Kara Sears
The Stormy Daniels–Donald Trump scandal refers to a series of legal disputes between the former president and the adult film star. In 2018, it was revealed that Trump had reimbursed his lawyer, Cohen, for expenditures related to the Daniels case. Cohen later pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying hush money to Daniels and another woman, Karen McDougal, who had alleged affairs with Trump. Daniels also sued Trump for defamation, but lost her appeal and was ordered to pay Trump's legal fees.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Campaign finance laws | Trump reimbursed Cohen for expenditures related to the Daniels case |
| Campaign finance laws | Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws |
| Campaign finance laws | Cohen paid hush money of $130,000 and $150,000 to two women who alleged affairs with Trump |
| Campaign finance laws | Federal prosecutors have evidence of Trump's "central role" in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal |
| Campaign finance laws | Federal prosecutors implicated Trump in directing Cohen to commit the campaign finance law felonies |
| Defamation | Daniels lost her appeal in the defamation lawsuit against Trump |
| Defamation | Daniels was ordered to pay Trump's legal fees |
| Defamation | Daniels lost the defamation case and was ordered to pay Trump $300,000 |
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What You'll Learn
Trump's role in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal
In 2018, federal prosecutors found evidence of Donald Trump's "central role" in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal that violated campaign-finance laws. In a December 2018 sentencing memorandum for Michael Cohen, federal prosecutors implicated Trump in directing Cohen to commit the campaign finance law felonies for which Cohen had pleaded guilty. Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
In May 2018, Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed that he reimbursed Cohen in 2017 for expenditures related to the Daniels case. In August 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying hush money of $130,000 and $150,000 "at the direction of a candidate for federal office" to two women who alleged affairs with that candidate.
In December 2018, Trump denied directing Cohen to make hush payments. However, NBC News reported that Trump was present in an August 2015 meeting with Cohen and David Pecker when they discussed how American Media could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women.
In 2020, Stormy Daniels lost her appeal in a defamation lawsuit against Trump. A California judge ordered Trump to pay Daniels's legal fees as the prevailing party due to his September 2018 agreement not to enforce the NDA. In March 2022, Daniels was ordered to pay Trump $300,000 in legal fees after losing a defamation case appeal.
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Cohen's guilty plea to breaking campaign finance laws
In August 2018, Michael Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws. Cohen admitted to paying hush money of $130,000 and $150,000 to two women who alleged affairs with a candidate for federal office. Cohen made the payments "at the direction of a candidate for federal office" with the purpose of influencing the election. Federal prosecutors have evidence of Trump's "central role" in the payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal, which violated campaign-finance laws. In a December 2018 sentencing memorandum for Cohen, federal prosecutors implicated Trump in directing Cohen to commit the campaign finance law felonies for which Cohen had pleaded guilty.
Cohen was sentenced to three years in federal prison. On December 13, 2018, Trump denied directing Cohen to make hush payments. However, NBC News reported that Trump was present in an August 2015 meeting with Cohen and David Pecker when they discussed how American Media could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women.
In May 2021, the FEC dropped an inquiry into whether the payment to Stormy Daniels violated campaign financial law during the 2016 election.
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Trump's denial of directing Cohen to make hush payments
In May 2018, Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed that he reimbursed Cohen in 2017 for expenditures related to the Daniels case. Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying hush money of $130,000 and $150,000 "at the direction of a candidate for federal office" to two women who alleged affairs with that candidate. The Wall Street Journal reported on November 9, 2018, that federal prosecutors had evidence of Trump's "central role" in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal that violated campaign-finance laws. In a December 7, 2018, sentencing memorandum for Cohen, federal prosecutors implicated Trump in directing Cohen to commit the campaign finance law felonies for which Cohen had pleaded guilty. On December 13, 2018, Trump denied directing Cohen to make hush payments. That same day, NBC News reported that Trump was present in an August 2015 meeting with Cohen and David Pecker when they discussed how American Media could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women, confirming previous reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
The case against Trump centred on the allegation that he directed Cohen to make hush payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal in violation of campaign-finance laws. These payments were made to conceal alleged affairs with the two women during the 2016 election campaign. The payments were not reported as campaign expenditures, which is a violation of federal law. Trump's role in directing these payments was a key focus of the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
Trump's denial of directing Cohen to make the hush payments was contradicted by evidence and testimony presented by federal prosecutors. They argued that Trump played a "central role" in orchestrating the payments and that Cohen acted at his direction. This was further supported by Cohen's guilty plea and his admission that the payments were made "at the direction of a candidate for federal office". Trump's denial of any involvement in the hush payments was at odds with the available evidence and the statements of those involved in the case.
While Trump denied directing Cohen to make the hush payments, the evidence and testimony presented by federal prosecutors and Cohen himself suggested otherwise. The case against Trump was strong, and his denial did little to sway public opinion or the legal proceedings. Trump's denial of any wrongdoing in the Stormy Daniels case ultimately failed to prevent the investigation and legal consequences that followed.
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Daniels' defamation lawsuit against Trump
In August 2020, Daniels lost her appeal in the defamation lawsuit against Trump. A California judge ordered Trump to pay Daniels's legal fees as the prevailing party due to his September 2018 agreement not to enforce the NDA. However, in March 2022, Daniels was ordered to pay $300k to Trump after losing her defamation case appeal. Daniels' lawsuit called Trump's tweet "false and defamatory". A federal judge in California, however, sided with Trump and found that the tweet "constitutes 'rhetorical hyperbole' normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States". "The First Amendment protects this type of rhetorical statement", Judge James Otero wrote, finding that Trump was entitled to attorneys’ fees in the case.
In May 2018, Trump's annual financial disclosure revealed that he reimbursed Cohen in 2017 for expenditures related to the Daniels case. In August 2018, Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying hush money of $130,000 and $150,000 "at the direction of a candidate for federal office" to two women who alleged affairs with that candidate. In November 2018, federal prosecutors reported that they had evidence of Trump's "central role" in payments to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal that violated campaign-finance laws. In a December 2018 sentencing memorandum for Cohen, federal prosecutors implicated Trump in directing Cohen to commit the campaign finance law felonies for which Cohen had pleaded guilty.
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Trump's tweet about the case
In 2018, Trump's financial disclosure revealed that he reimbursed Cohen for expenditures related to the Daniels case. Cohen pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws, admitting to paying hush money to two women who alleged affairs with a candidate for federal office. Federal prosecutors have evidence of Trump's "central role" in these payments, which violated campaign finance laws.
Trump tweeted about the case, saying: "Totally clears the president. Thank you!" He denied directing Cohen to make hush payments. However, NBC News reported that Trump was present in a meeting with Cohen and David Pecker in 2015 when they discussed how American Media could help counter negative stories about Trump's relationships with women.
Daniels sued Trump for defamation, calling his tweet "false and defamatory". She argued that Trump knew his statement would be widely read and reported, and that she would be subjected to threats of violence, economic harm, and reputational damage as a result. However, a federal judge in California sided with Trump, finding that the tweet constituted "rhetorical hyperbole" protected by the First Amendment. Daniels was ordered to pay Trump's legal fees, totalling almost $300,000.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, Trump broke campaign finance laws by paying hush money to Stormy Daniels and Karen McDougal.
Stormy Daniels lost her appeal in the defamation lawsuit against Trump and was ordered to pay him $300,000 in legal fees.
No, Trump was not prosecuted for his role in the Stormy Daniels case. However, his lawyer, Cohen, pleaded guilty to breaking campaign finance laws and was sentenced to three years in federal prison.
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