Stormy Daniels refuses court order to pay Trump’s legal bills: ‘I will go to jail before I pay a penny’

The adult film star recently lost an appeal in her legal battle against the former president

Nathan Place

New York

Tuesday 22 March 2022 12:57 EDT

Comments

‘Comical and sad’: Stormy Daniels mocks Trump’s post-presidency

Your support helps us to tell the story

Support Now

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

After losing her defamation lawsuit against Donald Trump, adult film star Stormy Daniels is refusing a federal court’s order for her to pay the former president’s legal bills.

“I will go to jail before I pay a penny,” Ms Daniels vowed on Twitter.

The pledge comes after a stinging defeat in the actress’ years-long legal battle against Mr Trump. On Friday, the US Circuit Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit said Ms Daniels had missed a crucial 30-day deadline to appeal a lower court’s decision on the legal fees, and therefore still owes the ex-president almost $300,000.

On Monday, Mr Trump gloated over the decision.

“As I have stated many times throughout the years, I never had an affair with Stormy Daniels, nor would I ever have wanted to,” the former president said in a statement. “The ruling was a total and complete victory and vindication for, and of me... Now all I have to do is wait for all of the money she owes me.”

Ms Daniels claims that she had sex with Mr Trump in 2006, and that the real estate mogul paid her to keep quiet about it when he ran for president. Mr Trump fiercely denies both the affair and the hush money, and the conflict has led to several complex, drawn-out lawsuits.

One of those lawsuits stemmed from a tweet Mr Trump posted in 2018, mocking a police sketch of a man who Ms Daniels said had threatened her to keep quiet about her allegations.

“A sketch years later about a nonexistent man,” Mr Trump wrote. “A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they knew it)!”

Ms Daniels said the tweet defamed her, and sued Mr Trump, who was still president at the time.

In October 2018, a federal judge dismissed the lawsuit and ordered Ms Daniels to pay Mr Trump’s legal fees. She and her lawyer at the time, Michael Avenatti, appealed that decision. In February 2021, the US Supreme Court rejected their appeal.

Ms Daniels continued to challenge the specific ruling on the legal fees, but on Friday the 9th Circuit appeared to deliver her final defeat on that issue.

The Independent has reached out to Ms Daniels for comment.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies