Adult film actress Stormy Daniels (Stephanie Clifford) and attorney Michael Avenatti. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images
A federal judge in California dismissed Monday a defamation lawsuit that Stephanie Clifford (also known as Stormy Daniels) filed against President Trump for what her legal team described as "irresponsible and defamatory statements” on Twitter.
The backstory: Daniels sued Trump in April for calling a composite sketch of a man Daniels said threatened her in 2011 to keep quiet about her alleged sexual affair with Trump as a “con job.” Daniels’ attorneys said that tweet unfairly portrayed her as a liar, But U.S. District Judge James Otero ruled that it was non-defamatory on its face, instead characterizing it as “rhetorical hyperbole.” However, Otero also ruled that Daniels is entitled to pay Trump' legal fees, the details of which are to be determined at a later date.