(CNN) Keith Davidson, the lawyer who formerly represented adult film star Stormy Daniels, filed a defamation claim Thursday against Daniels and her current lawyer, Michael Avenatti, as well as a separate claim against Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, for allegedly illegally recording phone calls with Davidson.

Davidson is also vehemently rejecting Daniels' accusation that he colluded with Cohen to help Trump. In fact, Davidson says, he only ever tried to help Daniels accomplish her goal of making money off of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump.

Davidson's new claims filed in federal court in Los Angeles mark the latest twist in the ongoing legal saga rooted in Daniels' alleged affair with Trump in 2006. They are the first legal actions Davidson has taken against Daniels, Avenatti and Cohen. The move is striking given that up until now, Davidson has been relatively reluctant to publicly discuss the details of his dealings with Daniels, as he has pointed to the constraints of attorney-client privilege.

Responding to a lawsuit that Daniels filed Wednesday against Davidson and Cohen, in which Daniels accused the two men of colluding to protect Trump, Davidson said he only ever communicated with Cohen per instructions from Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford.

"Clifford was clear in her desire that she would say and do whatever necessary in order to prevent" having to return "the $130,000 settlement funds she had received months earlier," Davidson said in an answer rebutting that lawsuit -- a reference to the hush money Daniels received from Cohen in 2016 in exchange for her to be quiet about Trump. "Suffice to say, since Ms. Clifford has begun working with Mr. Avenatti, her goals have transformed."

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