Stormy Daniels’ Lawyer Will Refile Request to Depose President Trump After Judge Denies Motion

A federal judge in Los Angeles has denied Stormy Daniels motion seeking to depose Donald Trump and his attorney, Michael Cohen, over a $130,000 payment made to the adult film star days before the 2016 presidential election. U.S. District Judge James Otero denied the motion on Thursday, stating that it was "procedurally premature."

After the request was struck down, Michael Avenatti — Stormy's lawyer — vowed during a CNN interview to re-up the legal maneuver. "We can refile this motion," he said. "That's exactly what we’re going to do."

Stormy, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed a lawsuit in California asking the court to throw out a nondisclosure agreement (NDA) preventing her from discussing her alleged affair with Trump. She claimed the NDA was invalid, as Trump didn't sign it.

Trump's personal lawyer wired $130,000 to the adult film actress in order to keep her affair with the president under wraps. Earlier this month, the 38-year-old actress offered to return the "hush money" in order to speak freely about her affair with the president.

According to the letter — obtained by countless media outlets — the contract ensuring Stormy's silence would be "deemed null and void" once she returns the payment. In the offer submitted by Stormy's attorney, she would be allowed to "(a) speak openly and freely about her prior relationship with the President and the attempts to silence her and (b) use and publish any text messages, photos, and/or videos relating to the President that she may have in possession, all without fear of retribution and/or legal liability for damages."

Since then, she's raised more than $100,000 to take down the President. "I am attempting to speak honestly and openly to the American people about my relationship with now President Donald Trump, as well as the intimidation and tactics that he, together with his attorney Michael Cohen, have used to silence me," she wrote on the Crowd Justice page.