The adult film star who is suing President Donald Trump for the right to talk about their alleged affair has started a crowdfunding campaign to pay her legal bills.
Stephanie Clifford, better known by stage name Stormy Daniels, sued Mr Trump this week over a nondisclosure agreement she claims he paid her to sign in the months before the election. Ms Daniels wants to invalidate the agreement and speak openly about the alleged affair, which she says occurred in 2006.
Mr Trump, through spokespeople, has said the affair never happened.
On a newly established GoFundMe page, Ms Daniels asked for help paying the attorney's fees, security expenses, and out-of-pocket costs associated with the lawsuit. She also asked her funds in the event that she is ordered to pay damages for speaking out.
“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,” Ms Daniels wrote.
She added: “I am more fortunate than many, many people in this country. And for that I am grateful. But unfortunately, I do not have the vast resources to fight Mr Trump and Mr Cohen alone.”
The page raised more than $10,000 on Wednesday – the same day it was started.
In her lawsuit, Ms Daniels claims Mr Cohen coerced her into signing a statement saying the affair never happened. The statement was issued in January, after the Wall St Journal first reported on the $130,000 payment.
In the months since, Mr Cohen has won a restraining order against Ms Daniels, preventing her from speaking out as her legal challenge continues. The actress is reportedly worried that the order will prevent CBS from airing her recent interview with Anderson Cooper.
A hearing for the suit has been set for 12 July at the Los Angeles County Superior Court.
Mr Cohen has admitted to paying Ms Daniels the $130,000, but maintains that Mr Trump had no idea that he transaction occurred. Mr Trump has never admitted knowledge of the payment.
Ms Daniels offered to return the money earlier this week, in exchange for the ability to speak openly. On her GoFundMe, she said the president and his attorneys never responded to the offer.
The watchdog group Common Cause filed has also filed complaints with the Federal Election Commission and Department of Justice over the payment, naming both Mr Trump and Mr Cohen. The group claims the payment to Ms Daniels was an in-kind campaign contribution that was never properly reported.
Mr Cohen has called the allegations in the complaint “baseless”.
