WASHINGTON ¨C A U.S. judge on Monday dismissed adult film actress Stormy Daniels¡¯s defamation lawsuit against President Donald Trump and ordered her to pay his attorney¡¯s fees, saying a tweet the president had written referring to her was protected by free-speech laws.
Daniels¡¯ lawyer, Michael Avenatti, said they would appeal the decision.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. Daniels has said that in 2011, a man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot and threatened her after she had agreed to talk about her experience with Trump in an interview. She then released a sketch of the man.
Trump responded by dismissing her claims in a tweet, saying, ¡°A sketch years later about a nonexistent man. A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!¡±
Daniels, who has also sued over a $130,000 hush money agreement over the alleged encounter, sued over the tweet, claiming it made her appear to be a liar. Attorneys for Trump have sought to dismiss both lawsuits.
In his ruling, Judge S. James Otero said Trump¡¯s tweet was protected by freedom of speech.
¡°The Court agrees with Mr. Trump¡¯s argument because the tweet in question constitutes ¡®rhetorical hyperbole¡¯ normally associated with politics and public discourse in the United States. The First Amendment protects this type of rhetorical statement,¡± Otero wrote. Otero presides over both lawsuits.
Charles Harder, Trump¡¯s lawyer, said the amount of the award for Trump¡¯s attorneys¡¯ fees would be determined later.
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