Stormy Daniels' case against Trump DISMISSED

STORMY Daniels has lost a defamation case against Donald Trump and has been ordered to pay the president's legal fees.

The adult film actress sued Trump after he said a composite sketch of a man she claimed threatened her to keep quiet about their alleged affair was a "total con job."

The US president tweeted that the man was "nonexistent" and that Daniels, real name Stephanie Clifford, was playing the "fake news media for fools."

He retweeted a side-by-side photo comparing the sketch with a photo of Daniels' husband.

In an order handed down on Monday, US District Judge S. James Otero said Trump's statement was protected speech under the First Amendment.

A judgment released in the Central District of California court, referring to Ms Daniels as the plaintiff, states: "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.

"As the United States Supreme Court has held, a published statement that is 'pointed, exaggerated, and heavily laden with emotional rhetoric and moral outrage' cannot constitute a defamatory statement."

The amount Ms Daniels will have to pay Mr Trump has not yet been decided, Charles Harder, the president's lawyer, said.

Her lawyer, Michael Avenatti tweeted to say his client would be appealing the judgement, adding he is "confident of a reversal".

Stormy, who in August pulled out of an appearance on Celebrity Big Brother following a row with producers, alleges she was paid to remain silent over claims of an affair with Mr Trump.

Mr Trump denies he had an affair but acknowledged reimbursing his lawyer for a £98,000 ($130,000) payment made to Ms Daniels.

Read more about Stormy Daniels:
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Trump DENIES he knew his lawyer paid £100k ‘hush money’ to porn star Stormy Daniels:
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Stormy Daniels defamation case against Trump could be SCRAPPED as judge signals president’s con job tweet was just free speech:
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Donald Trump hits back at Stormy Daniels’ sketch of suspect who ‘threatened her to keep quiet about tryst’:
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