Stormy Daniels arrested in 'desperate setup' at strip club

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Columbus, Ohio - US adult film star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had an affair with President Donald Trump in 2006, was arrested in a strip club on Wednesday in what her lawyer said was a setup. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was arrested in a Columbus, Ohio, club for allowing a customer to touch her in a non-sexual manner while on stage, lawyer Michael Avenatti said on Twitter. Avenatti said Daniels was arrested during a sting operation. "This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges," Avenatti said on Twitter.

Just rcvd word that my client @StormyDaniels was arrested in Columbus Ohio whole performing the same act she has performed across the nation at nearly a hundred strip clubs. This was a setup & politically motivated. It reeks of desperation. We will fight all bogus charges. #Basta — Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) July 12, 2018

Avenatti said he expected his client to be released on bail and that she would be charged with a misdemeanor for allowing touching.

"We will vehemently contest all charges," he said.

Daniels has said she had sex with Trump in 2006 and that Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130 000 (about R1.7 million) to keep the encounter secret shortly before the presidential election.

Cohen has said he made the payment. In May, Trump said Daniels was paid to stop "false and extortionist accusations" she made about a sexual encounter with him.

Trump forcefully denied the affair.

Daniels has filed two lawsuits against Trump, one to get out of a non-disclosure agreement she had signed in October 2016 ahead of the November presidential election in exchange for the $130 000, and another for defamation.

Reuters

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