Thursday marked a historic first for the United States: A former president was criminally charged.
Journalist Matt Taibbi and others have expressed concern that this may prove cataclysmic for the republic, prompting future leaders to refrain from leaving office and thereby inaugurating formal autocracy in America.
Others have decried the apparent effort by Democrats to weaponize the legal system and persecute political rivals.
Porn star Stormy Daniels, on the other hand, has been celebrating over champagne and an influx of well-wishes.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, tweeted Thursday night, “Thank you to everyone for your support and love! I have so many messages coming in that I can’t respond…also don’t want to spill my champagne.”
Clifford also noted that her “merch/autograph orders are pouring in, too!”
The New York Post indicated that the merchandise presently “flying off the shelves” includes signed posters of Clifford in lingerie and T-shirts with “#TeamStormy” printed on them.
Former President Donald Trump was indicted in New York City on criminal charges related to the alleged hush money paid on his behalf to Clifford.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Trump’s then-lawyer Michael Cohen allegedly arranged a $130,000 payment to the porn star prior to the 2016 election as part of an agreement requiring Clifford to avoid discussing an alleged sexual encounter with the real estate magnate.
Clifford has been wildly inconsistent about what really happened.
In 2011, Clifford told In Touch that she hooked up with Trump after a July 2006 celebrity golf tournament, a year after he had married Melania Trump, reported the Wrap.
“[The sex] was textbook generic,” said Clifford. It “was nothing crazy. It was one position, what you would expect someone his age to do.”
However, in 2018, she issued a statement, saying, “The fact of the matter is that each party to this alleged affair denied its existence on 2006, 2011, 2016, 2017 and now again in 2018. I am not denying this affair because I was paid ‘hush money’ as has been reported in overseas owned tabloids. I am denying this affair because it never happened.”
Trump called Clifford’s former set of claims “false and extortionist accusations.”
Trump tweeted in May 2018, “Mr. Cohen, an attorney, received a monthly retainer, not from the campaign and having nothing to do with the campaign, from which he entered into, through reimbursement, a private contract between two parties, known as a non-disclosure agreement, or NDA.”
“These agreements are … very common among celebrities and people of wealth. In this case it is in full force and effect and will be used in Arbitration for damages against Ms. Clifford (Daniels),” Trump continued.
“The agreement was used to stop the false and extortionist accusations made by her about an affair … despite already having signed a detailed letter admitting that there was no affair. Prior to its violation by Ms. Clifford and her attorney, this was a private agreement. Money from the campaign, or campaign contributions, played no roll in this transaction.”
Weeks prior to Trump’s March 30 indictment, Daniels said she would “dance down the street” in the event the former president was ultimately charged, reported USA Today.
The porn star’s longtime lawyer, Clark Brewster, made no mention of dancing to USA Today, noting instead that his client was “surprised, honestly, even though it was mostly expected.”
“The fact is that she feels bad that the guy has been charged,” said Brewster. “But on the other hand, truly, she knew what the facts were and she wants him to deal with the truth as well. So from that perspective, there’s a degree of feeling like the system is working.”
Brewster stated on Twitter, “The indictment of Donald Trump is no cause for joy.”
On the basis of Brewster’s claims, it would appear that Clifford’s champagne celebrations have been joyless.
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