A second White House official has resigned following a media investigation into allegations of domestic violence. As discussed yesterday the disconnect between Rod Porter claiming that the allegations were false but his subsequent failure to seek a legal remedy or even threaten a defamation action. David Sorensen, a speechwriter for President Trump, has raised a possible defamation action against his wife in denying the accusations. Indeed, he alleges that she was the abuser — creating a possibility of libel actions on both sides (much like the Roy Moore situation). President Donald Trump has responded to the two cases by decrying the impact of “mere allegations” in “shattering lives.”
Torts
Defamation or Damage Control? Trump Praises Rod Porter While Porter Claims Innocence
It is like a broken record in politics. A powerful man is accused of a despicable and criminal act toward women. He emphatically denies the allegation and then . . . crickets. President Donald Trump cited Rod Porter’s claim of innocence and praised him and is now facing criticism over his failure to express concern for the women in the scandal.
In the meantime, Porter has not done the obvious thing if his two prior wives are indeed lying about his being a vile abuser of women . . . he has not threatened, let alone promised, a defamation action.
College Student Accuses Spirit Airlines Of Forcing Her To Flush Her Hamster Down Toilet [Updated]
Spirit Airlines has been long criticized for its treatment of passengers and added charges for even carry on luggage. However, Texas State University student Belen Aldecosea, 21, has raised a truly shocking allegation by any measure. She is thinking of suing the airline for allegedly forcing her to flush her emotional support hamster down the toilet after Spirit Airlines refused to let the pet on the flight despite her doctor’s letter. The conflicting accounts could lead to cross filings. Update: her lawyer says that Aldecosea now has a new comfort hamster. Presumably, she did not tell it what happened to the prior comfort animal.Who Needs Elon Musk? Amazon Pulls Hair Dryer That Shoots Flames
For those disappointed in Elon Musk selling out of his 50,000 flamethrowers, Amazon may have the answer. The company pulled the Salon Grade Hair Dryer after it was shown shooting flames. While it may make for a bad hair day, it is cheaper and smaller than Musk’s Boring Company Flamethrower.
Stormy Daniels Issues New Denial Of An Affair With Trump . . . Then Suggests The Signature Is A Forgery
The controversy surrounding porn star Stormy Daniels deepened yesterday. Stephanie Clifford (AKA Stormy Daniels) was reported to have finally and clearly denied that she had an affair with President Donald Trump. A statement was released under her signature with the help of counsel. However, in her interview with late night host Jimmy Kimmel, she seemed to suggest that it was not her signature. The coy denials and suggestions of Daniels in interviews is getting quite old. However, her interview left the impression that that someone faked her signature, a possible crime. In addition, if she did not have an affair with Trump, she could be liable for defamation but there are some interesting legal twists.
Stormy Interview: Magazine Defies Trump Lawyer’s Threat Of A Libel Lawsuit and Publishes Full Interview With Alleged Mistress
The personal lawyer of President Donald Trump, Michael Cohen, reportedly threatened to sue a tabloid magazine if it published an interview with the former adult film star Stormy Daniels in 2011. Daniels told In Touch that she had an affair with Trump that started shortly after Melania Trump gave birth to her son Barron. The threat appeared to work and the story never ran. During the presidential campaign, Cohen used a fake name and shell company to give $130,000 to the porn star to deny any sexual relationship. The publication sets up an interesting legal question of whether Trump will sue as threatened and how this might play out under the standard set out in New York Times v. Sullivan. You have a porn star who does have two clearly opposing statements on the affairs as the main source for the article. However, a lawsuit would present risks that few lawyers would consider worth taking in a legal action.
