Donald Trump and Stormy Daniels Returning to Court Over Hush Money and Presidential Claims

Trump was participating in a tournament at the same time Daniels was working as a “greeter” for a porn studio. They posed for a picture together, but their interactions became the subject of controversy. Daniels claimed that Trump invited her to his hotel suite and they had sex, a claim that Trump denied.

Fast forward to April 2024, and the two are set to face each other in a Manhattan courtroom for the first criminal trial of a former US president. During the time of the alleged encounter, Daniels was 27 and Trump was 60, with Melania having given birth to their son just four months earlier. Daniels described being invited to Trump’s hotel room and having a “good conversation,” which took a sudden turn when she felt cornered upon returning from the bathroom.

Despite her discomfort, she did not resist the encounter. She remained in touch with Trump in the hope of appearing on “The Celebrity Apprentice,” but it never materialized. Daniels took a polygraph exam and was to be paid for her silence about the encounter.

Eventually, the National Enquirer facilitated a “hush money” payment of $130,000 to Daniels, arranged by Trump’s ally, Michael Cohen. However, Daniels faced numerous challenges following the revelation of her story, including death threats, fears for her daughter’s safety, the breakdown of her marriage, and financial troubles. Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, also tricked her into giving him control of a substantial portion of the advance for her book.