Donald Trump Says He Was Unaware of Lawyer’s $130,000 Payment to Stormy Daniels Before Election

Donald Trump claimed on Thursday that he was completely unaware of his personal lawyer’s $130,000 payment to pornographic star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 election.

Donald Trump Comments On Lawyer’s Payment To Stormy Daniels

The payment made by attorney Michael Cohen was allegedly made to silence Daniels about an affair Trump had with her in 2006. Daniels claimed in a recent 60 Minutes interview that she was also threatened with her life — as was her daughter — in order to force her to remain quiet about the alleged encounter. Daniels also said Trump never signed his portion of a non-disclosure agreement, and was rumored to have intimate photos of the president. Daniels and her lawyer Michael Avenatti have also filed a lawsuit against Cohen for defamation after Cohen called the porn star a liar, and have threatened to depose Trump. 

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That motion to depose Trump was denied by a judge, however. Trump’s attorneys have asked for the case relating to the affair with Daniels to move to arbitration in order to prevent further details about the encounter from being released.

The president referred any questions reporters had on Thursday about Cohen’s payment to his personal lawyer. Trump said he had no idea where the money for that payment came from.

Trump’s remarks to the media on Thursday came while he was on Air Force One. Trump also stated aboard the presidential plane on Thursday afternoon that he hopes to send between 2,000 and 4,000 National Guard troops to the border between the United Sates and Mexico in order to prevent illegal immigration.

The president added he intends to keep the troops there until a significant part of the border wall gets built.