Trump gets legal relief in defamation case by Stormy Daniels
What's the story
Former United States (US) President Donald Trump secured $121,000 in legal fees from porn star Stormy Daniels after she lost a defamation case against him on the same day he was indicted in a case related to alleged "hush money" payments made to her. Notably, Daniels is already paying an amount of $500,000 in this case on the order of the court.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Trump, who is under arrest on criminal charges for allegedly paying pornstar Daniels $130,000 in hush money before the 2016 presidential election, pleaded not guilty before a Manhattan court. He allegedly paid off Daniels to silence claims of his extramarital sexual encounter. However, Trump has been charged with 34 felony counts, including falsifying business records.
Details
Trump's lawyer Harmeet Dhillon shared the news
Trump's lawyer, Harmeet Dhillon, went to Twitter and posted a copy of the order issued by the 9th US Circuit Court of Appeals in California. "Congratulations to President Trump on this final attorney fee victory in his favor this morning," she wrote. The civil lawsuit is unrelated to Trump's arrest or the charges brought against him in New York, but both involved Daniels.
Twitter Post
What Dhillon tweeted about the court order
Congratulations to President Trump on this final attorney fee victory in his favor this morning. Collectively, our firm obtained over $600,000 in attorney fee awards in his favor in the meritless litigation initiated by Stormy Daniels. https://t.co/ld7SVvZOp6 pic.twitter.com/1b5P3flxFb
— Harmeet K. Dhillon (@pnjaban) April 4, 2023
Case
A little about the defamation case
Daniels sued Trump in 2018 after he tweeted about her, calling her allegations that an unknown person threatened her in a parking lot to keep silent about her alleged affair with Trump a "total con job." Per CNN, federal Judge S James Otero dismissed the lawsuit in October 2018, stating Trump's statement was "protected by the First Amendment."
Indicted
What charges did the Manhattan court level against Trump
The decision by California's 9th Circuit Court in a defamation case came on the same day that New York's Manhattan Court framed 34 felony counts against Trump in the hush money case. The 16-page indictment alleges Trump illegally paid $1.3 million to cover up his affair with Daniels. Trump allegedly paid the money through his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
Information
What other charges does Trump face
Aside from the hush money, Trump is accused of falsifying his company's business records to cover his tracks. He is also facing separate criminal charges for allegedly attempting to overturn his election loss in Georgia in 2020 and handling classified documents after leaving office.