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Stormy Daniels has hit out against Donald Trump, calling the former president a "proven predator" after the adult film star's failed defamation lawsuit requires her to pay out $300,000.
"It is a sad reality that in this country, a known and proven predator can openly brag about assaulting women and become president and be awarded money for his bad behavior," Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, said in a statement posted to Twitter on March 22.
A federal appeals court rejected Daniels' bid to overturn a lower court's decision but she remained defiant and insisted yesterday that she "will go to jail before I pay a penny."
Daniels has been embroiled in a years-long feud with Trump over her claim that they had sex one time in 2006 and previously made headlines when she received $130,000 in hush money from the former president's former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
Trump has denied ever having a sexual encounter with Daniels and celebrated the outcome on Monday, declaring it "a total and complete victory and vindication for, and of me."
"The lawsuit was a purely political stunt that never should have started, or allowed to happen, and I am pleased that my lawyers were able to bring it to a successful conclusion after the court fully rejected her appeal," Trump said in a statement, per CNBC. "Now all I have to do is wait for all of the money she owes me."
Daniels has released a follow-up statement since declaring that she has no intention to pay the fees owed to Trump who she called a "proven predator" in reference to the infamous 2005 Access Hollywood tape where he bragged about grabbing women by the genitals without consent.
This is my statement. pic.twitter.com/wVSde8ZbjS
— Stormy Daniels (@StormyDaniels) March 22, 2022
Newsweek has contacted a representative for Trump for comment.
"My heart goes out to the others who have been victimized by Trump," Daniels said in her statement. "I deeply regret not standing up for myself that night and for not speaking out sooner. I hope that one day the women who came after me can forgive me."
Elsewhere in her statement, Daniels claimed that Trump's court victory yesterday was a result of a "technicality" and blamed her former lawyer Michael Avenatti for failing to file her appeal promptly.
"That technical ruling, although distressing, does not reflect on anything I have done, or my credibility but is the result of the negligence of criminal lawyer Michael Avenatti," she said.
In February, Avenatti was convicted of wire fraud and aggravated identity theft for cheating Daniels out of $300,000 she was meant to receive for writing a book on her alleged affair with Trump.
"I'm very disappointed in the jury's verdict. I look forward to a full adjudication of all of the issues on appeal," Avenatti told CNN at the time.
