Powerful people do stupid things. The details are about as interesting as paint drying. But for all the conservative hypocrites out there who were shocked, shocked!, at Clinton's dalliance it is our pleasure to watch your boy writhe. Otherwise much ado etc., etc.
2
Silence her from saying what exactly? He said her story was a total lie. So, if her story is nothing more than that, there should have been no reason to go to arbitration in the first place. If there was nothing to her story, for what reason was she paid $130,000? And why was Cohen acting as the bag guy? Was Nunes out sick that day?
Just like everything else that emanates from the White House, this doesn't add up. Believe me.
14
Let her speak! Let her speak! Let her speak! . . .
12
imagine having a cop write you a speeding ticket, turn it in, the courts declare you a non-show and put out a bench warrant for your arrest. that is basically what trump and his crime lawyer did to Daniels. She didn't even know she was SPEEDING, much less that a ticket was issued.
I hoping that there will be an HONEST judge who will see to it that this business gets a PUBLIC hearing--a hearing that even a port star deserves under out CONSTITUTION. Equal protection my foot.
4
Keeping this sordid little tale alive is worth every minute of watching uptight Sarah Sanders hum & haw, and squirm so uncomfortably as she lies that the american people knew all about this and voted for Trump anyway!
Can't wait for the possibility of "paintings, video images, still images, e-mail messages, text messages, Instagram message, facebook posting or any other type of creation by DD" which may exist... as mentioned in Stormy's lawsuit.
6
I must say, this is hugely entertaining. Though, having the American president made a laughingstock is good for no one. Any chance of him resigning?
7
Regardless of what any judges and lawyers say Stormy can blab all she wants to as far as I’m concerned. Considering I don’t care what she has to say all my ears hear is silence. Free will is truly a divine gift when correctly applied.
It wouldn't take long to raise a few million with a Go Fund Me so Ms. Daniels can spill the tea. I would donate.
13
This is all CNN discuss 24/7.
1
Aaaand 45 hits another low water mark. Classy.
9
Nobody could have scripted this!
3
Jacqueline Connor, who is a wonderful judge, entered the injunction against Peggy Peterson. We now need a scorecard to keep all the players straight, Stormy Daniels, Stephanie Clifford and now Peggy Peterson. Who is on first. Most people assume that the facts are what is portrayed in the story, but it really has no impact on public opinion. Given the problems and grave issues that we are facing, let's move on and deal with more serious issues than whether Stormy, Stephanie or Peggy get more than $130k for their story.
the issue is the PRESIDENT, HIS LIES, HIS CRAZY BEHAVIOUR and much much more. When you use the office to benefit yourself--it is the same as firing Comey because he was investigating you. Does the president pay off bribery? do his lawyer possibly break the law because the "president can do anything"? Really? this is not RUSSIA.
4
You do know don't you that 'it' is way more than about the lucre. Scores are scores and there are many ways to get your pound of flesh. As long as 45 is kept on his toes and off kilter, I don't care if it takes a herd of hippos on the WH south lawn doing waltzes to do it.
4
Cohen doesn't have standing to enforce a contract to which he is not a party or an intended beneficiary. That's basic civil procedure. I don't get it.
14
An arbitrator can issue an injunction? Doesn’t matter anyway because it’s too late.
4
Trump—hoist on his own petard!
How's he going to answer this lawsuit (even moving to dismiss it), with implicitly admitting everything?
Cohen: his law license at stake, he will rise up and bite Trump, like the snake that he is.
NY State Bar:
They don't, sua sponte, disbar this guy? Then a pox upon them. What good are they?
6
Trump has to be the worst father in history. His wife just gave birth to his son and he doesn't care about either? Instead of being with his son or wife, he is off at some hotel having extramarital affairs with multiple women.
He is definitely one of the worst dads and husband in history.
How is it that evangelicals can like this guy? Is God just a way to punish those they don't like because as we see they have very little morals or ethics. They have no credibility anymore.
If Obama did something so reprehensible, republicans would have burned him at the stake.
20
This is the most fun since Albert Bacon Fall was convicted of bribing Albert Bacon Fall, and Fall being acquitted of receiving it.
Mistype by me, I meant to say this;
This is the most fun since Edward L. Doheny was convicted of bribing Albert Bacon Fall, and Fall being acquitted of receiving it.
2
Here's why Trump's extramarital fling with porn star Stormy Daniels doesn't matter that much. Revelations of such behavior likely would bring down a typcial president or presidential candidate because such behavior demonstrates that the candidate or president is immoral, a pig, a liar and/or unfit for office. Obviously, we already knew all of those things about Trump long before he hooked up with Daniels. So while the allegations may be true, they constitute fake "news."
3
I may not have furthered in law studies, but that doesn't seem like a smart move from a faultless man.
Just saying!
3
Can we get a restraining order to silence Mr. Trump since he is doing so much damage to the United States through his Russian connections, attempting to undermine the Constitution, and implementing malicious damage to the world order? His 30% Russo-Republican base is miniscule. I would be concerned if it were over 50%.
6
Why would Trump sleep with a pornstar? This show's very poor judgement. isn't he worried about his health, not to mention the health of his wife?
Trump also thinks trade wars are easy. Probably thinks nuclear war is easy.
8
Does it strike anyone that $130,000 is such a random number? Not $100, not $150... but somewhere oddly in between. It's like she started at $150 and he had to counteroffer.
6
Actually, it is quite close to a round number if the currency is in Euros. Hmm. Maybe we miss something here?
I must say just as an impartial observer and innocent bystander, I am more than anxious to see any photo's or recordings Stormy Daniels may have in relation to the sexual relationship she had with Donald Trump.
3
I'm trying to figure out what her new job will be in the White House next week. There're so many vacancies up for grabs right now. Or how about Wilbur's job? She seems to be pretty good with money.
7
Stormy Daniels? Stephanie Clifford? How can someone face legal penalties for speaking out about something that "never took place"? How could someone be paid "hush money" - $130,000 no less - for something that "never took place"?
I imagine you could be sued for libel or defamation by falsely claiming a sexual liaison that never took place but is it really possible to violate a "confidentiality agreement" concerning something that never took place? Doesn't such an agreement constitute a backhanded admission on Trump's part?
Whatever Sanders says in her idiotic press conference performances I have to believe that's how most normal people see it. Bizarre.
10
Doesn't 'arbitration' require that all sides are included in the discussion?
If Stephanie Clifford was not notified, served or included, I'd agree that this "arbitration" is just another Trump attempt to force his will on someone else.
Ms. Clifford makes her money by having public sex. It's legal and she's entitled. Trump knew exactly who she was and what she did for a living when he decided to have an adulterous affair with her right after his youngest child was born.
This is her job. He was fully informed. He has no right to have his legal enforcer try to intimidate and coerce her to keep her from using her sex life for money. It's all legal and there are people who will pay a great deal for it. She has the right to sell.
9
So if Ms. Peterson didn't know about this until she got off the plane that would infer the arbitration organization was pre-designated in the settlement agreement. The order acknowledges that it was issued without oral argument by Claiment and Claiment's counsel. Of course no statement of unavailability of either. I am still amazed at what justice one can buy these days and worry more about how we have allowed arbitration agreements to reign.
4
"The turn of events created the spectacle of a sitting president using legal maneuvers to avoid further scrutiny of salacious accusations of an affair and a payoff involving the porn star."
These are more than mere accusations; they're obviously factual accounts of the President's sexual behavior. The beautiful, sexy "porn star" is in a position to know what happened and thus her credibility is impeccable. Clearly, our President has made himself vulnerable to extortion and blackmail, and thus should not have any access to our nation's top secrets. He doesn't belong in the White House, but, unlike former President Clinton, he'll survive this problem without a scratch.
6
porn 'star' ?? When did she become a 'star'? How about sex industry actress..someone who performed sex for money. Porn
star is just another Trump lie that the NYTimes is repeating, as far as I cant tell..
3
And this is relevant because....???
10
Because the so-called president of United States had unprotected sex with a porn star while he was married, and just after his son was born. And then he lied about it.
At the very least, it’s a public health story.
5
I was talking about Grace's "clarification".
Another money grubbing person looking for their 15 minutes of fame. What are the chances someone paid her to file the suit? Let's see? Ms. Daniels or Fed predicted 5% growth mid year, ISIS caliphate totally destroyed, North and South Korea talking to each other, NK putting it nukes on the table. NATO paying more for its defense, a Syrian cease fire that lasted months more than John Kerry's record of two days. Hmm. I'll take the latter.
2
Since you are asking, I think the chances are zero that she was paid to file the suit, but Trump's lawyer did attempt to pay her to not speak about what happened. Also, you are trying to deflect by quoting things that were either started before Trump came on board and/or that he had nothing to do with. The economy was healthy before he came on board. ISIS was well on the way to being destroyed before he came on board. North and South Korea have talked before - this time due to the Olympics, not Trump. Trump had nothing to do with NATO paying more for defense - they have been increasing their payments for quite some time. Trump had nothing to do with a Syrian cease fire - in reality there is no cease fire - the killing is ongoing. See if you can come back with some more alternate facts for us to de-bunk.
7
None of what you describe had anything to do with Trump. None. And if she did nothing, why are they paying her money, or filing a restraining order. Trump should be impeached just as Clinton should have been impeached.
5
Sorry. Obama said it would take years to destroy (well, degrade, then destroy) the caliphate. The economy was not hitting the growth rates it is now. NK and SK never talked directly during the time Obama was there. And, Moon, the SK President credits Trump. And, they never put their nukes on the table at the beginning of talks, ever. I am sure you can figure out a way for Obama to take credit for the tax cuts too. And, there is no limit to the tricks anti-Trump people will pull, so a payment to file the suit--in order to make news--is entirely realistic.
Once again, Donald Trump is engaged in double-speak. According to Huckabee Sanders, Trump "denies" even having an affair. And his lawyer denies that Trump knew about the payment. So why is this woman handed a restraining order this week to not speak about something that didn't happen? I could care less about the salaciousness of all of this. What I do care about is that the leader of my country continues to prove he is an embarrassment and a liar. Move over Silvio Berlusconi.
31
Re: Donald "Stormy" Trump and Stephanie Clifford. Even his friends would admit that he's a "stormy" Prez; and shouldn't his nickname come from someone he was VERY close to.
2
Doesn't all this just prove what we already know to be true? By their own actions, Trump's apologists and lackeys are confirming the very things they are seeking to hide! Of course, this won't deter the support of Trump's mindless zombies. But if just this alone happened with Obama? Hoo boy!
Don't you just hate hypocrites? I do. I detest them and can't wait until the worm inevitably turns.
22
I've never heard of a restraining order given without notice to the one it's sought against or a chance to answer. But this is arbitration, of course, a referee who can be counted on to favor the more powerful party. Make no mistake there.
8
Emergency orders of protection are obtained everyday.
There is no prior notice given.
1
Please! A gag order to keep Stormy from talking about something that never happened? $130K paid to Stormy to keep quiet about sex she and Trump never had? The dude is so in-your-face guilty a bat could see it.
60
Trump promised to "drain the swamp." Instead, he continues to pull us into his own personal sewer of disgustingly immoral behavior. It makes me physically ill. It also makes him vulnerable to blackmail and to owing favors to unsavory people whose association with him is not in the interests of this country. What is wrong with us that this doesn't even seem surprising anymore? This is the PRESIDENT !! Can he truly shoot someone on 5th ave and we will give him a pass on that too? I'm beginning to wonder.
28
Not only was Trump cheating with multiple women, he was also cheating on a young, pregnant wife. What a role model for the born-agains.
59
Wally, you misunderstood the situation. Trump was NOT cheating. He was trying to multiply and that is in the spirit of the holy bible, isn’t it?
2
If this had been done by a Democratic President, it's all you'd hear republicans talking about - ALL - until they had hounded him from office. Their hypocrisy when it is one of their own is breath taking, and yet no one calls them on it.
38
Stormy Daniels is an American patriot.
15
Why should she keep quiet?
It's a civil case - exactly what does she have to lose? Long list of papers, media outlets etc who would love to have her story.
Hope she speaks out - someone needs to tell he truth on the pig in office.
21
Poor Stormy. Her one-night-stand turned into a lifetime income.
6
I wonder what Mr. Cohen wrote in to his tax return to explain that $130k payment? And what did she write on hers? Laws are clearly being broken on behalf of Mr. Trump.
21
Another good reason to let Stormy speak!!
4
There are too many valid issues with this administration to waste time with an affair that occurred prior to his election. To be frank, this is none of our business.
Attacking every minute on every issue is overkill, and will eventually lead to sympathy for this awful man. Please, ignore the personal pre-election items and let's concern ourselves with policy.
3
A misuse or misreporting of campaign funds is relevant.
6
The $130,000 payment happened DAYS before the election. This is not something that happened in the distant past.
4
Maybe I’m being somewhat off topic, but I haven’t heard one word from the Christian Right. They all love Trump and had a group hug in the Oval Office this year. So....it’s safe to assume they support an accused rapist, infidelity and untold daily lies. Just saying.
62
Well, there is an interesting Opinion in The Hill that I read today. (by Juan Williams, February 19th) The title is "Evangelicals sell their souls for Trump." It deals with the Evangelicals continued support of someone who is at complete odds with what they preach. Here's my favorite part because it is just so bizarre:
"Tony Perkins, head of a Christian conservative evangelical group, The Family Research Council, said recently that his supporters give Trump a "mulligan" on sex with the porn star."
Wow....
17
Tell the truth and shame the devil. All of this silencing of women, of previous employees, of anyone connected with Trump indicates that he is guilty of every single thing that he is accused of. No innocent person pays hush money. No innocent person obstructs justice. No innocent person has the sleaze factor that Trump exudes and has for decades.
Now, about that golden shower... Was he wearing his pajamas to meet his Russian visitors while his enabler Keith Schiller conveniently left his hotel door unguarded that evening as he testified?
Evangelicals, what in the world are you thinking? The GOP will never remove this stink of treason and sexual perversion with its preferred candidates.
35
No need to conveniently leave Trump's hotel door unguarded. The Russians excel at hidden cameras everywhere in their hotels. They probably have sex videos on anyone of any importance whoever let loose in Russia.
13
One sentence which is missing from this story is:
"Peggy Peterson is a pseudonym of Stephanie Clifford aka Stormy Daniels."
I had to go to CNN to learn this. Restraining order does not make sense without this fact.
3
Doesn't it make sense that if Trump had nothing to hide, his lawyers would not need a gag order? Wake up people. This man is guilty as sin. And does anyone really believe that this is not the tip of the iceberg? Every time the sun comes up, another incident points to this man (Trump) as guilty. Do we really believe he had nothing to do with the Russian interference?
31
The arbitrator actually signed this, knowing what this case is all about?
Hon. Jacqueline A. Connor (Ret.)
She will live in infamy.
11
And now trump is mad at Sarah Huckabee Sanders for not lying to CNN. If her job is now covering up his extramarital affairs he should really be paying her out of pocket instead of burdening taxpayers
45
Let’s get Ken Starr on the case. Or Tin Man Trey Gowdy.
23
Two pieces of advice::
To Stormy: Keep your eyes on the rearview mirror, lock your doors and don't accept rides from strangers. I'd put nothing past DJT.
To Melania: Start packing and begin looking for a nice 2-bed in the City. Get out of there now - if not for your own sake, think of your son. At this rate, Barron is slated for a 'troublesome' adolescence.
NOT my president
68
So Trump's lawyer went to court for a gag order so Stormy can't talk about something that didn't happen...hmmm.
49
Just because something didn't happen it doesn't mean that someone cannot speak out and defame you with lies. Politicians have less legal protection in this area than the average person.
Sure, but given all of Trump's documented lies do you truly believe that Trump did not sleep with this woman?
3
Whole thing stinks of illegal election contributions, as well as immorality. Where is Dr. Franklin Graham, that loud-mouthed advocate of Christian family values and ethics? Where are all his high holy evangelical brothers and sisters. Pat Robertson, the devout faculty of Regent University, and the leaders of Falwell's Liberty University. Great examples for our young people every one!
37
With apologies to Leonard Cohen....
Well I heard that some religious chump
Said that God was all for Donald Trump,
But you don’t really care for Jesus, do ya?
For the country’s not some rich man’s grift
And those who fall, well, you need to lift.
Religion’s more than singing Hallelujah.
Hallelujah (x4)
Your man was wrong but you didn’t care.
You saw that spotlight waiting there.
Temptation in the moment overthrew ya.
He bragged of his unbridled lust.
You said, come in, well you’re one of us
And when he lied, you just cried Hallelujah.
Hallelujah (x4)
If Jesus comes this way once more
And walks past you up that valley floor,
You’ll call and all he’ll say—I never knew ya.
I heard you speak and you used my name
But love is meek and it seeks no fame.
When you stumble, it’s a humble Hallelujah.
Hallelujah (x4)
There was that time that Trump let you know
What he really thought of women so
I thought that ought to maybe get through to ya
But the Ten Commandments, you ignored
And sinner, that didn’t please the Lord
And every chord’s a hollow Hallelujah.
Hallelujah (x4)
Maybe there’s a God above
All I’ve ever learned of love
Is to let the love of Jesus flow right through ya
And if you would rather politic
Than to love the lost and to heal the sick
It’s a cold and it’s a broken Hallelujah.
Hallelujah (x12)
23
Masterful. I think Leonard would like it.
3
Stormy Daniels is plotting a strategy on how to confront Donald Trump about his sex and relationship practices. Donald Trump seems to use and dismiss, then disrespect women. Karen McDougal is also the subject of a NDA of sorts and we don't know how many others are out there. Donald Trump seems to cheat on his wives and select new wives at a whim, maybe when a pregnancy occurs. Nonetheless, Donald Trump's behavior is reckless and worthy of contempt. I have lot's of questions for Stormy Daniels and all the other women who have made claims about Donald trump's sexual practices. At least Stormy Daniels is taking on the President. Go Stormy! Free Stormy Daniels!
24
Silencing a woman on International Women's Day. Classy move, Donald.
50
And people thought Soap Operas were going out of style...
11
I've never heard of a secret TRO but it just, once again, confirms that the Trump gang thinks it can buy anything and everything, without having to answer to the public. That attitude isn't uncommon in business; it has no place in public life.
18
What's interesting about the whole Stormy episode is that it makes Bill Clinton's affair with Monica Lewinsky look positively mundane. At the time, the world was shocked that a president could act in such a tawdry manner. With this mess of a "president," it's just another day at the office, er, bedroom.
36
Don't know what it feels like to go down on a sinking ship of state, but something as big as an iceberg is looming off the starboard quarter.
17
I'll be a "Go Fund Me" effort would cover the possible legal expenses Ms. Clifford might ring up.
15
Absolutely needs to be a verified 'Go Fund Me' or the like.
While I hate to have DJT profit -- yet again -- from his onerous actions and overreaches, I really want Ms. Clifford to be free from a badly negotiated, navigated and poorly legally advised first deal.
I want her to be free to speak without worrying about the financial liability.
5
Of course he did.Speak up anyway Ms.Daniels,I'm sure someone will step up to pay your legal bills.
16
And that man is the darling of conservative Christians everywhere and they maintain their silence on his licentious behavior. I imagine their reaction would have been very different had such conduct was alleged against President Obama.
31
This isn’t a restraining order. It is an arbitrator’s direction to comply with a contract. Arbitrator orders have simply the force of a contract anyhow (assuming there is a valid and enforceable arbitration agreement), so this is really nothing but a contract saying “comply with me.” It has no effect unless a court separately enters an injunction or TRO with the same terms. So it is very misleading to call this a “restraining order”. Violation of a court restraining order may be contempt, leading to fines, damages, or jail time for criminal contempt. But there is no such legal sanction for an arbitrator’s order, particularly one rendered in secret and with neither notice to nor any argument by the respondent.
14
Why doesn't Daniels simply tell and sell her story and book rights but with an alias of say, John Barron, replacing Donald Trump? The only way to challenge is to suggest, in court, that her story matched the true story of what she and Trump did, and so she would be in violation of the gag order. On the other hand proving that it was a violation would require Trump's attorney convincing the court that she was writing about Trump, not some John Barron.
What fun that would be!
30
I'm confused. The restraining order is in place until an arbitration process can be done. But Sarah Sanders said Trump had already "won" and arbitration hearing. What am I missing?
12
In working in the Federal Government there is always this caveat in Government jobs, "other duties as assigned". I think now the public will have a better idea of just exactly Hope Hicks did for Donald Trump, and what other duties she performed for him, which make her so invaluable and why since she left he's been so surly.
11
This reporting is at best not entirely accurate.
About twelve minutes into yesterday's daily press briefing Ms. Sanders stated "I can share that the arbitration was won in the President’s favor, and I would refer you to the President’s outside counsel on any details beyond that."
The statement should be taken to mean that the President won in arbitration represented by his outside counsel, not that his outside counsel Mr. Cohen prevailed as represented by Mr. Rosen. This is an important distinction with significant legal implications. It is a public declaration in an official capacity that the President is a party to this arbitration over the NDA and payment.
9
Assuming that Sanders is telling the truth.
6
For legal purposes with regard to the dispute between Ms. Daniels and Mr. Cohen's LLC, she would have to respond to that in court, or at least in a deposition. The precedent has been established. She may be sworn and deposed, and potentially called as a witness. Any communication to her by the President with respect to his potential involvement as a party to this litigation is not privileged.
1
Ms. Daniels is wise to take out a "life assurance" policy by talking about her affair with Trump, and his attempts to cover it up, as often and as loudly as possible.
19
Trump breached the agreement when his lawyer disclosed its existence and the payment or payments to Stormy. Section 7.0 of the "hush" agreement specifically bars such disclosure. Trump cannot claim he may disclose but she cannot. Once made public, Stormy is free to go public with her side.
16
Sanders- "There was no knowledge of any payments from the president, and he has denied all these allegations."
Ms Daniels has taken and passed a lie detector test.
Mr. Trump and Mr. Cohen......anytime you're ready?
46
A story that would have destroyed any other president in history. But not this buffoon. It's so completely galling, I just want to throw up.
61
Such attractive humans involved in all facets of this cesspool. The phrase immoral-eye-sore comes to mind. Along with avarice-filled features. And “balloon payment”. Two of them.
9
Wait, you're more upset at Stormy than you are at Trump? Why?
4
Donald Trump is doomed by either one or two or more of the following seven freight trains coming to him:
1) Mueller investigation getting Trump on Russia.
2) With obstruction of justice.
3) Trump will resign or force to resign to by the GOP.
4) Impeach and remove by the GOP from leading Reps before mid-term.
5) Reps eject him by saying he is unfit (the 25th amendment).
6) The Dems after mid-term take the House to remove him from office.
7) Sexual misconduct takes him right down the pipe.
No way out!
7
God knows I wish you were right Lisa, but I’m afraid that in the current climate of extreme polarization, the chances that the Congress men and women representing his base will vote articles of impeachment are slim to none.
8
Nobody is more disdainful of Trump than me, but frankly, this fixation on salacious stories is a side show and works to distract us from the real issues. Trump's policies are isolationist, racist claptrap aimed at enriching the rich and vastly enriching himself and his family and impoverishing the nation. He is doing irreversible damage to the environment, destroying American institutions and provoking a military confrontation with a nuclear power run by an insecure egomaniac. How important is his unrestrained libido against that backdrop?
Trump must be removed from power as quickly as the law allows.
29
Can Donald Trump be blackmailed? The answer is yes. Does Russia have compromising material about Donald Trump's behavior? The evidence is mounting and the appearance is grave. This is our system of governance. No one person is above our security. This is a shameful, outrageous situation brought to us by Donald Trump. He is responsible!
17
This bit of trashy news about Trump highlights how powerful men like Trump use "Confidential Agreement" to silence women for their immoral acts, especially when the silence is for " eternity". Powerful men are free to violate women as long as they buy off the truth. It's about women's rights against powerful men!
11
So are the Republicans who say nothing...all of them are complicit.
5
When will the story appear that one of Trump's flings led to a child being born or an abortion being demanded by Trump?
18
Once again, the crime isn't in the act. That's between Trump and Melania. No. The crime is in the cover-up. I do believe Michael Cohen has run afoul of the FEC. Even under the unlikely assumption Cohen was acting independently of Trump, he's still in deep, deep trouble. I think the best case scenario for Cohen is disbarment. Another one bites the dust.
The more important question though is whether or not the arbitration clause is valid. This is why Cliffords' argument carries water. Trump is trying to have it both ways. He's saying he had nothing to do with the hush money. And yet, his attorney was somehow acting on his behalf without receiving a signature from "DD." Which is it? Was your attorney representing you or not? The first places Trump squarely in the sights of the FEC. The second gives Clifford the right to sell her story.
You should read the counter-suit too. That one clearly identifies the complaint against Trump. I'm not endorsing msnbc but this was the easiest link to find:
http://msnbcmedia.msn.com/i/TODAY/z_Creative/Filed%20Complaint.pdf
14
I wish someone would tally exactly how many lawyers Trump has in his employ. There is barely an article about him that does not mention his lawyers, with new names constantly appearing in different contexts. Since his businesses depend upon the attrition of relentless litigation and not any real business acumen, he must have more shysters in his stable than a Saudi prince has polo ponies. I keep reading about how the legal profession is dwindling in both numbers and cache but Trump seems to be single-handedly keeping it afloat.
10
I don't care about affairs - that is between Trump and his wife at this point. Didn't care about Clinton's episode in the Oval office either - that was between Hillary and Bill. It wasn't the affair that got Bill in hot water, he should have said 'no comment.' It was the lie before the committee. That could be what gets Trump in trouble. Will have to wait and see. But, who cares about the affairs of people in DC, or anywhere really. It's not my business; I care about what DC does for the American people and the 3 branches of government that are supposed to keep one branch from taking over. Obama and Trump are outrageous when it comes to dictating policy!!!!
" Obama and Trump are outrageous when it comes to dictating policy!!!!"
Outrageous that you would mention President Obama, within this context, in the same sentence as trump!!!!!
19
"Trump Lawyer Obtained Restraining Order to Silence Stormy Daniels"
lets all remember Trump is the President of the United States of America. T.H.E. P.R.E.S.I.D.E.N.T
4
"lets all remember Trump is the President of the United States of America. "
Any way to let the Orange Dotard process that fact?
I remember; and like most people, shudder at this colossal specimen of unprecedented mendacity and boorishness.
The presidency will never be the same; it may never recover.
7
Who cares about this tawdry affair other than the parties involved and Mrs. Trump? But, if it distracts Trump from even one more act that harms this country, I guess it's not a total waste of ink.
27
Agree with you on this!
2
It goes to his character and trustworthiness - things that would cause an average person to not be granted a security clearance - not the affair itself, but lying about it. It is part of a case against his ability to be President.
50
The payoff makes this a bit more serious.
5
This guy, this President Dennison, sounds a lot like that other president we used to have, that Trump dude.
The only difference between the two is that President Dennison never signs anything, and President Trump couldn't restrain himself from signing everything and anything that President Pence put before him.
What a crew! All I care about is, is there a child out there?
Because if there is, then I certainly don't want Trump suiing for custody.
He's already proven he's unfit for the 5 he already has.
Let's hear what Ms. McDougal and Ms. Clifford have to say.
8
Wasn't the issue about the Clinton scandal the fact that he lied under oath and not because of the affair? I frankly could care less that Trump (or Clinton for that matter) had an affair outside of his marriage (that is for his wife to deal with), but it is the Trump cover up that is so nauseating.
4
Yes, that is why we are all praying that someone gets Trump under oath and why his lawyers are trying to hard to prevent him from going under oath.
5
I care that Melania stood at a podium and said, "he will never let you down" when she clearly knew that was not true.
6
The only two people Trump hasn't attacked are Putin and Stormy. And what do these two have in common? They both hint they have tapes involving the President, what shall I say, acting in a non presidential manner. Coincidence? Discuss among yourselves.
23
That's a very good point. Trump has been quick to attack many other women but not this one. Hmmmmmm
5
This is just a sideshow distracting from Trump attempting to destroy the economy to distract from the news that the Mueller investigation is closing in on him and his family on multiple fronts. Wait until 2020, when the leading female Democratic candidate for president can hire Ms. Daniels (or whatever name she chooses at the time) as her MeToo adviser, pay off her $1 million tab for ignoring the NDA and fully weaponize this story when it can do the most good.
6
How is a privately issued TRO typically enforced?
It was issued by a private arbitrator. - employed by a private corporation What legal power does such a person have?
Readers may confuse this with. a judicial action.
5
Logic would indicate that hush money is paid to a person to keep an embarrassing situation from public knowledge. The fact that Ms. Daniels received any money clearly demonstrates that she and Trump were consensual actors. And isn't it curious that Trump, who boldly and fervently denies all other accusations of his lascivious ways, has not come out with a bold denial of his relationship with Daniels? With representation like Cohen, Trump needs to get himself competent and savvy counsel.
6
So Sarah Huckabee Sanders now says that Trump has denied allegations of extramarital sexual relations, and that's that?
Right. This is the same woman who, in a press conference, made an analogy that used beer, but was careful to couch it in such a way that her parents could be reassured that she had not herself drunk a beer? (She explicitly referenced her parents.)
Miss Polyanna would assure us that she would never drink a beer, but adultery is another thing entirely?
To me, this seems to sum up the sorry state of the GOP these days. Republicans focus on minutiae while utterly ignoring things of ethical importance.
I pity Huckabee's husband. And I speak as someone who, were I Hillary Clinton, would likely have divorced (or shot) Bill a long time ago. Adultery is wrong on all kinds of levels (lying, breaking promises, breaking trust), and a person's partisan loyalties should play no role in evaluating it.
13
Mr. Cohen has been very explicit that the settlement funds were his and his alone, were paid on his sole initiative without the knowledge or approval of Mr. Trump and that there has been no promise by Mr. Trump to repay him. How can Mr. Trump claim any benefit of a settlement agreement that he did not sign, of which he was unaware, and for which he gave no consideration. Perhaps this story would benefit from reporting from a more technical legal perspective.
8
The "legalities" have little or no importance to this saga. The story is about politics, publicity and public relations. Trump is already losing in all three venues, with the assistance his lawyer Michael Cohen, the undisputed leader of the "Dumbest Attorney of the Year" contest, so far. If Stormy has pictures, videos, emails or texts it is game over for this particular scandal. We shall have to wait and see how it measures up to the existing scandals and the ones sure to come.
4
Actually Mr. Cohen has been careful to avoid saying publicly anything about whether Mr. Trump will reimburse him. He has said in private that he will be repaid by Trump, and that repayment would be typical of an attorney-client relationship.
Agreed that "legalities" are not the marrow of this story. Nevertheless, the legalities are often how we get from here to there in this world. If Mr. Trump doesn't have standing to participate in this arbitration and/or civil lawsuit, it may turn out that there is a less difficult path to public disclosure of any "pictures, videos, emails or texts" that might exist. If his only avenue to participating in the litigation is by claiming that he is a third party beneficiary of the agreement, he might be well-advised to think carefully, however unlikely that might seem, about smearing himself with that stink.
1
Putting aside the salaciousness, one of two things are going to happen:
1) Clifford makes a boat load of money selling her story, or
2) Clifford makes a boat load of money settling with DJT again (this time $130k isn't going to cut it).
Either way, none of this will make a difference to 45's presidency unless and until it becomes a link in the highly unlikely chain of events leading to his impeachment.
2
How about a Go Fund Me for Ms. Clifford? If it's only the threat of the "more than $1 million in arbitration" that's keeping her from talking, it should be easy to find enough people who want to hear her story to cover that.
13
OK, this story is hardly going away, retraining orders or not. Here's a possible next chapter. We can assume Ms. Daniels cashed the original $130,000 check and that money was somehow spent by her. SO now for a next step let’s imagine a helpful media outlet steps in and in exchange for her story they pay her $130,000 plus. She then writes a check to Mr. Cohen which is delivered with great publicity—whether he cashes it or not is not that important—and she declares, "The deal's off, because I'm a loyal American and I think my fellow Americans need to know what happened here." And then with the help of her new media outlet buddy she tells EVERYTHING.
Note that other than acknowledging that something happened between her and President Trump she's actually been somewhat honorable in keeping to her end of the nondisclosure deal. So again, I'm trying to imagine what happens if she says the deal's off. Plus, what would President Trump do if she goes public? Would the president of the United States—who's constantly threatening to sue anyone over anything—sue her over this? Just when we thought the Trump presidency couldn’t get more bizarre, I think we may be moving into an interesting new chapter.
8
I can understand a TRO gagging this woman.
But how can a TRO block filing of litigation? How could that be legal and in accordance with public policy?
8
half of just this event would have been enough in the good old times of „normal“ presidentship to impeach.
16
I'll fix that for you.
Something like this event was enough in normal times to impeach a Democrat.
Republicans however have no shame and if the President is helping them achieve their terrible goals (tax cuts for the rich, eliminating social programs) there is no way to impeach one when they control the House.
5
David Dennison. DD. Who knew? Makes everyone else involved in similar scandals look like amateurs.
12
The photo of Gary Hart on the boat "Monkey Business" destroyed his political career.
John Edward's extra marital affair ruined his career too.
Why should Trump's affair with a porn star be less damaging?
A guess - so much of what Trump does and says is so indecent -
mocking gold star parents, stiffing people he's hired, employing his daughter and son-in-law, neither qualified for their positions, mocking his own Attorney General, lying multiple times daily, including lying about his knowledge of paying off Stormy Daniels.....shall I go on?
that we've becoming inured.
42
Don't you understand? One is only guilty of something if one is a democrat or non-republican. Get it thru your head, man!
if you lie, you pay the price, but only if you're not a republican.
If you assault a woman, you pay the price, but only if you're not a republican.
That's the rule, man. Deal with it.
5
Charles I think the difference is in how Democrats and Republicans behave towards this type of thing. Republicans only seem to mind when its a Democrat
4
Another guess. His supporters are Evangelical "Christians." Anything he does is OK with them, so long as he hates blacks and pushes guns.
All their so-called family values are supposed to apply to others.
Everyone needs to remember recent history. If the Access Hollywood tape did not turn his base against him, surely a romp with a porn star pales in comparison. In fact, I expect his base will broaden and will now include every single envious banjo player. We can insult and hammer away at Trump, but Trump is not the reason for this calamity. Trump is merely the end product of a diseased and pathetic GOP. Rather than rejecting him outright at the convention, the GOP groveled and kissed his ring. And, they continue to do so despite his clear mental instability. People need to focus their ire on the GOP and not Trump, for there is no President Trump but for the support of the GOP. November will be the defining moment for our democracy. If the GOP remains in power, by 2020 it will be too late to come back from the abyss. People really need to wake up and refocus their efforts. Otherwise they will have won
20
"...... for there is no President Trump but for the support of the GOP ."
That is exactly right.
3
"Stormy" is most likely what it feels like in the White House private quarters between trump and Melania.
14
Nothing to see here folks... - DD
11
Plenty to see here. The con president is skating on thin ice and heading for a BIG fall even his religious zealots cant defend this one along with the other ladies who have law cases pending.
Since he is so
My friend Carlos Danger says it's all good though. I kid, I kid.
1
This is worse than the most sordid soap operas and perhaps what we deserve for electing a thug as the president of the country. However, if this saga continues, The Donald would be more likely to say " I am the greatest at having affairs" and far less likely to say "Forgive me, I messed up". Donald is the Berlusconi of the US. Only more dangerous.
22
Can someone please remind me why the taxpayers of this country are paying Sarah Huckabee Sanders' salary?
52
because we voted for her boss, the president.
2
Not all of us. Not my President!
5
DaveB,
The majority of us didn't vote for Trump.
The duty of the White House Press Secretary is to inform the people of this country, not to obfuscate and tell us lies
4
Of course he did.
3
Of course he did ..what?
What the heck! How can that have been done? I don't understand the legality...the article doesn't explain why this is possible. Is it that the original agreement was valid and she can't speak? But wouldn't that just mean she can be sued for financial damages? I didn't know her free speech rights could be eliminated.
4
Many people chose not to vote for Hillary Clinton because they just couldn't stand the idea of the country mired in investigations and scandals, even if she might not be guilty. Hope all of you who didn't vote for Hillary now feel sorry. The country is now at a new low because of this tawdry President.
50
To Mary ~ I agree with you.
That almost 3 million more votes were cast for Sec. Clinton, the largest popular vote margin for a person who lost a Presidential election, does make me wonder about that small 77,000+ votes from MI, WI & PA that threw the Electoral College to trump.
Are we really sure that when the Russians hacked into machines, they did not tamper with votes to throw the election?
9
I nominate Sarah Huckabee Sanders for an Oscar for her ongoing performance of a Presidential press secretary. Her portrayal of someone who is supposed to be a source of truthful information but is the exact opposite is certainly worthy of recognition. Day in and day out, she lies about every subject she speaks about and manages to evade questions and muddle issues at every press briefing. The fact that everyone knows she is lying seem to make no difference to her. Her evasive answers to questions about the Stormy Daniels "affair" with her boss "David Dennison" are worthy of special recognition. How does someone like her look themselves in the mirror every day and go on lying like that?
How long will her daily performance go on before she melts down in front of a press briefing? Like most of the other rats abandoning the Trump ship, she will soon be gone, but it can't be soon enough.
29
Next-to-last paragraph: "The company dismissed the complaint as meritless."?
Does this mean that "The company [American Media, the National Enquirer] contends that the complaint is meritless?" In common parlance, it is courts that dismiss complaints.
5
This restraining order is a day-late and a dollar-short. Daniels, through the filing of the lawsuit has done the damage that cannot be put back into the bottle. And there is real damage.
Campaign laws now appear to have been violated and that pending lawsuit could see Ms. Daniels testifying under oath to everything that occurred, from the sex to the payout for silence. Her message would get out under oath.
Everyday Ms. Daniels fights to 'get her day in court' is another lost news cycle day for a W.H. that lately has not 'found' a news days that help them.
Everyday this story in in the news, is another day Mrs. Trump has to endure. One has to wonder what price Donald J. Trump will pay, when Mrs. Trump's endurance simply ends.
No, Ms. Daniels is getting all of the attention she needs to continue driving her career and Donald Trump is getting every bit of attention that potentially drags his marriage and his presidency down.
In the end, that arbitration decision was not a 'win'. It was just another delaying tactic in what is going to be a very bad ending for Donald J. Trump in regards to his past needs to have sex with an adult film star.
20
Double D Dennison AKA Trump and PeePee LeStorm are the TV Couple that Donald has been creating for America.
Journey to The Center of The Swamp.
Cue Franklin Graham, the Great Explainer. I hope he can explain Karen McDougal as well as the complicity of The National Inquirer. Looks like they quit inquiring.
17
So let me get this right. The second amendment is all encompassing no matter what its ancillary provisions regarding a militia say but the first amendment can be abrogated by whatever legal folderol a sleazy lawyer comes up with?
9
The constitution's framers didn't think to add the phrase "shall not be abridged" until they got to the Second Amendment.
1
Actually the Supreme Court, even including Scalia supported common sense restrictions on gun ownership. That's why they did not agree to take up challenges recently related to California's gun laws. However they did get it wrong to expand the right from "well regulated militias" to everybody which was not the original intent. There is actually good support that these militias were set up in the south to track runaway slaves.
Not that I blame her, but the $130,000 paid to Ms. Clifford is peanuts compare to what she could get if allowed to talk. Everyone would want to know what she has to say, and she could easily get millions for going public. I assume that that is at the core of this whole matter.
7
The lawyer who advised her to go public may face serious consequences.
She may well be subject to multiple million dollar judgments for breaking the agreement.
She could wind up in the same boat as OJ and her income be subject to garnishment.
She would have the right to sue her lawyer for malpractice.
2
The same rules that require her to go to arbitration instead of court apply to the Trump side, too. If they can take her to court, by the same token, they have no case against her for taking them to court.
No way this will be litigated.
Reading the agreement between them, the arbitration agreement only applies to Trump and Daniels. He never signed the agreement so therefore the arbitration was invalid. The company formed by his lawyer to funnel the money was the only signatory and that certainly calls into question its enforceability. Of course the money did change hands and was accepted so that would be the counterargument. Of course, this is without even considering that this agreement may have violated public policy by getting around campaign finance laws and probably a few other defenses tot he agreement as well. I have no idea how you get to a comparison between her and OJ. But hey MAGA!!!
2
Perhaps it's time for an American to make a citizens arrest of Trump for violating his oath of office to serve, protect, and defend the United States of America.
This arrest will publicly bring the presidents malfeasance of office to the forefront and force him to answer to the citizens at the same time the Justice Department and Robert Mueller present the results of their investigation.
As long as the Republican party is in power they will protect themselves from public humiliation. If Trump's malfeasance is made public the repubs will have to cut their losses and give up Trump to the wolves in the name of Mueller.
This exposure could rapidly escalate into impeachment, removal, or prosecution!
5
What kind of justice is it when you can have a secret arbitration hearing, where one side of the alleged contract that is being arbitrated, is not present in court and is not represented by legal counsel. Don't people have rights to due process under the law and freedom of speech under the US Constitution. We have a word of this in good old England - where our laws stretch back 2000 years to Roman times. The word is "malarkey". "Stitch-up" might also seem appropriate.
4
What's Trump got to do with it?
Cohn used his own money.
Represented some LLC or other.
Pseudonyms that could be a 400 pound guy sitting on his bed in his mother's basement.
Stormy refuses to talk about the "services" she was being paid for.
I suspect that Cohn was paying her for her appearance at his son's Bar Mitzvah.
Again
What's Trump got to do with it
got to do with it......
3
Maui...Oddly enough, trump has not denied the payment. He has said NOTHING. I mean, usually he will say: "I didn't say/do that," (like when he mocked the disabled reporter on video for all the world to see) or "No collusion," etc. Here, in the Stormy Daniels debacle, seems that trump is MUTE. He certainly cannot say he never met her, as there are photos of them together. Of course, he CAN say he never met her; solid proof has never been a deterrent to trump.
11
David Dennison can not be denied.
But you can keep trying.
2
The paltry amount of hush money paid out to Stormy Daniels (by the perverted cheapskate-in -chief) makes me think that this isn't an isolated incident.
How many other payments like this were made to other women by the stable genius?
17
Apparently there are "Images" involved.
Anthony Weiner goes to jail....trump....gets a Pardon
10
Guess old Donald finally grabbed something that bites back.
He is going to need a restraining order from Melania, not "Stormy Daniels".
26
If Trump claim,s he didn't have an affair with Miss Daniels, then why the restraining order?
21
David Donald John Trump Dennison, or whatever fake name he goes by today, along with his good-for-nothing lawyer who paid non-hush hush money on his behalf, is effectively check-mated.
But he and his lawyer are too dumb or haughty to realize that they simply walked into this predicament. No matter what they do, or don’t, from now on, it will merely confirm or bolster the stormy version of events, instead of the calm, pacific, no-story-here one getting flogged by the White House and Sarah Sanders.
18
Maybe Ms. Clifford can be interviewed by "John Miller" or if he's not available maybe "John Barron" can be engaged...
1
Wrong headline. The honest one would be "Trump uses his attorney to violate a citizen's First Amendments right to free speech " the story implies that the lawyer was working without direction from Trump. We should expect better, more honest, reporting from the NYT.
11
Cohen has a strong desire to be dis-barred to show his love for President Dennison.
6
Cat's out of the bag! And so is tRump's re-election chances, but that may be curtailed by Robert Mueller, first.
6
After all, it was "Deep throat" that took down the Nixon administration, is history repeating itself.
14
Trump's conduct is becoming the new normal. Most of us aren't even surprised at what we're reading. He's not a genuine president, he's become a national dirty joke. Late night comics have a field day with his crackpot policies and his private behavior. Whether its the truly disgusting like Steve Bannon or the bragging Anthony Scaramucci or the wife beater Rob Porter, it's the same ridiculous reality show. These tweets show an ominous level of paranoia and hatred and general incoherence. The national pastime is no longer baseball, it's voracious consumption of the latest episode of the Trump Show. Our former allies are distrustful of us and our adversaries are penetrating our country's weak spots. Every day I literally PRAY for the Democrats to win in November and take back the senate and I PRAY for a successful conclusion to the Robert Mueller investigation. We know in our hearts what's happening, but we have to wait for Mueller to prove it. And the waiting is excruciating.
15
Trade Wars, Climate Change, Russia and China Aggression, Gun Control, Economic issues and Immigration, North Korea. Only a few of the real issues that affect all of us.
And yet, this sorry affair that occurred years ago, if it occurred, is all over the news and every micro event and utterance of a prostitute and her lawyer are dished out on every channel day after day because that is apparently what we want to read about and watch on the news.
We deserve President Trump.
Let this tawdry side show play out in court or private arbitration and let's get back to focusing on everything else. And yes, the level of hypocrisy is rising higher and higher. JFK, Johnson, Clinton and many other liberal public officials,
have behaved in a similar manner. In Trump's case, this was publicly known before he was elected.
I want Trump to resign for many reasons, but his personal sex life prior to becoming President does not make the list and the faux outrage about this affair is ridiculous.
4
Sorry but this is likely a violation of federal election laws. HUsh money by Cohen in coordination with Trump would do that.
8
Apparently David Dennison and White House spokesperson Sanders have been discussing the details of hush money that the President has no knowledge of and this story became huge yesterday.
Just another Wednesday in the Trump White House though.
7
I know that Reverend Franklin Graham and many other evangelicals must be proud of their boy Donald today. These are true Christian values at work.
Drudge is burying the story; Fox news too. CBN is talking about the president reading his prayer notes. Such Godly people, all of these.
22
Joe, wait a minute! The "president" cannot be READING his prayer notes. HE DOES NOT READ! And if he did read, he would be reading dirty books. I am pretty sure that the "president" never prayed before Mueller came along either. He may be praying his God-forsaken soul into exhaustion every single day and night nowadays.
6
He's looking at the pictures (wink, wink)
3
No one is above the law. Everyone is entitled to justice.
Watch what happens.
2
Sarah Sanders, speaking on behalf of "DD," violated par. 2 of the TRO by disclosing the existence of the arbitration and its "details;" that Trump "won" the the arbitration.
24
Someone at the NYT should explain the difference between a Temporary Restraining Order (TRO), which is what the arbitrator entered, and a straight restraining order. A TRO is not the 'victory' espoused by Trump, Cohen, and Sanders--it is an order pending a more complete hearing.
18
Ms. Sanders: the case has not been "won." You are mistaken. Even IF the arbitrator had jurisdiction, and the right to issue an ex parte order, it is TEMPORARY. If the ridiculous arbitration somehow continues, the President might very well not win, as you say.
9
One is tempted to assume that the President of Mexico has read this story too, and that when he meets Jared Kushner today, to hear Trump's NAFTA offers, he will expect the same level of good faith displayed by Trump's arbitrator with Stormy Daniels.
11
She is suing him and should present a subpoena.
2
ChesBay: Maybe donnie has already received a subpoena.
3
Why do they need a restraining order to keep her quiet if supposedly nothing ever happened. By issuing a restraining order they are admitting something did happen.
14
That arbitration clause in the initial agreement is unconscionable. It gives Trump the right to go to an arbitrator without notifying Ms. Clifford, and to get a non-judicial restraining order (of little significance) and to charge $1 million for every breach. It was so one-sided, Donald didn't even bother to sign it.
First, it seems like Donald has a standard form contract at the ready to silence critics and opposition. How many times has he needed this?
Second, it's unethical for Michael Cohen to do all this negotiation and drafting and especially, the payoff, without informing his client.
Third, the characterization of the White House as having "won the arbitration" is curious given it was ex parte.
Finally, the story is already out. Who wants to know more?
13
I am bewildered. As I gather from this article, Mr. Cohen obtained a restraining order from an arbitrator in an ex parte proceeding. I did not know that arbitrators could issue injunctions having the force of law. I did not know that they could do so in ex parte proceedings. And I do not understand why Mr. Cohen has any standing to enforce anything. He's not the true party in interest; Mr. Trump is. From a legal perspective, if the article accurately recounts what happened, this strikes me as extremely irregular.
5
You are correct.
1
This second act, is NOT about their affair. They had an affair 10 years ago, we all know about it, even if it is never proven, everyone has already made up their mind about it. Stormy stayed silent for years. She said she was compelled to come forward after the other women complained. Their affair was consensual, thus no abuse or coercion. The hush agreement is for something else. It repeats again and again that she has to return something she appropriated from him (and NOT related to their affair). It invokes pictures and texts, his family, his children, his 'alleged' children, paternity, and sexual actions and conduct. She most likely copied things from his phone or discussions they had (men tend to do that post-coitus). She can not discuss them while the hush agreement is active. That's what they are trying to suppress, no the affair, but the other things she either saw or heard, and they don't sound good. Either he has other children out of wedlock, Tiffany is not his daughter, or the rumors about him and Ivanka are true. This second act is NOT about the affair.
8
Has Trump taken the highest office in our nation to a new level, or what?!
31
"...or what?!"
To a new deplorable depth of decadence.
8
New depths.
1
So let me get this straight: a) she's made everything up, meaning b) Trump's lawyer paid her $130,000 just because -- no reason; yet c) she must be silenced and stripped of her First Amendment rights to free speech and d) the open courts provision must be nullified too so that we can have secret trials in this country regarding the affairs of a sitting President.
Sure, all of that makes perfect sense.
The Trump supporters are either really really not smart, or they just do not care about this country.
128
"The Trump supporters are either really really not smart, or they just do not care about this country."
It's both.
20
I'll be glad to contribute a "go-fund-me" effort to cover the $1M if imposed.
41
Stormy Daniels for president! Even she'd be an improvement over what we have now.
32
I'm hoping a settlement includes Stormy becoming press secretary. I'd order cable tv service for that alone.
6
Is it any accident that McDougal is accusing the arbitrators of a sleazy-lawyer trick that is perfectly matched to a sleazy Trump trick?
The arbitrators are accused of including a provision allowing Trump to recover $1M for a breach of the agreement, and to obtain a restraining order for a threatened breach. Then Trump allegedly comes along and declines to sign the agreement, asking a third party to pay the settlement amount. Once McDougal "threatens" a breach of the inchoate agreement, they seek a TRO. It is a giant smokescreen that only a true creep could come up with.
McDougal's only recourse is to go to court to resolve the vexing and expensive question of whether or not an agreement exists.
7
Trump himself may need saving, perhaps through being "born again", but think of all the unborn fetuses and guns he can save. Is this the Evangelical calculus?
3
A slimy president makes no good news. He feeds on amorality. He is not a symbols of what makes America Great, but a sad show of how low a nation can sink when it elects an ego instead of a human being.
32
Great opportunity for Larry Flynt to step up and and guarantee to indemnify Stormy for a Hustler exclusive.
33
Can we be done with this story?
Can we please focus on the staggering size of the loans Kushner negotiated with WH visitors?
Focus on the big stuff.
29
Nothing in the order says Trump won that the allegations are not true. I find the order bizarre. Although the order says it was granted in part, we do not know what else Trump asked for but was denied since we do not see the application for restraining order.
Trump should release the application itself.
The order fails to state that the Arbitrator found that Mr. Trump has standing to sue, that he is in privity of contract.
In court, I would expect Daniels to prevail given that Trump paid nothing and failed to sign the contract.
Another take away is Sarah Huckabee lied when she claimed Trump won. Nothing in the order rules on the merits.
Moreover, the merits are NOT that no sex happened. The merits are whether Daniels is allowed to talk about the Confidential information.
Clearly, Trump's lawyer drafted the agreement, not Daniel's lawyer and Trump was concerned that Daniels would talk about whether Trump had illegitimate children because that is addressed in Paragraph 4.1(a) of the Non-Disclosure agreement: "including but not limited to his children or any alleged children or any of his alleged sexual partners . . ."
Clearly, nothing in the restraining order says Trump proved is not like Arnold Schwarznegger.
8
Neither Ms. Lewinsky nor Marilyn Monroe were paid off so as to hide the reality and hence facilitate an election. This issue deserve full disclosure and investigation. Were campaign finance rules violated? It appears so.
Commonsense says that in the event that an individual didn't sign his/her name on a document, then that document doesn't provide protection for the unsigned individual. Hence, that agreement ought not deserve any traction whatsoever.
This buyout smells of fraud. After all, DJT's lawyer didn't sleep with this young lady, so why is a TRO being granted in the absence of the other side being given an opportunity to respond?
21
So do not look for Sarah Sanders at the press briefing today.
Trump is most unhappy that Sarah implicated him in the
"hush-up-Stormy" arbitration case by claiming that "Trump won".
David Dennison, John Barron, John Miller, Donald Trump....
You are all in deep trouble.
28
"deep trouble."
Isn't that what DT stands for?
1
What strikes me is how much smaller the carrot ($130,000) is than the stick ($1,000,000). What a cheapskate.
23
So Trump's "bimbo eruptions" are claimed to be fake news, except that there are legal proceedings that outline the claims and the payoffs.
Well, well, well. Trump and his lawyers have some splainin' to do. And some campaign finance forms to revise.
Why do I think there are more revelations to come?
14
Kissing and telling is all about money and opportunity. The American way. Go for it!
4
An innocent POTUS would not need a restraining order to silence a false witness. The public funds, time and inexcusable distractions from serious global problems squandered by his gross embarrassments to our nation can not continue. With his administrative staff and ill-chosen, incompetent, self-serving appointees scattering like fleas off the carcass of a rabid dog, it is clearly time for dtrump to be removed from office and frog-marched to Guantanamo Bay. And too, that his entire administration and coterie of unqualified appointees be dismissed and replaced with qualified, dedicated public servants.
14
No doubt Cohen has Power of Attorney for Trump. Why didn't he just sign as POA? What an interesting covfefe.
10
Happy retirement, Ms. Sanders.
14
The hush contract as I read it, is between P.P. and (EC and/or D.D.)
I'm not a lawyer, all the pages were initialled PP and EC..., but unless EC and D.D. were identified as a single entity, which they were not, EC's initials
covered EC only....D.D. (Trump) never signed and therefore this is not a binding agreement between him and P.P. (Daniels).
I would be fascinating to place Trump under oath face to face with Daniels in a court of law.
(how long can his wife tolerate this while protecting her son?)
13
Actually, the first paragraph refers to EC "and/or" DD as being "the party of the first part," and PP as "party of the second part," so they may have an argument that DD's signature was not needed to satisfy the requirement that the Agreement be signed "by the Parties."
3
Around America, poor people idle in prison because they can't pay fines imposed for petty offenses, e.g. Ferguson, Missouri. Meanwhile, the rich live in an alternate universe where money solves all problems and they are never held accountable for their actions no matter how hurtful.
22
The penalty is only $1 million or so if she breaks the agreement, which I bet Ms. Clifford could raise online in a day, promising to pay it back if not needed. Then she could speak out and wait for Trump and Cohen to sue for the money. They would only compound the damage if they sued her for speaking the truth.
13
I am very familiar with how legal arbitration works (between ALL parties) and from reading this and other accounts, it appears this was a 'one sided arbitration'--Ms Daniels was left out of the arbitration.
How could any determination be binding?
12
The issue for me in the Trump-Clifford affair is the ongoing attempts to "hush" it up and the potential legal and political issue it raises. That Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, is currently actively trying to "restrain" Ms. Clifford from talking indicates to potential for further legal complications. As with the Steele dossier claiming similar salacious compromising behavior by Donald Trump, we now know that he, in fact, is compromised and has been and still is trying to "silence" her. Why? This and other questions about who actually paid the $130,000 just before the 2016 election, where did the funds come from, and, of course, now President Trump's involvement in all of this will have to be answered. And, the legal precedents from the Clinton-Lewinsky affair will require to parties to explain it immediately to the court.
7
There is a serious problem with arbitration if rulings can be made without any input from one of the parties involved. Recent concerns about the use of arbitration pale in comparison to this.
8
I think the cat's out of the bag. :-)
13
So the penalty for Ms. Clifford speaking out is $1 million. I'll bet there are at least 1 million Americans who would pony up a buck to hear what Ms. Clifford has to say.
41
One can't help wonder what "consideration" the Arbitrator, Ms. Conner, was provided by Trump's lawyer to gag Ms. Clifford over an agreement that he never signed and to do so without the knowledge or counterargument of Ms. Clifford. This decision stinks to High Heaven along with the parties that benefited from it.
10
So if Mr. Trump does not know anything about the payment, then, by extension he knows nothing about the non-disclosure agreement, and therefore he must not have entered into a contract, which requires among other things mutual assent to its provisions and terms. If Mr. Cohen represented to Ms. Clifford and her attorney that they were entering into a contract with Mr. Trump and that Cohen had the authority to represent him in this matter, then he misrepresented the party with whom the contract was being made. What representations were made to the arbitrator and the court? There appears to be numerous layers of potential fraud and misrepresentation at play here. Mr. Trump can't have it both ways, either he knew and authorized the contract and payment and the contract is valid, or he didn't and it isn't.
12
Another in the constant stream of presidential "shock and awe." It's hardly shocking anymore. In fact, you couldn't make this stuff up in a Hollywood studio.
3
"life is stranger than fiction."
being con-firmed over & over again.
When a lawyer needs a lawyer, you know there is something quite rotten here. That said, I agree with Bernie Sanders: Instead of Stormy Daniels and the mysterious "David Dennison," pay close attention to the Bank Bill that the Republican Congress is trying to pass. The latter will have far greater consequences.
14
bread and circuses!
[at work & working since time immemorial.]
1
Jim Rutenberg's and Peter Baker's article lacks the kind of background explanation that usually accompanies excellent Times' journalism that anticipates and answer questions that readers will have.
In this case, how does a private arbitration company, and its hired retired judge, have the authority to issue a "restraining order"? How could they enforce it without going through the official legal system and its due process?
And why could not the formal legal system declare the contract engineered by Michael D. Cohen on Trump's behalf unenforceable on public-policy grounds, as it serves to hide evidence of criminal violation of election law?
Examples of unenforceable contracts:
Restrictive covenants on real-estate deeds barring sales to certain races are not enforceable.
Nor would be enforceable entirely-voluntary contracts to enter into slavery (with life-or-death or physical-abuse rights ceded to the slave-owner), say, in exchange for a lump sum to pay for cancer treatment of a slave's kin.
4
The Order of the "Emergency Arbitrator" is what's called a "Temporary Restraining Order" or TRO. It does not signify that Trump (or Cohen!) has "won" the arbitration; rather, it just directs that the status quo be maintained during any process of arbitrating the dispute. A party should establish "a reasonable likelihood of success on the merits" in order to get a TRO, but this one was issued on an "emergency" basis, apparently with no input or opposition from Ms. Clifford's side. Hence, the "reasonable likelihood of success" standard will not have been authoritatively ruled on.
The outcome may turn on the arbitrability of the dispute. I have not seen a copy of the agreement between Ms. Clifford and "DD" which, among other things, would contain the agreement to arbitrate and some reference to the terms of such arbitration process. One question is whether Cohen, with or without Trump, can enforce the agreement; also, absent a signature from Trump, is Ms. Clifford effectively estopped from contesting the binding nature of the agreement by virtue of having accepted payment of the $130,000. This may be a tough case for Ms. Clifford.
However, none of this has anything whatsoever to do with whether the payment by way of this "Hush Agreement" constituted an illegal campaign contribution. It clearly does depict the disgraceful, embarrassing, and despicable conduct we have seen SO many times from Trump.
10
Naturally, attempting to silence Ms Clifford only calls more attention to an illicit affair. Right-wingers appear to have no problem concocting preposterous story lines and conspiracy theories to advance their political agenda, so it seems like the other side will now have free rein to let their imaginations run wild with this story and how it affects Trump's politics - and marriage. Not the first lie or failure to disclose that gives progressives this opportunity.
2
I don't get why this is news. FDR, JFK, Eisenhower, all had consensual affairs and Clinton, of course, had his issues consensual and some maybe not. If the point is that rich powerful men have their pick of beautiful women, I think most every adult understands that.
1
maybe this is less about beauty
and much more about dishonesty
[and probably a whole lot else]?
1
Because the hush money, paid to keep her quiet during the election, might have constituted an illegal campaign contribution, among other reasons.
1
A contract is a meeting meeting of minds. With Trump the denying he entered the contract, never having signed the contract and it now being known that he was not the source of any money paid pursuant to the contract, why does Trump's lawyer and the arbitrator think he has anything to do with the contract? Trump's lawyer denies that he's a party to the contract. So miss Daniels has a contract with nobody. There is no Meeting of Minds or contract.
2
Why is Sarah Huckabee/Sanders addressing this issue as a government employee? She speaks for the Executive Office; she's not a private personal secretary. So it's a matter of national concern, then, and the public's business. Trump can't have it both ways.
6
President Trump consistently denies reports which are later proven true. Each additional occurrence casts greater doubt on the denials which have yet to be resolved.
I wonder, what are the statistics here? Are there any credible reports that have been denied, where Trump is later vindicated? Or, do they all fall into one of two categories: denials that have been proven to be lies and denials where the jury is still out?
2
Sarah Sanders stated yesterday that Trump won the "arbitration agreement".
Sarah's in big trouble as she admits Trump was actively trying to shut Stormy up.
8
Remember when GOP Rep. Peter King declared that the tan suit worn by Obama revealed his "lack of seriousness." Or when Sean Hannity and Karl Rove mocked Obama for his so-called "latte salute" to US Marines?
But now we have a situation in which a star of adult films is far more credible than the sitting president regarding claims of an affair that took place while Trump was playing celebrity mogul and his wife was home with a 4-month-old baby.
If find the current silence by the GOP and Fox just as disgusting as the notion of a 60-year-old pajama-bottoms-clad Trump hooking up with a porn star in his hotel room in Lake Tahoe and now pretending in 2018, in classic adulterer fashion, that it never happened while his attorney scrambles to cover up his hush money scheme gone wrong.
27
NYT Commenters reduced to rooting for a porn actress who engaged in blackmail.
Says everything.
1
You misunderstand the comments, my friend (or Russian troll). People here are rooting for the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.
1
This story is still making the front page? It didn't happen during his presidency, so who cares? No one, except for hypocrites that supported Bill Clinton.
Oh Please. People don't pony up 130K in Idaho for nothing do they?
7
Hi Andrew,
I just had an Idaho potato for lunch. Fascinating isn't it? Thought this would be something you would care about.
3
The story is happening right now. The coverup of what was arguably an illegal campaign contribution in the final days of the election (that can only have helped Trump win) is ongoing.
1
Boy, I bet Clinton wished he had one of those for Monica.
But Monica never talked. She still hasn't. Her friend did.
Looks like Stormy yanked the last shard (an iota) of honor and integrity out of Sarah Huckabee Sanders. I guess Sarah Huckabee Sanders skips that part of her Scripture about lying down with dogs...
Salvation is a miracle and our thoughts and prayers go out to Trump, Daniels and Sanders is this winter of malcontent.
Like the Prof. George says in "...Virginia Woolfe" "I'm mistrustful, very mistrustful."
21
A haiku for Sarah Huckabee Sanders:
Sarah’s false witness
Insults our intelligence
Please make her stop now
3
While this is a juicy side-story that potentially speaks loudly to the moral functioning of our POTUS, I believe there are significantly "more important" matters that concern the nation, no?
6
And we're reading all of those stories, too.
8
I am no legal expert, I only watch TV shows about lawyers, but this restraining order is for Peggy Petersen, not Stormy Daniels or Stephanie Clifford. So, Peggy if you are out there, we are behind you and hope you get your day in court. Stormy and Stephanie, feel free to sing from the mountain tops.
17
Sing about what? Sex? Clinton, JFK and LBJ all had girls on the side.
Just how much of Trump’s time, energy, and (limited) focus is being spent on this? To what crewmember of this rapidly sinking ship of fools is he relegating his daily duties as POTUS? Based on how he obsesses (especially about himself) I’m pretty certain this is all he is working on these days.
Will the Right begin to scream about how much of a distraction from the people’s business and conduct unbecoming this is, as it did with Bill Clinton, or will it continue to whistle a happy tune while looking the other way? (No need to answer that. I know what it’ll do.)
13
Ms. Daniel's should follow Hope Hick's example. Release the photos, then claim that your email/computer was hacked.
16
We all know there was an affair, even if it makes us a little ill to think about it. So why are Trump's people so desperate to muzzle Miz Stormy? She must have something to say that goes way beyond, "We had sex." Like something highly personal that would be damaging to the manly image Mr. Trump tries so hard to project?
31
That's ,exactly what it is, the affair part is out and known. The hush agreement was for her to return media she appropriated from him (not about them) probably from his phone when he was sleeping, pics and text messages, and maybe also conversations they had. It concerns his family, children, 'alleged' children, paternity, sexual conduct (as opposed to sexual actions). Stormy said she was moved to share that information after the other women came forward. Their relation was consensual, so it is NOT about their affair. Either he has other children out of wedlock, Tiffany is not his daughter, or confirmations on the rumors between him and Ivanka.
6
somebody can easily end this saga-who? Any of the plaintiffs now suing Trump for slander for calling them liars for claiming he harassed them can subpoena Stormy and take her deposition. A private nondisclosure agreement usually will not permit a witness to refuse to answer relevant questions, otherwise thee would never be any witnesses to anything
14
Apparently now S Huckabee has made a slip...or told the truth! Same thing in this administration, the only time the truth will be uttered...And now Trump is tied to Stormy...and eh is fuming! He is no better than the people he derided during the election and the Republican representatives have said not a peep, unlike their ranting and screaming along with Trump about BIll Clinton, who at least owned up to his behavior, but I am sure Trump will now pay more than $130,000 and this is good news.
14
Sara Sanders is now in hot water because she said trump had "won" the arbitration.
Only the Best and Brightest.
36
With all the money in politics it seems even $1+ mil in potential damages wouldn't be an obstacle to violating a restraining order if it meant damning dirt on Trump.
The question is to what end. The only part of Trump's base that might conceivably be jolted by the revelation would be the Evangelical culture-warriors, but they've already given Trump a blanket 'mulligan' for any sinful transgressions whatsoever.
But if a Democrat was doing any of these lies/scandals/treason that Trump gets away with under his blanket license to sin? Heavens! Mercy!! God's wrath would be made manifest by 24/7 outrage on fox, Christians would be marching in streets demanding immediate resignation, & they'd likely get it.
9
Cheaters cheat and he is a known cheater - in all aspects of his life. It is appalling that he got elected, but his past personal and business behavior inform what type of president he would be.
Aside from how we will prevent Russian interference in elections in the future, I want to know when we will require full financial disclosures for candidates in the future.
11
Is the arbitration firm ADR Services, Inc. and the arbitrator Jacqueline A. Connor participating in the cover-up of a federal felony - an illegal and unreported contribution to the Trump campaign by Michael Cohen or an undisclosed person?
Are there no ethics left in the legal profession?
12
An arbitrator has only authority to rule on a narrow question of whether a contract was breached. Her Temporary Restraining Order is only intended to last until there can be a reply by Ms. Clifford. That is why it is called "temporary."
The Hon. Connor has no power to consider wider legal issues. She is not a judge of general jurisdiction in any court.
2
The silence from the republican party is so loud it's deafening.
Lying and cheating is the rule of the day for that entire party...does Gerrymandering come to mind????
31
Well, he didn't want the job in the first place so let's just fire the transgressor and get back to governing the country with some one who actually cares and wants to be a respectable President.
7
Cant wait to hear the ever-evolving defense of Trump's behavior from people like Franklin Graham, the evangelist and Donald apologist. Last week it was the "Cyrus the Great Defense" from Netanyahu and American fundamentalists- where the Lord uses a moral wreck of a guy to do "His will". Not sure about restraining orders for involvement with porn ladies while your wife gives birth, but I guess we will see.
10
Serial wife-cheating Trump is giving the evangelicals an
infinite amount of practice "forgiving".
3
Fascinating, both the President and Ms Daniels used false names. Not even commonly used by either, just made up. As commented in another post, generally courts do not even recognize agreements signed using totally
Reading the arbitrators stay what strikes me is the invented names, not used or known to be used by the parties. Kind of like your signing an agreement as “Yosemite Sam”. What? Who?
Honestly, I and probably most readers are well over somehow thinking this is special or unique for Donnie. Casual paid sex, simple reality for him. Duhhh, kind of so what? Groundhog day anyone.?
The biggest issue is the fake movement of money and payola between Donnie and Mr Cohn. That is clearly a big big legal issue, violates federal campaign laws as an unreported contribution. Violates , seemingly, a multitude of bar association ethics rules, comingling assets, tax law 1099 anyone? ( Who gets the 1099? Donnie for gift? Ms Daniels under the pseudonym used here? Whose SS number? Holy cow, the tax fraud and law violations one sees here are massive.
Sex, who cares, I dont, donnie is donnie and has played that role for 40 plus years, YAWN, tax and election fraud.... now THAT is real.
15
Look, I don't really care what President Trump, or private citizen Trump, is or was doing in his spare time. That is his business and that of his family. Liberals need to be very careful here: recall the various defenses they threw out to rationalize President Clinton's extra curricular activities before and after he became president,
But I enjoy watching these Bible Belt Republicans, who rail about family values, twist themselves into pretzels trying to rationalize the President's sophomoric behavior, or lob out the "no comment" line. Imagine if President Obama had been caught with a porn star, or a librarian for that matter. The GOP and Fox News would have been apoplectic, calling for investigations etc.
13
I care about the fact that a sitting President is spending time and money on this instead of working.
3
The whole point of the Stormy Daniels affair is to prove Trump a liar, once and for all, in open court. It's amazing how his supporters all believe him as long as he says fake news. There is a mountain of evidence and accusations against him yet they refuse to acknowledge.
Although any normal, logical person believes the accusations, they can still be considered questionable because he denies and there is none of what they consider hard evidence. This would be a concrete example of his lying.
23
Republicans declared pornography a "public health crisis" in their 2016 platform. They seem awfully mute about the misdeeds of their leader with some of that industry's stars.
137
You declared that womyn should earn as much as men, and yet there are virtually no male porn stars, they're all basically stand-ins paid nothing. When do you plan to, well, rectify this travesty of gender inequality.
Too much column space on this in the NYT. This belongs on HuffPost. Please address real issues. The coverage of Native American issues, lack of communication infrastructure, and plenty of other stories should be on the front page. Not this.
Trump’s affairs are nothing new. The Republicans don’t care. Nor does the hypocritical Christian Right. Trump has lots of skeletons in his closet. I’m only interested if they get him indicted for real crimes.
16
Not enough space given to this issue!
1
You don't see this behavior as of a piece with Trump's cooperation with the Kremlin?
Trump or Cohen hid from the FEC his campaign contribution of the funding to keep Ms. Clifford quiet in November of 2016.
1
I wonder how this makes Melania and Ivanka feel with this swirling around them, are they still in denial or can they bring themselves to support Stormy Daniels and realize that the husband and father they thought they knew, is not worth standing beside, he's a philandering liar and always been that way!
10
The only person who we should feel sorry for is the child.
4
How do we know if the actress Stormy Daniels isn't some sort of Russian operative mole?!?
'The Spy Who Loved Me' and 'From Russia With Love', she starred in these, right?
Please Stormy...do what Ryan, McConnell and the rest of the GOP are afraid to do...expose Trump for what he is...a man without shame or a conscience!
Gratefully yours,
An American patriot!
41
An order from rent a judge, without giving notice first is not due process. Jacqueline O Connor the LA ADR judge should ashamed.
12
RE: "...Jacqueline O Connor the LA ADR judge should ashamed"
In that universe there is no shame...just look at "Judge Jeannine" on FOX--if I were an attorney, people like that would make me find a new profession.
Who enforces the private rules of ADR Services, Inc.?
And who is Peggy Peterson?
4
Nothing burger again for his base. There is a letter to the editor in my local Virginia paper extolling the virtues and greatness of Dear Leader. Astounding.
4
Are Trump supporters still going to shrug off these revelations? How much more do they need? In my view, even this isn't going to turn them off -- I think they secretly admire this ignorant, racist alpha male and will continue to support him.
Evangelicals. ---can we hear from you now?
6
They might not even know about it. Fox News makes no mention of Stormy Daniels - check out their website and you'll see they live in a different universe.
4
It’s no wonder that Stormy Daniels is unhappy with her $130,000 payment. Bill Clinton paid Paula Jones $850,000 to drop her sexual harassment lawsuit.
2
Not sure about Clinton since you provide no source. Cite one or two.
But Daniels stands to make millions blabbering about David Dennison, AKA POTUS.
6
What an ugly embarrassment - on literally ever front. Talk to a fellow from up North (Canada) the other day and he said "yea, we used to have such respect for America - Obama was so classy"..... yep!
21
Is there not something inconsistent about the president's stance? If he is truthful (which would be a first for him) that he did not have an affair, then why is it necessary to issue a restraining order preventing her from talking about it? It would mean that she was paid $130,000 to not talk about something that didn't happen.
255
Pretty much.
3
Precisely. But the restraining order (such as it is) is on behalf of EC, LLC. Not Cohen, not Trump. So EC will need to dial in some people - a CEO, staff, board, etc.
We all know he has a strong ego, so there is that. And, for him, that kind of money is probably not a big deal if it would avoid embarrassment.
1
A question of standing will have to be decided with regard to Mr. Cohen and his ability to enforce a contract to which he may not be a party. Unsigned contracts are generally not enforceable and I have not run into any State that will enforce or find valid a contract wherein there is a false name used for signature of a contract. " In some cases, AKA" or alias names may be used when there is sufficient evidence that the name is a commonly used name for the party and proof can be offered that the party used the name in legal proceedings prior to the signing. Here, there appears to be no signing, thus no expression of a meeting of the minds, therefore a void contract. Even with a valid contract, Mr. Cohen appears to be counsel and has represented himself as such and would not be a party to the agreement or dispute. Mr. Cohen has further stated extemporaneously that he was "not reimbursed" by the party for whom he made a settlement payment, thus cementing his status as a representative of teh party and not a party to the contract or agreement.
85
Would there be an argument that there was an enforceable 'quasi contract' based on her acceptance of a payment?
What I find interesting about this is that the original "hush order" apparently included the term "paternity" in the list of topics she was agreeing not to discuss.
Doubtless, Trump fans will argue that that term is just part of the "standard language" of these types of agreements. I doubt, however, that Trump's well-paid attorneys did nothing more than provide him with a standard form you could find on a website. I believe that every word in that agreement was chosen specifically for his situation.
Is $130,000 the going rate for keeping quiet about an abortion?
185
O'Reilly had to pay 30 million to just one of his victims.
So this explains why Trump urged O'Reilly to fight against these sexual harassment accusations so vehemently. Trump knew his own hush money measly $100 K payments would likely be "revisited" by his accusers.
7
Seems a tad low to me.
1
Well, we all know now.
She was asked to keep it to herself but obviously wanted the publicity.
As this relationship was prior to the presidential election and doesn't appear to have any effect apart from the publicity, and perhaps embarrassment, I don't care. I feel sorry for someone who wants a one time romance to be her big claim to fame.
Plenty of presidents carried on affairs before and during their time in the WH.
The big difference now is the current attitude over self-disclosure and attempts to establish a social media persona at any cost.
If you don't like what is going on with this president you might want to consider that this isn't going to stop any time soon and will continue through future presidencies.
In the future any president who doesn't get this kind of treatment must be brought up in a monastery or convent - oops, strike that - on a desert island.
2
Was this your reaction when it was Bill Clinton? Was this your reaction when Trump paraded Clinton's supposed "victims" at the debate who were also publicity-seeking and equally consenting opportunists? Did you see this sort of thing with Barrack Obama? As far as I know, he wasn't brought up on a desert island.
16
The story is that his side reached out to squelch the story, in connection with his campaign to be our President. Please think about that.
5
Really? Tell that to Barack Obama, George H.W. Bush and George W. Bush. Pretty sure they weren't brought up in a monastery or desert island, and yet we never heard about any of them carrying on affairs before becoming president. Stop trying to rationalize this President's low moral fiber and lack of character. This country deserves better.
11
This article states "The contract gives Mr. Trump the right to seek financial penalties of more than $1 million in arbitration should Ms. Clifford break or threaten to break her agreement to stay silent."
This makes me want to go out and start a GoFundMe account to raise the $1 million. Perhaps there are enough other interested citizens who would contribute in order to start hearing the truth about our so called "President". This also begs the question: How much would we need to pay to see Trump's tax returns?
270
My thoughts exactly!
2
Except then you'd be raising $1 million to go to Trump and/or his lawyer. Do you really want to do that?
Don't worry, we'll see them as soon as the audit is completed.
1
I am a bit confused by the legal implications of Ms Daniels disclosures. It is reported that she could be fined over 1 million dollars. I am sure she could make a lot more by disclosing everything. Moreover, it appears to me that she has already disclosed enough to be fined. So why not disclose everything? Can someone clarify this?
14
The $1M is contractual damages for breach of the NDA, and can be awarded by an arbitrator. However Trump would then have to get the arbitrator's award to a Court before he could enforce it. There are many obstacles before any award in any amount would be enforced by a Court.
As she is in the entertainment business, why not get the publicity?
It's 1 million per infraction, so it could really add up. But I'm with you - I don't think the contract has validity. But just to make sure she needs to go through the courts.
What & where would Trump be without his army of lawyers & thugs? This is not a rhetorical question. Based on what we see of his guttural actions against friends & foes alike, he clearly understands what is waiting for him without his wall of fear and chaos
31
How uncharacteristic. I would expect Trump to be bragging about the affair. That it happened is already public knowledge.
Unless it was paid for, or "unsuccessful."
16
....or contained another element, such as an abortion........ that might actually wake up his fans?
12
Dear L.J., except she's a porn star. If she got pregnant by Trump, it would have been on purpose, and the pay off to end the pregnancy would be a lot greater.
1
I think the real intent is not to "silence" her -- since her story is pretty well known, having been published long before she was paid off -- but to prevent her releasing or selling text messages, selfies and videotapes of Trump. Read the hush agreement.
61
She will be curating a bidding war between Trump and the media for the purchase of those "momentos".
1
By the way, did anyone notice that the restraining order Trump's lawyer obtained is against a person that doesn't exist: "Peggy Peterson"? Good luck with "Donald Dennison" (or whatever "Carlos Danger"-type name Trump adopted to conceal his identity in this deal) enforcing this "order". Also, unlike a court order, one entered by an arbitrator paid by Trump has to go to court for enforcement. Somehow, I can't imagine "Donald Dennison" deciding to to that.
22
Why shouldn't the American public know about Trump's affairs? We knew all about President Clinton's. We've heard all about President Kennedy's. Grover Cleveland, LBJ, Warren G. Harding. FDR, Thomas Jefferson, James Garfield and even George Washington had affairs. Why shouldn't the current president's affairs be discussed? It's not like the information isn't public already. He has practically admitted it himself. No one believes he's been faithful to his wives--in fact, it's public knowledge that he had an affair with #2 while still married to #1. So, what's the big deal? Let the woman speak and write her inevitable book.
97
I was sick to death with the Clinton Monica Lewinski story and all its salacious details. Without passing moral judgment I found the affair a private matter between husband and wife even though it seemed impossible with all the righteous out there who were at the time shocked - just shocked and appalled. I feel the same way today even with the tawdry addition of a payoff for silence which may or may not have to do with a political campaign. Didn't we do this before? Didn't we suffer enough with this type of scandal? Must we repeat hours of discussion and judgment once again? It appears today we aren't sure whether or not we should listen to Cotton Mather or adhere to the free love movement. Anything goes or it doesn't. We do and should expect more from our leaders but unfortunately we elect flawed human beings, some more than others.
22
Trump as the de facto candidate of hard line religious complicates your narrative.
Preaching at people and then supporting a porn star on the side still doesnt pass the smell test in America.
14
Dear LAM,
Please don't forget the very big difference between the Clinton scandal and this: we the taxpayers paid tens of millions of dollars for the Starr investigation, including paying for prurient pornographic footnotes in the Starr Report that served no purpose whatsoever other than to internationally humiliate a sitting President. We paid for that.
Stormy Daniels is costing taxpayers nothing. That's a big difference.
3
Yes, we must repeat it because this time it is a Republican in the crosshairs of the same gun that the Republican party wielded against Clinton. They brutally and ruthlessly waged a devastating campaign in the name of morality and family values that gave the presidency to Bush. Now, magically and conveniently, morality and family values mean nothing to Republicans after they used that slogan repeatedly to grab power all across the land. And they are now speedily dismantling the country before our very eyes.
Yes, we must repeat this again and again with Republicans to expose them for the hypocrites they are and force them to a reckoning. If you're sick to death of it, then stop paying attention but I for one want every one Trump's affairs exposed and paraded before the Republican Party so that their nuclear weapon of morality and family values that's wrecked this country is effectively neutralized once and for all. My future is at stake because of it.
PS: Bonus points for the Cotton Mather mention. It's really his angry puritan spirit that's been animating the Republican Party which has held us back for so long. It needs to be exposed and sent back into history where it belongs.
24
Please carefully re-read Michael Cohen's statement. He says he didn't make the payment to Ms. Clifford in behalf of "the Trump Organization" or "the Trump Campaign." He did NOT say that the payment wasn't made in behalf of Donald Trump personally. This is a classic non-denial denial, which the press, including the Times, has passed along far too credulously, instead of commenting on the mile-wide loophole Cohen left. Furthermore, he says it wasn't a campaign contribution. Pushed to the wall, I'm sure he'd say it was a settlement payment, aimed to resolve a dispute about money owed for services rendered.
75
That would open up another fascinating can of worms, wouldn't it? What services, and for whom?
2
Agreed. There is a dearth of cogent reporting on legal matters in general. Even a one-L would spot the issues you’ve noted.
1
These salacious reports of Trump’s myriad moral failings don’t seem to matter to his unquestioning base, including evangelicals and the “victimized” white working class. These reports certainly don’t matter to the GOP donor class. For evangelicals, it’s all about abortion. For a narrow slice of the working class, the allegations only add to Trump’s “street cred.” For the GOP donor class, it’s all about money, money, money. My advice for everyone else is to avoid Fifth Avenue for awhile.
7
For a narrow slice of the working class, the allegations only add to Trump’s “street cred.”
I take it you mean the men who go to strip clubs?
1
The plot thickens! What I thought might make a surreal Lifetime cable television movie is well on its way to becoming an NBC miniseries, one in which we are left hanging as to whether Dubious Donald will come clean as to why he wasn't at Barron's first birthday party and whether Melania will stand by her man... Regardless, I can't help but think Ms. Clifford has a great deal of evidence that the affair did happen; letters, email, photographs, gifts. And in that it was a consensual affair, why is it that so much attention is being paid to this story and not to the stories of the women who have accused our President of being a sexual harasser?
17
Well gee, if those close to Trump are paying large sums of money to keep women from making baseless claims of sex with Trump, I and many other women would like to know how to get on that list. You don't have to actually have sex with Trump, but just to claim you did, and you get paid to stay quiet? What a deal!
120
Janice - Excellent!! I want on that list as well.
Would you want that reputation, even for $130K?
This is nothing. No Democrat can attack Trump for his sexual behavior, after Clinton’s. Non-issue.
1
Clinton didn't align himself with bible thumpers who wanted to insert religion into public policy and lecture the rest of us about how to conduct our private lives.
9
No, all we need is a independent cousel to take care of the impeachment proceedings for us.
2
And by the same logic, no Republican who criticized, accused, voted to impeach, and/or railed against Bill Clinton for his affairs can stay silent now without admitting to the worst type of moral hypocrisy and intellectual fraud.
20
I hope the Evangelical right wing of this country is pleased with the character of the person they supported for president.
As for that guy Obama, with one happy marriage and not a hint of an affair, well......
293
Its black and white, and painfully clear whats going on here.
4
That's where the Evangelical's have always been. Gettin' on the radio, buggin' you for money. They've always been a bunch of corrupt, sleazy operators, fleecing their flock.
1
They claim "redemption" and "forgiveness"
The GOP had to resort to attacking President Obama because he wore a tan suit.
But Trump has so lowered the standards of the office and overtaxed everyone's outrage receptors that this sordid mess barely registers and Democrats don't even bother to score political points. We are through the looking glass here, people.
158
Think so, huh? We'll see you in November...
2
In the Supreme Court's opinion in Clinton v. Jones, Justice John Paul Stevens wrote in a unanimous decision, "...it appears to us highly unlikely to occupy any substantial amount of petitioner's [President's] time." The decision led to charges of perjury and obstruction of justice and then to Bill Clinton's impeachment in 1998. For Want of a Nail . . .
7
This story is far more salacious than Kennedy and Monroe. Our democracy hangs its' head in shame as it would appear that Trump's election may rest on this payoff.
179
It's beyond salacious. It's disgusting.
2
It shouldn't come as any surprise that Trump would instantly find a way to block her.
4
He blocked Peggy Peterson. The stable genius did not sign the non disclosure agreement, and the arbitration is for Peggy Peterson. I think he needs some different legal representation
3
This is even less interesting than Monica Lewinski and the then President Clinton. Trump wasn't President and this was 12 years ago. Move on.
21
Character matters.
11
What makes this much more more interesting is the blatant hypocrisy of Donald Trump, the denials, the 19 and counting woman who accused him of sexual assault or abusive behavior and attacks on them, his sexist attacks on Hillary Clinton, his abrasive misogynists public shaming of woman, his blatant lying about his predatory behavior which most likely is continuing to this day, and this is only the tip of the Iceberg; besides I want to hear Stormy Daniels full story and see whatever pictures or video she may have to show the people.
20
Let this play out, it is a real scandal. It clearly speaks to his despicable character and will knock him down a few pegs, as he has counted on his wealth to allow him to do as he pleases. Amusingly he doesn't hire the best and the brightest. Cohen is a sub par lawyer who graduated from one of the worst degree mill law schools in the country. If you breathe you can gain admittance and roughly 50% pass the bar.
2
I'd love to know how the "Christian" right, the evangelicals, the "family values" die-hard Trump supporters are rationalizing this one away. At some point, when this horror show is over, there is much to be learned about how it all came to pass that otherwise decent people with genuinely held religious views and convictions could deny truth, facts, reason and support a person whose every action contradicts what they believe. Fox News? Racism? Russian bots? The possibilities for social studies are endless.
130
They will not even address it. The fallback position on any debate is to mention "Obama" as though it is a magical word that wins any argument.
1
It shows their beliefs are rather flexible.
Don't you get it? Trump hates black and brown people and thinks it's OK for kids to get gunned down, so long as the NRA gives him money.
Christians? He speaks their language.
Lawyers and arbitrators are using non-disclosure agreements and secret arbitration proceedings to cover up the commission of a federal crime - an illegal $130,000 campaign contribution. The legal profession should be ashamed of these lawyers and arbitrators who work for people so tawdry that they can't even use their real names.
31
I don't see how such an arbitration proceeding could occur without notifying Ms. Daniels and her lawyers. Is there anything in this whole story that does not smell like a week old convenience store sushi?
5
If Trump had exercised some restraint this restraining order wouldn't be necessary.
10
Oh, stormy, oh, stormy, bring back that sunny day
Yesterday´s love was like a warm summer breeze
but like the weather it changed
New things are dreary baby and it´s windy and cold
and I stand alone in the rain callin´ your name
Stormy, by the Classics IV
6
Carl Hultberg--
RE: "Now things are dreary baby and it´s windy and cold..."
Love it--except that it ruined one of my favorite sing-a-longs...I'll never hear it again without thinking of this sordid mess. :>(
So trump says she can't talk about what never happened?
86
She can't argue that she should be allowed to talk about what never happened.
1
This comment nails it.
The inside scoop to this savory dish under wraps.
Isn't it time for this bumbling and embarrassing administration to be gone? Too bad that the republican House and Senate lack the ethics and backbone to make it so.
9
"President Trump’s lawyer secretly obtained a temporary restraining order last week to prevent a pornographic film star from speaking out about her alleged affair with Mr. Trump."
Please, please, could every purported "Christian" evangelical who supports Trump be asked to justify their support every single day of his ongoing sleaze-fest Presidency? Because I just want to know why it is acceptable to Jesus that this is the Presidential news my daughters have to wake up to. Please make them explain this.
82
Which brings back the subject of Citizens United and "strongly held beliefs". Your question to evangelicals and these "revelations" show that merely having a strongly held belief does not necessarily mean that one will make honest, truthful and proper decisions.
How can any legal decision be based on a completely intangible statement . . . or belief? The Rule of Law can not be ethereal.
1
Hard to believe one feels sympathy for Sanders, but think of it, she stands there and lies day after day to defend this scoundrel official, makes one slip and acknowledges a favorable (if one-sided) arbitration ruling and now she in the dog house. Oh, well, she will figure out a new way to lie
13
can't we all together donate $1,000,000 to Ms. Stormy, so that she can speak?
14
Why? Were you expecting anything actually interesting to be said?
1
NDAs and private arbitration are the rich man's tools for evading justice. They create situations of disproportionate and asymmetrical access to the fair rule of law. Time to use, gosh, the justice system, and not private contracts, to settle legal disputes.
What have the rich got to lose? Oh... right, all that posturing and talk about values, flushed right down the hypocrisy drain.
28
Hate to say this, but the ONLY thing that would sway his supporters would be if Stormy Daniels turns out to be a drag queen who had an affair with trump. I'd like to see the evangelist (who said he accorded trump a "do over" on an extra marital affair) handle THAT!
11
"Ms. Clifford said their relationship was consensual..."
So Melania signed off on the deal?
24
Let’s play this out. Assume Ms. Clifford defies the secret arbitration order. What is President Trump going to do? Have her held in contempt? Bankrupt her? She’s no Obi-Wan Kenobi but such moves would only make her more powerful. Something is definitely rotten in the state of Den-nison.
255
I would think the threat of bankruptcy would put some brains back into this woman’s head. Someone is advising her that she’ll become rich and glamorous if she just keeps talking to the media. Someone is giving her bad advice.
There’s a reason there’s a payout and penalties. It’s in exchange for your silence.
A private arbitrator cannot hold you in contempt, and that's who issued the so-called order. The underlying issue is that if the NDA (Hush Agreement) is invalid, then anything arising from it is as well. The validity may rest on President Dennison's lack of signature or his attorney having revealed it and confirmed the payment. Just sayin'
2
No court in this country would hold someone in contempt for defying a secret arbitration order. That’s why the arbitration was filed; the goal is to set up a damages case in arbitration and try to keep it all secret. Good luck with that.
1
This may seem minor but it really annoys me. Yesterday at SH Sanders presser she states "President Trump won an arbitration case to keep Stormy Daniels
disclosure secret". OK then how come not one of the cream of the crop "journalists" did not ask "How can President Trump have won an arbitration case to something you say never happened?" Am I being too simplistic?
221
You aren't, and that angle got plenty of play after the press conference. WH correspondents have a difficult line to walk, and if they press too hard, they can find themselves getting blackballed and left out in the cold, unable to do their jobs. Given 24 hours to marinate, however, I imagine that question (or ones similar) get asked today. Dimes to donuts it isn't Sanders at the podium today.
2
The journalist from CNN did try to press her but she rebutted with the same response, "This has already been asked and answered. Direct more questions to Trump's outside counsel."
I'm sure that Trump's lawyer paid her with his own money purely out of the goodness of his heart.
5
The Restraining Order names Peggy Peterson as the Respondent. Is that another of Ms. Clifford’s names?
The more the man tries to shut her up, the more he incriminates himself. Way to go Donald!
17
It should be illegal to enforce an NDA to cover up a crime. Trump either paid for sex or he paid hush money. Either way it's a crime.
35
The Republicans don't seem to care if Trump sold America out to the Russians; now, they don't seem to care if he is the Harvey Weinstein of the West Wing.
114
That is why I never could understand anything that motivates a republican besides greed, money for power. Criminal from the get go...
Go figure.
9
How can anyone issue a restraining order against someone in secret without talking to the other party? This is the case f another hush money paid by Cohen to the arbitrator or judge to buy him off. This s like a secret trial against someone without the accused party and convicting him/her. This is supposed t be a free democratic country, not a police or iligarchical state.
14
It can be done for a short-term temporary order - until a hearing can be scheduled for both parties to attend and be heard.
Reminds me a bit of the British star chamber.
1
RE: "Reminds me a bit of the British star chamber."
Indeed--let's hope this is brought under control before they manage to turn the inside of the Pentagon into a modern Tower of London for heads to roll at King Donald's decree.
Okay, so President Trump's lawyer sought a restraining order to silence a pornographic actor who claimed to have had an affair with him. Meanwhile, his administration is under multiple investigations for potential collusion with the enemy, financial malfeasance, and likely a battery of other charges. Yet the GOP remains obtusely, stunningly silent. Remember the GOP's seething contempt for President Obama, whom they deemed "amoral", "imperialist", "elitist," "inexperienced", "unpatriotic", and the like?
Where is Rudy Giuliani, the man who denounced Obama as the "President who does not love America"?
Where is Gov. Scott Walker, the man who brazenly speculated that Obama "is not a Christian"?
And Ted Cruz, who said Obama is an "apologist for radical islam", have you lost your voice too?
Your collective silence will go down in history.
543
I expect they are all in the same place as the liberal feminists who loudly denounced Bill Agee’s relationship with his subordinate Mary Cunningham but fell inexplicably mute when President Clinton abused his far more extreme power imbalance with Monica Lewinski. Now the we no longer are talking about a liberal at Democrat(Bill Clinton) those brave feminists have rmiraculously recovered their MeToo voices!
What hypocrites!
3
JR--
RE: "...feminists..."
You were apparently not listening back when--there were many of us who denounced Mr. Clinton's behavior. It was wrong.
The problem for me is the converse of Ronald Reagan who claimed the Democrat party "...left [him]..." The part of "family values left me & millions of others when they allowed the likes of Newt (trade in one wife for a newer model) Gingerich, Clarence Thomas, et. al. to spit in the face of women so repeatedly for years, and then embraced Mr. Trump. Likewise, though active in in Campus Crusade & a number of other Jesus Revolution experiences in the '70s, the un-Christian ugliness of Falwell/Falwell, Jr./Franklin Graham/Pat Robertson/Jimmy Swaggert/Franklin Graham/the Duck Dynasty bunch/etc. demonstrates how far Evangelicals have strayed from the teachings of Christ.
7
JR...winner of today's "whataboutism" award. Congratulations!
5
What would Stormy Daniels be able to tell us about Trump? His sexual proclivities? Gross!
The only ones suffering from this skirmish are probably Melania and Barron. Trump's supporters are just fine with our stud in the Oval Office. The GOP Congress seems to have avoided the MeToo# movement and there will be no calls for accountability by Trump.
So is this just about Stormy using her 15 minutes of fame to maximum effect?
A campaign finance infraction? That is a nothing burger.
Embarrassing? No, just another day in Trumpworld.
Steve Bannon had said that during the final days of the transition before the inauguration hundreds of pay offs were being arranged. It appears that Trump's pit bull lawyer, Michael Cohen, may have become overwhelmed and improperly executed this agreement with Stormy. He certainly should have had this NDA down pat with all the work if Bannon is to be believed.
10
Assume that for you, Bill Clinton's personal life was also a nothing burger.
3
Compared to this, it was.
2
Let Stormy speak. If we have to suffer through having the nasty Republicans in charge of the country, at least let us have the benefit of some juicy gossip.
51
You're right. She needs to get it all off her chest.
6
Of all the mayhem and war Trump has started in and with other countries it would truly ironic if the thing that brings his presidency down is a pornstar.
We do need another Mark Felt - pseudonym not required.
25
What about the First Amendment? Doesn't Stormy Daniels have every right to speak in public? This right cannot be infringed by a POTUS, Can it? In order to sue Ms Daniels Mr. Trump would have to acknowledge some relationship with this Porn Star. No matter what happens next, this whole sordid business shows just what type of sleaze we have elected to be POTUS, as if we didn't already know what Trump was before the 2016 election. He will not be the first POTUS to have had extramarital relations but he certainly must be the first to have had relations with a Porn star; unless of course one thinks of Marilyn Monroe as a porn star. Unfortunately his personal sleazy behavior seems to extend to his presidential dealings as well as hi personal life. Bill clinton was impeached by a Republican House for less egregious behavior. (It must be something in the nature of those who seek the presidency.)
7
He was impeached for lying under oath, the eventual fate of tRump I expect.
2
Presidential sex scandal? Gee, I guess Ken Starr needs to come out of retirement to investigate. I wonder if Rehnquist left his fancy stripey impeachment robes for Roberts.
14
Ken Starr could not be bothered to investigate hundreds of rapes at Baylor. I dont' know what gets the Starr going, but iI doubt this republican president can do anything at all that would bring Starr out of his coffin. He needs to be thrown in jail.
1
There goes your hopes for a shot at Mt. Rushmore, Mr. trump!
3
He may still make it into the Museum of Porn; he's already in the Adulterers' Hall of Fame.
6
Restraining order....well, she persisted. REAL men just hate women who persist, have minds of their own and don't obey.
At least our dear leader doesn't use Vlad's solution.
5
".well, she persisted."
This was uttered by McConnell against Sen. Warren.
Trump must be jealous. McConnell share same spot with him as the most detested man in America today.
2
Here is what blows my mind:
It's now basically accepted as fact by all parties that Trump had sex with a porn star right after his third wife gave birth to his child.
But this is barely even a story. Why? Because his whole presidency is a carnival .... but not the fun kind of carnival. This is the kind of carnival where every attraction is a house of horrors.
556
Bravo! Well put.
If Trump has nothing to hide why issue a restraining order? If Trump has nothing to hide, why pay this woman $130,000? If Trump has nothing to hide, why fire Comey? Why is he so concerned about Mueller? Why won't he release his taxes? Why won't he investigate the Russians meddling in the election? Why, why, why....Why is this incompetent moron still in office? Mr. Ryan? Mr. McConnell? Members of Congress? Lay down with dogs, wake up with fleas....Boys, you'll be going down with this corrupt, rotten ship.
526
Do you really believe Ryan or McConnell will step up? Why even bother with the fantasy? My fantasy is that Congressional Democrats will end their complacency and step up LOUD, BOLD, and CLEAR.
7
Lie down with dogs.
2
If the president didn't sign the nondisclosure agreement with Ms. Daniels, he doesn't have a leg to stand on. All he can do is threaten and bluster, using the weight of his office to crush the lady's credibility. It's not likely that Ms. Daniels would risk $1 million in penalties to defy the president so she must have right and the law on her side.
Also, Michael Cohen has griped to friends about the money he paid out to the lady and that the president hasn't yet reimbursed him.
The president is learning that hell hath no fury than that of a woman scorned, or lied about. With this legal matter pending with Ms. Daniels and the Mueller investigation ongoing and threatening to swallow him up, the president's past is catching up to him, little by little. In the meantime, he is not making America great again.
119
I agree Trump has had his legs cut out from under him on this. I also believe part of Ms. Clifford's activism and confidence stem from third party backing, promising to indemnify her for any losses, should she suffer them. Few believe she will as legally, on the face of it, no signature means no agreement. Then there's the "secret" arbitration which she had no notice of or opportunity to respond to, which is called lack of due process. It will not stand either. I'm guessing Michael Cohen missed a few days of law school on these topics, or is, like so many before him, so enthralled by Trump that he's forsaken his training and abandoned his common sense. This is typical of the ham handed histrionics orchestrated by Trump before. Think Devin Nunes, Sean Spicer, Anthony Scaramucci. These guys, and this administration, can't seem to keep from shooting themselves in the foot. All that time, money and effort to keep Stormy out of the public eye, now she's front page news. What's sad is she's obviously telling the truth, the rest of them are weaseling, lying through their teeth. At bottom the $130k was an illegal payment in kind to affect the outcome of an election. It's a felony. While it appears the agreement is unenforceable on various levels, the underlying crime remains. A lesser included charge of attempting is equally serious.
It's unfortunate Trump will only hang for the top counts, like treason and conspiracy. I'd like to see him serve every day of the max for it all.
6
Making America Gape Again.
But maybe not even that anymore?
As someone pointed out earlier,
watch what laws will be passed behind the scene
while we're being distracted by what plays out on stage.
3
Far cry from the days of Ken Starr.
Hypocrites.
114
You do know that Ken Starr investigated and presented a Perjury Charge against Bill Clinton.
Perhaps you should be more angry at the American Bar Association. Apparently they don’t take kindly to a sitting U.S. President testifying in a trial and LYING.
They disbarred him...but hey..it was just about sex, cigars and blue dresses in the White House..right?
We’re a very forgiving nation. Apologize up front and own up to your mistakes and we’ll let it go. Clinton never did apologize. Clinton also never got a Confidentialy Agreement signed while putting the young intern in the hands of Vernon Jordan. Stupid is...stupid does
3
I AGREE! The impeachment proceedings should start immediately.
5
We didn't need restraining orders when we had Linda Tripp all wired up and pumping an intern over her personal life while having drinks at a bar - a conversation the intern thought was private. Then Ken's henchman dragged the intern off to a hotel room and started the questioning. Times seem to have changed.
4
Does Trump do anything but create chaos and turmoil? Personal life (which is no longer personal when one is president and first lady - sorry, you're not in NYC anymore, Melania) and public life, both in shambles and we have no recourse as citizens - not until November 2018.
He is a black hole and all who come close - sucked in and destroyed. A few thousand conned people and and an electoral college which failed us - it could be the end of our republic.
133
Our republic is being severely tested.
3
Severely destroyed!
4