Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is a former adult film actress. She made headlines in 2018 after allegations surfaced that she was sexually involved with former U.S. President Donald Trump. Daniels alleged that she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006 after he married his third wife, Melania, per Reuters. Trump allegedly made his lawyer pay the adult film actress hush money to avoid a scandal before the 2016 election.
However, Trump has denied the relationship. He even said the payment was done to prevent her from making “false and extortionist accusations.” BBC reported that in 2023, Trump faced 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up a $130,000 payment to Daniels. He stood trial on the charges on March 25, 2024.
A Peacock documentary titled Stormy, which is based on Stormy Daniels’ life, recently premiered at the SXSW Film Festival. The documentary delves into the former actress’ life as she narrates “her story and account of events that have become part of American history.”
What did Stormy Daniels admit happened between her and Donald Trump?
According to BBC, Stormy Daniels has admitted to her alleged sexual relationship with former president Donald Trump. The adult actress claimed she met Trump at a charity golf tournament in July 2006. She alleged that they had sex once in his Lake Tahoe hotel room. It is reportedly a resort area located between California and Nevada.
The Guardian reported that in her memoir, Full Disclosure, Daniels alleged she spanked Trump with a Forbes magazine that featured him on the cover. He even allegedly told her she reminded him of his daughter, Ivanka, and floated a slot on The Apprentice. Additionally, he reassured the actress that he and his wife, Melania, slept separately. Following this, they had a sexual encounter.
Reuters stated that the alleged incident between 27-year-old Daniels and Trump, then 60, occurred a year after the latter’s marriage to Melania. Reportedly, Melania was absent at the event and had just given birth to their son. BBC mentioned that Trump’s lawyer “vehemently” refuted the claim back then.
The outlet said that before the 2016 U.S. presidential elections, Stormy Daniels alleged Donald Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000. Cohen allegedly made the payment as “hush money” to keep her quiet about the said affair. District Attorney Alvin Bragg alleged that Trump attempted “to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public.”
Daniels claimed to have taken the money then because she was concerned about her family’s safety after being legally and physically threatened. She reportedly signed a non-disclosure agreement, per Reuters. In signing the pact, she agreed not to discuss her alleged relationship with Trump publicly in exchange for the money. Her then-lawyer, Keith Davidson, and Trump’s lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, signed the document. Trump never signed the document despite having a spot for his signature.
The outlet reported that following the Wall Street Journal’s report on the payment to Stormy Daniels, Cohen claimed he paid her with his own money, alleging that Donald Trump never made him do so. Per BBC, in August 2018, Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to tax evasion and breaking campaign finance rules. This came in part from the payment he made to Daniels as well as another alleged Trump lover. Cohen testified that he made the payment under Trump’s directions, who later reimbursed him.
Eventually, in 2023, an indictment charged Donald Trump with 34 felony counts of falsifying business records. The charges stemmed from a cover-up surrounding the $130,000 payment made to Stormy Daniels. Trump became the first-ever U.S. President to be criminally indicted.
The former president pleaded not guilty to the charges, and a judge had scheduled his trial date for March 25, 2024.
