Trump's attorney: Stormy Daniels violated hush agreement, could pay $20 million

Christal Hayes | USA TODAY

Show Caption Hide Caption Stormy Daniels says she has been 'physically threatened' to be silent The Stormy Daniels saga continues…Stormy Daniels' lawyer says she has been 'physically threatened' to keep silent.

President Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen claims adult film actress Stormy Daniels violated a nondisclosure agreement and could have to pay $20 million in damages.

Daniels is accused in court filings of violating the nondisclosure agreement 20 times, which would amount to Cohen being entitled to $20 million in damages. Cohen and Trump also intend to push the dispute back into private arbitration proceedings, removing the ongoing legal drama from public view, according to Friday's court filings.

Daniels' story of an alleged affair has been the center of controversy for weeks after it was discovered Cohen paid the porn star $130,000 shortly before the 2016 presidential election.

Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, recently filed a lawsuit in California, claiming the nondisclosure was invalid because Trump never signed it and Cohen has discussed some aspects of the agreement publicly.

She has also offered to return the $130,000. Trump's representatives have denied he had a sexual relationship with Daniels.

More: Did the $130,000 payment to Stormy Daniels break the law?

Related: Stormy Daniels' lawyer says porn star was physically threatened to remain silent over alleged affair with Trump

Essential Consultants LLC, a company set up by Cohen that was used to pay her the $130,000, filed to move the lawsuit to federal court Friday, explaining that neither Daniels nor Trump are residents of California.

Charles Harder, an attorney who represented Hulk Hogan in a lawsuit that bankrupted Gawker Media, signed on to represent Trump in moving the case to federal court and forcing the matter back into secret arbitration proceedings.

"Mr. Trump intends to join in EC's (Essential Consultants') anticipated petition to compel arbitration," Harder said in his filing.

Trump, he added, "intends to pursue his rights to the fullest extent permitted by law."

The fact that a sitting president is pursuing over $20M in bogus 'damages' against a private citizen, who is only trying to tell the public what really happened, is remarkable. Likely unprecedented in our history. We are NOT going away and we will NOT be intimidated. #basta — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) March 17, 2018

Daniels' attorney, Michael Avenatti, said Friday's court filings are just another "bullying tactic."

"The fact that a sitting president is pursuing over $20M in bogus 'damages' against a private citizen, who is only trying to tell the public what really happened, is remarkable," he said on Twitter. "Likely unprecedented in our history. We are NOT going away and we will NOT be intimidated. #basta"

The filings came a day after news emerged that 60 Minutes planned to air an interview with Daniels on March 25.

More: Stormy Daniels launches crowd fundraiser to pay for legal costs in suit against Trump

Related: Stormy Daniels offers to return $130,000 payment to Trump lawyer

Contributing: Fredreka Schouten

Follow Christal Hayes on Twitter: Journo_Christal.