Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie A. Gregory Clifford, is an American adult film actress and director who has achieved significant success in the adult entertainment industry, earning accolades and recognition through awards and hall of fame inductions. In 2009, she explored the possibility of entering politics by considering a run for the U.S. Senate seat in Louisiana, challenging the incumbent David Vitter.
2006: Alleged Affair with Donald Trump
Stormy Daniels allegedly had an affair with Donald Trump. This event is disputed by Trump and his representatives.
October 2016: Hush Money Payment
Shortly before the 2016 presidential election, Donald Trump's lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 to deny an alleged affair with Trump in 2006. Trump denied the affair and accused Daniels of lying.
January 2018: Wall Street Journal Exposé
The Wall Street Journal reported on the alleged affair between Stormy Daniels and Donald Trump, along with the hush money payment made in 2016.
March 6, 2018: Daniels Sues Trump
Stormy Daniels filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, claiming the non-disclosure agreement concerning the alleged affair was invalid because Trump hadn't signed it. She also accused Trump's lawyer of intimidation. Cohen initiated an arbitration process, resulting in a gag order barring Daniels from disclosing information related to the agreement.
March 25, 2018: 60 Minutes Interview
Stormy Daniels publicly discussed her alleged affair with Donald Trump during a 60 Minutes interview, claiming they had sex once and she was later threatened to sign a non-disclosure agreement.
April 30, 2018: Daniels Files Libel Suit
Stormy Daniels sued Donald Trump for libel after he called her statements about their alleged affair a "fraud." The lawsuit focused on Trump's tweets denying Daniels' claim of being threatened.
July 12, 2018: Daniels Arrested in Sting Operation
Stormy Daniels was arrested in a sting operation in Columbus, Ohio, accused of inappropriately touching patrons and police officers. Despite other entertainers arrested for similar violations being issued summonses, Daniels was booked into jail and had her mugshot taken. The charges were later dropped, and the police admitted to a mistake during her arrest.
August 2018: Cohen's Plea Deal
Michael Cohen reached a plea deal with prosecutors, admitting to paying Stormy Daniels "at the direction of" Donald Trump to influence the election.
September 2018: Cohen Offers to Invalidate NDA
Michael Cohen offered to invalidate the non-disclosure agreement with Stormy Daniels if she returned the $130,000 hush money payment. Trump's lawyers stated that Trump wouldn't enforce the agreement nor contest its invalidity.
October 2018: Libel Suit Dismissed
Stormy Daniels' libel lawsuit against Donald Trump was dismissed based on First Amendment grounds.
January 2019: Daniels Sues Columbus Police
Stormy Daniels filed a lawsuit against the City of Columbus, alleging her arrest was politically motivated. She sought $2 million in damages.
March 2019: Internal Police Investigation
An internal investigation found that Stormy Daniels' arrest was improper but not politically motivated.
August 2019: Police Officers Face Disciplinary Action
Five Columbus police officers faced departmental punishment for their role in Stormy Daniels' arrest, violating rules of conduct.
September 2019: Daniels Settles Lawsuit
Stormy Daniels settled her lawsuit with the City of Columbus, receiving $450,000 in compensation for her wrongful arrest.
August 2020: Daniels Loses Appeal
Stormy Daniels lost her appeal against the dismissal of her libel lawsuit against Donald Trump.
2022: Daniels Refuses to Pay Trump's Legal Fees
Stormy Daniels vowed not to pay over $600,000 in legal fees she owed Trump's law firm following the dismissal of her defamation lawsuit.
2023: Daniels Loses Appeal to Reduce Trump's Legal Fees
Stormy Daniels lost her appeal to reduce the legal fees she owed Trump after losing her libel case. She was ordered to pay an additional $120,000.
May 7, 2024: Daniels Testifies in Trump Trial
Stormy Daniels testified in Donald Trump's trial in New York, describing her alleged sexual encounter with him and their year-long relationship. She stated that the waiver she signed denying the affair was false and that the non-disclosure agreement carried a $1,000,000 penalty for each time she spoke about it.
May 13, 2024: Cohen Confirms NDA Details in Testimony
Michael Cohen confirmed details about the non-disclosure agreement during his testimony in Donald Trump's trial, including the $1,000,000 penalty clause. He admitted that he pressured Stormy Daniels' former lawyer to have her sign a false statement denying the affair.