Meet Stormy Daniels, whose $130,000 hush-money payment from Trump led to him being convicted on 34 felony counts
May 31, 20240
Stormy Daniels.
Ethan Miller/Getty
Porn star Stormy Daniels said she had an affair with Donald Trump in 2006, which Trump has denied.
She’s at the center of Donald Trump’s trial in New York related to a $130,000 hush-money payment.
A Manhattan jury found Trump guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records on May 30, 2024.
Porn star Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is at the heart of the years-long investigation into former President Donald Trump’s finances — a probe that led to the unprecedented indictment of Trump earlier this year.
Stormy Daniels attends a signing for Comedian Dane Cook’s new CD/DVD ‘Retaliation’ at Tower Records on July 27, 2005 in Hollywood California.
Matthew Simmons/Getty
She started stripping as a teenager and soon entered the porn business.
Daniels and comedian Emcee Pete Giovine greet fans in Las Vegas.
Ethan Miller/Getty
She has won numerous awards for her roles as both a performer and a director in adult scenes and films.
Stormy Daniels arrives for the 49th Annual Grammy Awards on Sunday, Feb. 11, 2007, in Los Angeles.
Adult film actress/director Stormy Daniels (L) is kissed by adult film actor/director Barrett Blade as they attend the 2023 Adult Video News Awards at Resorts World Las Vegas on January 07, 2023 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Before her marriage to Blade and ex-husband Brendan Miller, Daniels stirred a bit of controversy after it was revealed that she was having a baby girl with her former boyfriend.
Stormy Daniels arrives at the 50th annual Grammy awards held at the Staples Center on February 10, 2008 in Los Angeles, California.
In 2009, she considered entering politics and challenging Sen. David Vitter of Louisiana, who had been accused of engaging with a prostitute, for his seat. She told a reporter at the time that while she doesn’t think she’s the best person for the job, “I just think I’m a better choice than the senator they already have.”
Stormy Daniels visits a local restaurant in downtown New Orleans, Wednesday, May 6, 2009.
In an interview on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” after Trump’s 2018 State of the Union speech, Daniels refused to answer questions about the payment. Trump’s personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, initially denied the existence of any payment.
Michael Cohen, Donald Trump’s personal lawyer, arrives in Trump Tower in New York City.
Stephanie Keith/Reuters
“Neither the Trump Organization nor the Trump campaign was a party to the transaction with Ms. Clifford, and neither reimbursed me for the payment, either directly or indirectly,” Cohen said. “The payment to Ms. Clifford was lawful, and was not a campaign contribution or a campaign expenditure by anyone.”
Adult film star Stormy Daniels arrives at the 50th Grammy Awards in Los Angeles February 10, 2008.
Then on March 6, 2018, Daniels sued Trump, arguing that he never signed his portion of the agreement. The lawsuit also said “attempts to intimidate Ms. Clifford into silence and ‘shut her up’ in order to ‘protect Mr. Trump’ continue unabated.”
Adult film actress and director Stormy Daniels hosts a Super Bowl party at Sapphire Las Vegas Gentlemen’s Club in Las Vegas, Nevada on February 4, 2018.
She told Anderson Cooper a man threatened to keep quiet about her relationship with Trump in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. Daniels also wouldn’t rule out that there may be photos or videos proving she had an affair with Trump.
President Donald Trump answers a reporter’s question as eight different phones and recording devices placed on his desk by reporters and White House staff members record his words in the Oval Office of the White House.
The FBI seized records of the $130,000 payment to Daniels and recordings of phone calls between Cohen and Daniels’ lawyer during a raid on Cohen’s office and home in April 2018.
A sketch of the man Stormy Daniels says threatened her in a parking lot in 2011.
Outside of a Manhattan courthouse, Daniels said Cohen “acted like he is above the law” and “played by a different set of rules.” “That ends now,” Daniels said.
Avenatti described the arrest as a “setup” that he says was “politically motivated.” The prosecutors later dropped all three misdemeanor charges against her.
On August 21, 2018, Cohen struck a deal with prosecutors to plead guilty to eight federal crimes, including one count of making an illegal campaign finance contribution.
Cohen said in his guilty plea that Trump directed him to make the illegal campaign contribution to Daniels in order to influence the election. Trump has called Cohen a liar, and accused him of making up the story to get a plea deal.
Adult film actress/director Stormy Daniels attends the 2018 Adult Video News Awards at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on January 27, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada.
When Fox News’ Ainsley Earhardt asked whether he knew about Cohen’s payments to Daniels and the former Playboy model Karen McDougal, Trump said he knew “later on.” “They didn’t come out of the campaign — they came from me,” Trump said.
In late March 2023, Trump was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury after a five-year investigation into his finances, with charges stemming from the $130,000 payment to Daniels.
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – MAY 11: Stormy Daniels attends the Los Angeles Premiere Of Neon’s “Pleasure” at Linwood Dunn Theater on May 11, 2022 in Los Angeles, California.
The former president surrendered himself to the Manhattan district attorney’s office on April 4, 2023, where he was booked and arraigned on the historic indictment, pleading not guilty to 34 felony charges.
A courtroom sketch of Stormy Daniels being questioned by assistant district attorney Susan Hoffinger as former President Donald Trump looks on.
Elizabeth Williams/Associated Press
Daniels’ testimony included new details about when she says she met Trump at a golf tournament in Lake Tahoe in 2006. She said she went to his hotel suite that night after accepting a dinner invitation.
Daniels testified that she and Trump had sex and that afterward, she felt scared and ashamed.
She said she and Trump kept in touch afterward and even met in person occasionally, though she said they did not have sex again.
In her cross-examination of Daniels, Trump’s lawyer, Susan Necheles, said, “Am I correct that you hate President Trump?”
“Correct,” Daniels said.
Editor’s note: This story has been updated.
The jury found Trump guilty on all 34 charges of falsifying business records.
Former President Donald Trump.
Scott Olson/Getty Images
The Manhattan jury deliberated for less than 10 hours over two days before delivering 34 guilty verdicts on May 30, 2024.
