The judge presiding over Michael Cohen's defamation suit against the president's former mistress Stormy Daniels and her attorney Michael Avenatti hinted at a potential outcome for another case in court on Tuesday — and it doesn't benefit the adult star.
Law & Crime reported that Judge S. James Otero knocked down Cohen's attempt to get Michael Avenatti, Daniels' attorney, to stop talking about him on TV on the grounds that the legal clause he tried to use was too "banal" to be worthy of arbitration.
In doing so, however, Judge Otero also hinted at the future of Daniels' own defamation suit against Cohen in his dismissal.
"The sole cause of action asserted against Mr. Cohen in his personal capacity is a claim for defamation, which must survive Defendant’s Motion to Strike and many other hurdles before a trial can even be contemplated," the judge said.
Translation: "Yes, Mr. Cohen, I know you’re being accused of defamation and you don’t want the other side to bash you on television, but we both know that claim is going nowhere," Law & Crime's Ronn Blitzer wrote.
"Judge Otero didn’t just say that a trial is a long way off," the reporter continued. "He mentioned that there are a number of “hurdles” that block its path. Since he’s the one who will be ruling on those hurdles, one can guess that he’s already thinking that Daniels’ claim won’t survive them."