania is feeling more like the 3rd or 4th Lady, now that these women have come forward about their affairs with Donny boy since they’ve been married?
26
Wouldn't it be ironic if it a porn star finally brings Trump down? All the power to Stormy Daniels!
195
That encounter would be a porn film nobody would want to watch.
91
Three things:
An interesting document, to be sure, but a few caveats:
1. trump has several of these agreements, overseen by Cohen. So much of what's in this is boilerplate. The fact that the agreement refers to document, pictures, etc., may be irrelevant to the particulars of Stormy's situation with donald. Don't hold your breath waiting for confirmation of the "small hands - small thing" theory.
2. Stormy Daniels, a Texan, is suing donald j trump, a New Yorker, and the LLC, a Delaware company, in California. Jurisdiction? Hmmm... .
3. The statute of frauds is a defense; it's used by a person being sued for an alleged breach to deny the enforceability of an alleged contract but it only applies under certain circumstances.
The California code states:
"(a) The following contracts are invalid, unless they, or some note or memorandum thereof, are in writing and subscribed by the party to be charged or by the party's agent:
(1) An agreement that by its terms is not to be performed within a year from the making thereof."
Contracts requiring performance over a lifetime (not to be performed within a year) must thus be in writing. In this case the performance is her silence over her lifetime, but she signed the contract. So in the event she's sued the agreement is in writing as against "the party to be charged."
The Cohen LLC and trump's performance is the payment of 130K. That was done. They've performed. No breach, and no need to allege the existence of an agreement.
5
A lifetime contract does not fall within the Statute of Frauds because it can be performed within a year. One party could die in that time, for example. As for jurisdiction, Clifford’s Complaint alleges that many of the underlying events occurred in CA. That said, her precise claim is unclear.