During a court hearing, Keith Davidson, the lawyer representing adult film actress Stormy Daniels, stated that the $130,000 payment made to Daniels was not intended as 'hush money,' but rather as a 'consideration' payment. This statement was made in response to questioning by Manhattan Assistant District Attorney Joshua Steinglass.
Steinglass pressed Davidson about a statement prepared for Daniels in January 2018, in which she denied any relationship with Donald Trump, claiming that their interactions were limited to a few public appearances. Davidson testified that while Daniels never alleged a romantic relationship with Trump, he understood that she had a sexual encounter with him.
Davidson emphasized that the payment was not a payoff or hush money, but rather a form of consideration. He explained that 'consideration' is a legal term referring to what is given in exchange for a promise to adhere to a contract, in this case, money. The payment was reportedly labeled as 'legal fees' in Trump's accounting records, which prosecutors have alleged constituted fraud.
When asked about the truthfulness of Daniels' statement, Davidson stated that he believed it to be technically true. He clarified that the nature of the interaction between Daniels and Trump was not characterized as a 'relationship' but rather as a one-time occurrence.
Davidson's distinction between 'relationship' and 'interaction' underscores his position that the payment made to Daniels was not intended to silence her but rather as part of a legal agreement. The ongoing legal proceedings surrounding this case continue to shed light on the complexities of the situation.
