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Trump accuser Stormy Daniels arrested in Ohio strip club 'for letting patrons touch her'

Ms Daniels' lawyer describes arrest as 'complete set-up'

Adam Withnall
Thursday 12 July 2018 15:15 BST
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Stormy Daniels, the adult film star at the centre of allegations against Donald Trump, has been arrested at a strip club in Ohio.

Ms Daniels' lawyer said she was performing at the Sirens club when some patrons touched her in a "non-sexual" way. She was later arrested at the club under an Ohio state law banning anyone who isn't a family member from touching a nude or semi-nude dancer.

Mr Avenatti described the arrest as "a complete set-up". "It's absurd that law enforcement resources are being spent to conduct a sting operation related to customers touching performers in a strip club in a non-sexual manner," he said.

Neither the club nor the Columbus police commented on the arrest. Ms Daniels, who was semi-nude, allegedly touched some of the patrons' breasts according to charging documents filed in court and obtained by WSYX -TV.

Ms Daniels was released on bail before 6am Thursday. Court records show she posted $6,000 bail. Ms Daniels is set for to face arraignment on Friday on three misdemeanour counts of touching a patron at a “sexually oriented” business.

Ms Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, "will vehemently contest all charges," Mr Avenatti said.

Ms Daniels is involved in lawsuits against both the president and his lawyer. She has claimed that she had a sexual affair with Mr Trump around a decade ago, not long after his marriage to Melania Trump.

The actress also said she was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about the relationship in the run-up to the 2016 election, and that she was physically threatened over the repercussions if she didn't keep her silence.

She is suing Mr Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen over the terms gag payment, and also suing the president for defamation after he wrote on Twitter that her allegations were a "total con job".

Mr Trump has denied the affair ever happened. He has admitted reimbursing his lawyer for the $130,000 payment but said such arrangements are "common among celebrities and people of wealth".

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