U.S. judge dismisses Stormy Daniels defamation lawsuit against Trump

[webfact]

U.S. judge dismisses Stormy Daniels defamation lawsuit against Trump

 

A combination photo shows Adult film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels speaking in New York City, and U.S. President Donald Trump speaking in Washington, Michigan, U.S. on April 16, 2018 and April 28, 2018 respectively. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid, Joshau Roberts/Files

 

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. judge dismissed adult film actress Stormy Daniels's defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump and ordered her to pay his attorney's fees, saying a tweet the president had written referring to her was protected by free-speech laws.

 

Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said they would appeal the decision.

 

Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Daniels has said that in 2011, a man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot and threatened her after she had agreed to talk about her experience with Trump in an interview. She then released a sketch of the man.

 

Trump responded by dismissing her claims in a tweet, saying, "A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!"

 

Daniels, who has also sued over a $130,000 hush money agreement over the alleged encounter, sued over the tweet, claiming it made her appear to be a liar. Attorneys for Trump have sought to dismiss both lawsuits.

 

In his ruling, Judge S. James Otero said Trump's tweet was protected by freedom of speech.

 

"The Court agrees with Mr. Trump's argument because the tweet in question constitutes 'rhetorical hyperbole' normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States. The First Amendment protects this type of rhetorical statement," Otero wrote. Otero presides over both lawsuits.

 

Charles Harder, Trump's lawyer, said the amount of the award for Trump's attorneys' fees would be determined later.

 

(Reporting by Karen Freifeld and Makini Brice; Additional reporting by Eric Beech)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2018-10-17

[OneMoreFarang]

The US and the rest of the world is full of real problems.

And what is in the news: An aging porn actor (star?) who was f$#%# by an old guy who nobody cared about at that time.

Is there really nothing more important than that?

[Proboscis]

9 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The US and the rest of the world is full of real problems.

And what is in the news: An aging porn actor (star?) who was by an old guy who nobody cared about at that time.

Is there really nothing more important than that?

There is when the old guy who f$#%#ed her became president, tried to pay her off during the election (thereby breaking election law by not declaring the payment) and lied about the fact that he  f$#%#ed her. 

[attrayant]

When your grasp of the language is so poor, you can't help but refer to yourself as "a total con".

 

[RandolphGB]

Trump wins again. 2020 in the bag already. 

[Srinivas]

does this mean she has to return the keys to the #wehocity (real twitter handle for West Hollywood.)

bbc article:

Stormy Daniels given key to the city of West Hollywood.

[Thingamabob]

Cood decision to dismiss this ridiculous lawsuit. But really, who cares ? More important things to think about. Trump doing an excellent job as President, that's all that matters.

[Srinivas]

13 minutes ago, Thingamabob said:

Cood decision to dismiss this ridiculous lawsuit. But really, who cares ? More important things to think about. Trump doing an excellent job as President, that's all that matters.

The funny part about this is all those idiots that donated to her crowdfund account end up paying Trumps legal bill. 

[Baerboxer]

6 hours ago, Proboscis said:

There is when the old guy who f$#%#ed her became president, tried to pay her off during the election (thereby breaking election law by not declaring the payment) and lied about the fact that he  f$#%#ed her. 

 

Or the time when a sitting POTUS abused an intern and then lied about it to government and the American public.

 

Oh wait, that was all conveniently swept aside.

[Rimmer]

Off topic posts removed also replies

[Morch]

Quote

the tweet in question constitutes 'rhetorical hyperbole' normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States.

 

I don't know that it was always like that. Or at least, not as prevalent as under the current president. Either way, endorsing it rather than opposing it (the tweet and interaction style, that is) is a sad testament to how low things have gone.

 

[Morch]

9 hours ago, OneMoreFarang said:

The US and the rest of the world is full of real problems.

And what is in the news: An aging porn actor (star?) who was f$#%# by an old guy who nobody cared about at that time.

Is there really nothing more important than that?

 

7 hours ago, Thingamabob said:

Cood decision to dismiss this ridiculous lawsuit. But really, who cares ? More important things to think about. Trump doing an excellent job as President, that's all that matters.

 

Doesn't matter from which angle folks look at it - still amazing that the president of the US got nothing better to do than engage in infantile public insult trading with a former(?) porn star. More important things? Apparently not as far as Trump is concerned.

 

[Morch]

3 hours ago, Baerboxer said:

 

Or the time when a sitting POTUS abused an intern and then lied about it to government and the American public.

 

Oh wait, that was all conveniently swept aside.

 

"Swept aside" as in investigation-and-impeachment-hearings?

[Nyezhov]

I bet the legal fees exceed $100K

[alocacoc]

8 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

I bet the legal fees exceed $100K

Money won't be the problem. She can get it easily with gofundme or whatever. Most likely it wasn't her idea to sue the President. Blame Avenatti and the other wackos.

 

However, there is nothing to win for the Democrats. They tried so hard. But failed every day. Only 3 weeks left for the next rude awakening.

[riclag]

I bet the legal fees exceed $100K

Fox News said the Creepy Porn Lawyer isn’t gonna help pay for it either

[Nyezhov]

10 minutes ago, alocacoc said:

Money won't be the problem. She can get it easily with gofundme or whatever. Most likely it wasn't her idea to sue the President. Blame Avenatti and the other wackos

 

7 minutes ago, riclag said:

Fox News said the Creepy Porn Lawyer isn’t gonna help pay for it either

If she was smart, she would turn around and sue Avenatti. That would serve to keep her relevant and in the public eye. I think that legally, the lawsuit was borderline malpractice. She probably has a case.

[OneMoreFarang]

1 hour ago, Morch said:

Doesn't matter from which angle folks look at it - still amazing that the president of the US got nothing better to do than engage in infantile public insult trading with a former(?) porn star. More important things? Apparently not as far as Trump is concerned.

Do you know what a smokescreen is? Trump must be delighted about this one.

[riclag]

If she was smart, she would turn around and sue Avenatti. That would serve to keep her relevant and in the public eye. I think that legally, the lawsuit was borderline malpractice. She probably has a case.

The dark side has appealed it to the far left 9th circuit court. Sad!

[bristolboy]

23 minutes ago, Nyezhov said:

 

If she was smart, she would turn around and sue Avenatti. That would serve to keep her relevant and in the public eye. I think that legally, the lawsuit was borderline malpractice. She probably has a case.

Because he twisted her arm?

[Morch]

2 minutes ago, OneMoreFarang said:

Do you know what a smokescreen is? Trump must be delighted about this one.

 

There's that. But I think that regardless, Trump's Twitter persona does represent who and what he is.

[Nyezhov]

32 minutes ago, riclag said:

The dark side has appealed it to the far left 9th circuit court. Sad!

Thats fine, based on all I have read about it, even they will have to affirm the lower court. Then again ????

[Nyezhov]

31 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

There's that. But I think that regardless, Trump's Twitter persona does represent who and what he is.

Well he has always been a loud mouthed, egotistical, skirt chasing, publicity seeking, lewd and crude Noo Yawka. He sold tons of papers for the NY Post in the 80s.

[riclag]

18 minutes ago, Morch said:

 

There's that. But I think that regardless, Trump's Twitter persona does represent who and what he is.

Yes,American's new what he was and is before he became the leader for change! I think he hasn't changed his so called non Presidential tweets and behavior for obvious reasons-if it ain't broke don't fix it .

 

From the  access Hollywood tape ,Creepy Porn Lawyers attacks, to the soon to be Voter tampering accusation ,the gotcha moments will be just what they are a wish list to take down a democratically elected POTUS . Hopefully Fox news and other's can expose enough of this to the Independent Voter's of my country !  

[Morch]

1 minute ago, riclag said:

Yes,American's new what he was and is before he became the leader for change! I think he hasn't changed his so called non Presidential tweets and behavior for obvious reasons-if it ain't broke don't fix it .

 

From the  access Hollywood tape ,Creepy Porn Lawyers attacks, to the soon to be Voter tampering accusation ,the gotcha moments will be just what they are a wish list to take down a democratically elected POTUS . Hopefully Fox news and other's can expose enough of this to the Independent Voter's of my country !  

 

So, sifting through this mini-rant, you don't really have issues with POTUS trading insults with a former(?) porn star on Twitter, rather than actually doing his job - as long as your side scores over the the other.

[attrayant]

7 minutes ago, riclag said:

Yes, American's new what he was and is before he became the leader

 

No, not all of them.  Watch this video of an interview with five Trump voters who, a year ago, were still on board and still willing to give Trump a chance.  Now, not only are they all regretting it, but they're ALL going to change their party affiliation because of Trump.

 

Trump voter: We've got a crazy man driving the train

 

[riclag]

1 minute ago, Morch said:

 

So, sifting through this mini-rant, you don't really have issues with POTUS trading insults with a former(?) porn star on Twitter, rather than actually doing his job - as long as your side scores over the the other.

 He had a consensual romp  with  a very beautiful young lady many year's ago! The left being the left tried to expose this as something else, nasty ,dirty and unnatural She was another victim of the Far left deranged  plots .I choose to be a Independent voter ,I'm not committed to either party or policies,I'm not a fan of globalization or socialism. 

Voting Dem all my life changed when he announced his intentions! I like a  billionaire free wheeling non politician who is accomplishing most of  his promises for change! 

[JulesMad]

I believe ANYTHING of which the orange turd said it is fake   With trumpy's track record of lying, it MUST be true...

 

Only idiots vote for this abomination of a human, who makes the world a worse place for all ????

[Scott]

Off-topic posts removed along with replies.  

 

[Scott]

Troll post removed.