White House: Trump continues to deny underlying claim in porn star case
The US President says the agreement with Stormy Daniels "is in full force" and was used to stop "false" claims about an affair.
Thursday 3 May 2018 22:50, UK
Donald Trump continues to deny the underlying claim in the Stormy Daniels case, the White House has said.
During Thursday's press briefing, Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Mr Trump denies claims he had sex with the adult film star and did not initially know that his lawyer Michael Cohen had paid her $130,000 - but found out about it later.
But on Wednesday, Mr Trump's new lawyer, Rudy Giuliani, said the President did know about the payment and reimbursed Mr Cohen, although he said Mr Trump did not know "the specifics" of the arrangement.
One reporter asked the White House Press Secretary: "Did Rudy Giuliani do harm to the President?", to which she responded: "I don't believe so."
Donald Trump said earlier on Thursday that the money he had paid to his personal lawyer to keep the porn star quiet before the 2016 election did not come from his campaign but from a "monthly retainer".
He said the non-disclosure agreement "is in full force and effect" and was used to stop "the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair... despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair".
Mr Trump had previously said he was not aware of the hush money Ms Daniels had received from Mr Cohen to buy her silence.
Asked if the President believes he is above the law during Thursday's briefing, Ms Huckabee Sanders said "no".
Ms Daniels claims she had sex with Mr Trump in 2006, months after wife Melania gave birth to his youngest child Barron, who is now 12 years old.
Ms Daniels is suing Mr Cohen for defamation after he questioned her story about the alleged sexual encounter.
The 39-year-old - whose real name is Stephanie Clifford - claims she had unprotected sex with Mr Trump after he invited her to his hotel room.
She is seeking to be released from the $130,000 non-disclosure agreement she signed shortly before the 2016 election, with Mr Cohen having admitted to paying for it.
He said that Mr Trump was not part of the transaction and expressed doubt over Ms Daniels' story, demanding that she "cease and desist".
Mr Trump's tweets on Thursday supported Rudy Giuliani's claim that the President had reimbursed Mr Cohen for the payment to Daniels.
The US President tweeted: "These agreements are very common among celebrities and people of wealth."
He added: "Prior to its violation by Ms Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction."
Former New York mayor Giuliani told Fox News' Hannity programme that Mr Trump's payment to Mr Cohen "is going to turn out to be perfectly legal" because "that money was not campaign money".
Asked if Mr Trump knew about the arrangement, Mr Giuliani said: "He didn't know about the specifics of it, as far as I know.
"But he did know about the general arrangement, that Michael would take care of things like this, like I take care of things like this for my clients.
"I don't burden them with every single thing that comes along. These are busy people."
Ms Daniels' lawyer, Michael Avenatti, has said he is holding back further details of the alleged affair for strategic reasons, including the contents of a data disc he tweeted a picture of in March as a "warning shot" to the President.
He described Mr Giuliani's comments on Wednesday as "a stunning revelation".
"Mr Trump evidently has participated in a felony and there must be serious consequences for his conduct and his lies and deception to the American people."