Longtime Donald Trump lawyer and advisor Michael Cohen has obtained a "secret restraining order" during private arbitration attempting to silence former porn star Stormy Daniels, NBC News reported Wednesday.
The restraining order marks the latest in the continuing legal drama over attempts to silence Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. On Tuesday, she sued the president, claiming the "hush money" agreement was invalid since Trump had not signed it.
Michael Avenatti, Clifford's attorney, says his client had a sexual relationship with Trump.
"Earlier today, Mr. Cohen through his attorney, Mr. [Lawrence] Rosen, further threatened my client in an effort to prevent her from telling the truth about what really happened," Avenatti said. "We do not take kindly to these threats, nor we will be intimidated."
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders on Wednesday claimed Trump had "won" the case. Avenatti disagreed.
"First of all, it does not appear as if he was even a party to the arbitration Ms. Sanders is referring to. How can you win something you’re not even a part of?" Avenatti asked. "Secondly, claiming that Mr. Trump ‘won’ at arbitration when there has been no hearing, no notice to Ms. Clifford, no opportunity given to her to respond, and no decision on the merits, is completely bogus."
Avenatti mocked Trump's claim as having "won" for being as absurd as his claims about the 2016 election.
"Yeah, and he won the popular vote, too," Avenatti quipped.
