STEPHANIE CLIFFORD

Former President Donald Trump is sitting on top of more than $115 million across several political committees.

A pro-Democratic super PAC is accusing the Federal Election Commission of allowing former President Donald Trump “to continue violating the law” by dragging its feet over a complaint concerning Trump’s teasing of a future White House bid.

Incarcerated lawyer Michael Avenatti has pleaded guilty to four counts of wire fraud and a tax-related charge in a Southern California federal court case accusing him of cheating his clients out of millions of dollars.

Michael Avenatti has been sentenced to four years in prison for cheating Stormy Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars in book proceeds at the height of his famed clash with then-President Donald Trump.

Convicted California lawyer Michael Avenatti wants leniency at sentencing for defrauding former client Stormy Daniels.

The U.S. government has seized a 254-foot yacht in Spain owned by an oligarch with close ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The court ruling likely ends a long legal feud between former President Donald Trump and porn star Stormy Daniels, who says they once had sex.

The adult film actor slammed the disgraced attorney after he was found guilty of cheating her out of a large chunk of an advance for a book.

A federal jury in New York has convicted California lawyer Michael Avenatti of cheating porn actor Stormy Daniels out of nearly $300,000.

A prosecutor has said in closing arguments that California lawyer Michael Avenatti told repeated lies to porn actor Stormy Daniels in 2018 to hide his theft of her book proceeds.

Michael Avenatti has wavered on whether he plans to take the witness stand in his own defense at a fraud trial in which he is accused of stealing $300,000 in book proceeds from porn actor Stormy Daniels.

Michael Avenatti is seeking at his fraud trial to portray former client Stormy Daniels as someone who might be delusional.

Stormy Daniels has taken her star turn on the witness stand at California lawyer Michael Avenatti's trial, telling a jury he stole from her and lied to her.

Michael Avenatti says he's glad to be representing himself at his trial over whether he stole money from porn star Stormy Daniels.

A prosecutor has told a jury in an opening statement that California lawyer Michael Avenatti stole nearly $300,000 in book proceeds from porn star Stormy Daniels while a defense lawyer says it's not true.

The porn star who catapulted Michael Avenatti to fame four years ago will get a starring role in a New York courtroom when prosecutors try to prove the California lawyer cheated her of $300,000 in book proceeds.

Michael Avenatti, the once high-profile California attorney who regularly taunted then-President Donald Trump, was introduced to prospective jurors who will decide whether he cheated porn star Stormy Daniels out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Lawyers for Michael Avenatti say there is a strong likelihood that the once high-flying California attorney will testify at a New York trial where he is accused of swindling porn star Stormy Daniels out of a book deal's proceeds.

Former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen says he has completed his three-year prison term and will continue to cooperate with law enforcement investigations.

New York prosecutors have asked a judge to order California lawyer Michael Avenatti to begin serving a 2 1/2-year prison term.

A White House press secretary and chief of staff to then-first lady Melania Trump paints a deeply unflattering picture of Donald Trump in a book out next week.

Stephanie Grisham writes that Melania was "basically unleashed" to take subtle digs at Trump in public after stories reporting he'd had affairs.

A California judge has declared a mistrial in the embezzlement trial of attorney Michael Avenatti, who is charged with stealing millions in settlement money from his clients.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti is expected in court in California for a trial on charges he embezzled millions of dollars from his clients.

Lawyer Michael Avenatti is charged with embezzling millions of dollars from his clients and says at his trial in California that he “gave people who had no chance a fighting chance.”.

A New York judge has sentenced the combative California lawyer Michael Avenatti to 2 1/2 years in prison for trying to extort up to $25 million from Nike.

A judge has postponed until July 9 the sentencing of Michael Avenatti for his conviction in an extortion case involving sportswear giant Nike.

Prosecutors are urging a judge to impose a “very substantial” prison sentence on Michael Avenatti for trying to extort millions of dollars from Nike.

Lawyers for Michael Avenatti say he should spend no more than six months behind bars after a jury concluded he tried to extort $25 million from Nike.

Porn star Stormy Daniels and Playboy model Karen McDougal got hush money before the 2016 election to keep quiet about alleged affairs with Trump.

A federal election watchdog fined the publisher of the National Enquirer $187,500 for a payment it made to keep under wraps a story about former President Donald Trump’s alleged affair with a former Playboy model.

The News Leaders Association has given Ron Nixon of The Associated Press its first-ever News Leader of the Year award.

Vance Jr. fought for a year and a half to get access to former President Donald Trumps tax records. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II, File)NEW YORK – Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance Jr. fought for a year and a half to get access to former President Donald Trump’s tax records. Whether Trump's records will contain evidence of a crime is uncertain. It isn’t clear, though, whether Trump’s tax records will add much to that part of the probe. “They'll look at the billings of attorneys to see what their expenses were for.”Monday's ruling does not ensure the public will see Trump's financial records.

FILE - In this Oct. 11, 2018, file photo, adult film actress Stormy Daniels attends the opening of the adult entertainment fair "Venus," in Berlin. When Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021, he remained "Individual-1" in the federal campaign finance crimes case against his former attorney, Michael Cohen. The prosecution stemmed from six-figure payments Cohen arranged to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to keep them quiet during the campaign about alleged affairs with Trump. (AP Photo/Markus Schreiber, File)WASHINGTON – The Supreme Court on Monday rejected an appeal from porn star Stormy Daniels, who sought to revive a defamation lawsuit she filed against former President Donald Trump. The justices did not comment in leaving in place a lower court ruling dismissing the case.

The former "Apprentice" contestant is trying to get her defamation lawsuit against former President Donald Trump moving again now that he's no longer president. Federal prosecutors in Washington, meanwhile, have charged some 200 Trump supporters with crimes related to the riot, including more serious conspiracy charges. There has been no indication that Trump would be charged in the riot though prosecutors have said they are looking at all angles. The same U.S. attorney's office in Manhattan also appears to have moved on from its investigation of Trump’s inaugural committee. Recently, her office has won a series of court rulings forcing Trump’s company and a law firm it hired to turn over troves of records.

When Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021, he remained "Individual-1" in the federal campaign finance crimes case against his former attorney, Michael Cohen. The prosecution stemmed from six-figure payments Cohen arranged to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to keep them quiet during the campaign about alleged affairs with Trump. Federal prosecutors charged Cohen with skirting campaign contribution rules by arranging the hush-money payment to Daniels and a similar payment to Playboy model Karen McDougal. Cohen and Daniels are united not only in infamy but deep regret over Trump. “I’ve been face to face with evil in the most intimate way,” Daniels said.

When Donald Trump left the White House in January 2021, he remained "Individual-1" in the federal campaign finance crimes case against his former attorney, Michael Cohen. The prosecution stemmed from six-figure payments Cohen arranged to Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, to keep them quiet during the campaign about alleged affairs with Trump. Trump himself had been publicly implicated by prosecutors as complicit in Cohen's campaign finance crimes during his 2016 run for office. The attorney spoke on the condition of anonymity because prosecutors have not discussed the case publicly. The Manhattan prosecutor’s probe includes a look at the 2016 hush-money payoffs.

FILE - This Thursday, June 6, 2019 file photo shows the U.S. Treasury Department building at dusk in Washington. “It required all kinds of shoe-leather investigating to identify who was really behind these shell companies,” recalled Alonso. For the first time, shell companies will be required to provide the names of their owners or face stiff penalties and jail sentences. The information will be stored in a confidential database accessible to federal law enforcement and shared with banks who are often unwitting accomplices to international corruption. Box and a registered agent who is frequently a law firm dedicated to churning out companies in bulk.

FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks at the White House in Washington. The president's legal entanglements are likely to intensify when leaves the White House in January 2021 and loses immunity from prosecution. The probe led by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. is one of several legal entanglements likely to intensify when Trump loses power — and immunity from prosecution — upon leaving the White House. Trump faces two New York state inquiries into whether he misled tax authorities, banks or business partners. Carroll says Trump raped her in the mid-1990s in a New York department store.

Behind the World Series, Fox was the most popular broadcast network in prime time, averaging 8.2 million viewers. NBC had 5.8 million viewers, ABC had 4.6 million, CBS had 4.4 million, Ion Television had 1.2 million, Univision had 1.1 million, Telemundo had 1 million and the CW had 620,000. ABC's “World News Tonight” led the evening news ratings race with an average of 8.6 million viewers. NBC's “Nightly News” had 7.2 million viewers and the “CBS Evening News” had 5.3 million. World Series, Game 3: L.A. Dodgers vs. Tampa Bay, Fox, 8.16 million.

While it’s relatively rare for first ladies to push back so strongly against negative coverage, Mrs. Trump has repeatedly spoken out about her critics. Wolkoff, in addition to her book, also released audio recordings in which the first lady is heard complaining about having to decorate the mansion for Christmas. Myra Gutin, a professor at Rider University and an author on first ladies, said Mrs. Trump's post probably wasn’t smart politics just weeks before the election. She wrote in the book about her work on Trump's inauguration and blamed the first lady for not defending her after questions arose about excessive spending by the committee. Her book chronicled a yearslong relationship with the first lady and their regular lunches in New York City and emoji-filled text exchanges.

The court could allow the immediate enforcement of a subpoena issued by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. or block it temporarily. Even if the court rules against Trump, however, the records would normally not be made public but turned over to Vance's office. This is the second time the records issue has reached the high court. But the high court returned the Vance case and another, similar case involving records sought by Congress to lower courts to allow Trump's attorneys to make additional arguments. In August, a district court judge rejected Trump's attorneys' renewed efforts to block Vance's access to the records.

But I bet theyd think its cool that I slept with a porn star.The White House called Cohen's memoir fan fiction." It seemed to them that I wouldnt listen to anyone, not even the people who loved me most, as I gradually gave up control of my mind to Trump, Cohen writes. I was the canary in the coal mine for the millions of Americans who are still mesmerized by the power of Trump, Cohen writes. The memoir offers an introspective and at times self-loathing apology for the role Cohen played in Trump's political ascent. This story is all I have left for my wife, my children and the country I love so much, Cohen writes.

FILE - In this March 6, 2019 file photo, Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former lawyer, returns to testify on Capitol Hill in Washington. But I bet theyd think its cool that I slept with a porn star.The White House called Cohen's memoir fan fiction." It seemed to (my family) that I wouldnt listen to anyone, not even the people who loved me most, as I gradually gave up control of my mind to Trump, Cohen writes. In a far more personal episode, Cohen writes of Trump leering at Cohens then-15-year-old daughter at Trumps New Jersey golf club in 2012. This story is all I have left for my wife, my children and the country I love so much, Cohen writes.

FILE - This July 24, 2020, file photo shows Michael Cohen, center, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, returning to his apartment, in New York, after being released from prison. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan, File)NEW YORK When Michael Cohen testified before Congress last year, Republican lawmakers worried aloud that President Donald Trump's former fixer would parlay the spectacle and his criminal exploits into a bestseller. It pains me that we are sitting here adding another chapter to his book," said Rep. Carol Miller of West Virginia. The New York Attorney General's Office declined to comment. Cohen was released to home confinement in July and the government lifted a ban on him speaking publicly.

Mrs. Trump said months ago that she's ready for another four years. Only the second foreign-born first lady in U.S. history, Mrs. Trump is a native of Slovenia, a former communist country in eastern Europe. The first lady is set to speak Tuesday night from the renovated Rose Garden, despite questions about using the White House for a political convention. Former Republican House Speaker Newt Gingrich said people appreciate that Mrs. Trump is her own person. Last week, after Mrs. Obama's forceful rebuke of Trump in an address to the Democrats' largely virtual convention, social media lit up with tongue-in-cheek speculation about whether Mrs. Trump would give the same speech.

LOS ANGELES – A California court ordered President Donald Trump this week to pay $44,100 in attorney fees to porn actress Stormy Daniels to pay for her legal battle over her effort to cancel a hush money deal brokered to keep her quiet about their sexual relationship a decade ago. As a part of that deal, the losing party would pay the lawyers fees. The president's personal lawyer at the time, Michael Cohen, paid $130,000 to Daniels, who filed the suit under her legal name Stephanie Clifford. Trump's lawyers said Daniels didn't win the case and therefore wasn't entitled to lawyer fees, but Judge Robert Broadbelt III disagreed in his ruling Monday, posted online by Daniels' lawyers. The defamation lawsuit was thrown out and Daniels is appealing the decision and an order to pay Trump almost $300,000 in attorney fees.

Trump's lawyers immediately appealed Marrero’s Thursday ruling to the Second Circuit Court of Appeals. The president said he expected the case to end up back before the Supreme Court. The appeal means it is unlikely Vance's office will get its hands on Trump’s tax returns before November’s presidential election. “The Supreme Court said it’s a fishing expedition. “We’re not doing things wrong, but they’ll say, ‘Let’s go in and inspect every deal he’s ever done,’” Trump said.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, returns to his apartment after being released from prison, Friday, July 24, 2020, in New York. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered Cohen released on parole saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)NEW YORK – President Donald Trump’s former personal lawyer has been offered work as a consultant and to make media appearances for a political action committee, his lawyer said Wednesday. Michael Cohen hopes to accept the offer to work on the committee’s behalf, attorney Danya Perry told U.S. District Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein in a letter aimed at ensuring the judge does not object. Cohen, 53, began serving the sentence in May 2019 after pleading guilty to campaign finance fraud and lying to Congress, among other charges.

Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's former personal attorney, returns to his apartment after being released from prison, Friday, July 24, 2020, in New York. District Judge Alvin Hellerstein ordered Cohen released on parole saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump. An agreement between lawyers for the government and Cohen attorney Danya Perry lifting the media ban that had prevented Cohen from speaking publicly awaited a signature by a federal judge. U.S. Judge Alvin K. Hellerstein last week ordered him released, saying the governments action was retaliatory and a violation of his First Amendment rights. In a written declaration, Cohen said his book will provide graphic and unflattering details about the Presidents behavior behind closed doors.

FILE- In this May 21, 2020 file photo, Michael Cohen arrives at his Manhattan apartment in New York after being furloughed from prison because of concerns over the coronavirus. A judge ordered the release from prison, Thursday, July 23 of President Donald Trump's former personal lawyer, saying he believes the government retaliated against him for writing a book about Trump. Cohen sued federal prison officials including Attorney General William Barr on Monday, July 20 saying he was returned to an Otisville, New York, prison to stop him from publishing a tell-all book about his experiences with Trump. Cohen was sentenced to three years in prison in 2018 after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, among other crimes. He said he worked openly on his manuscript until May at Otisvilles prison library and discussed his book with prison officials.

The lawsuit on behalf of Michael Cohen was filed late Monday in Manhattan federal court, alleging his First Amendment rights were violated when he was returned to the Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville, New York, on July 9. Cohen, 53, had been furloughed in May as part of an attempt to slow the spread of the virus in federal prisons. He had served only a year of his three-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to campaign finance charges and lying to Congress, among other crimes. Monday's lawsuit said Cohen made it clear recently that he planned to release a tell-all book just before the November election. Cohen has remained in solitary confinement since he was taken to Otisville, the lawsuit said.

It isnt just about the president," attorney Carey Dunne said of an investigation by Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr. a week after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in Vance's favor. There are other individuals and entities who ... could end up above the law as a result of this delay." Trump's attorney, William S. Consovoy, said the president believed there were strong arguments to be made that the subpoena was not properly tailored" and instead copied verbatim portions of Congressional subpoenas. He also expressed interest in resolving Trump's claims quickly, noting that lawyers submitted their arguments last year within six days. The top court returned the fight over the subpoena to Marrero, saying Trumps lawyers may still challenge it in the same manner as anyone served with a subpoena.

The Supreme Court ruled in two cases involving access to President Donald Trumps financial records. One case had to do with whether Congress could get access to Trumps financial records. Here's a look at the cases behind the requests:WHY DOES THE MANHATTAN DISTRICT ATTORNEY WANT THE RECORDS? The Manhattan district attorney subpoenaed for Trump's financial records, specifically his taxes. Mazars also is the recipient of Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus Vance Jr.'s subpoena.

FILE PHOTO: Adult-film actress Stephanie Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, puts her shoe back on after passing though a security screening, as she arrives at federal court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., April 16, 2018. REUTERS/Shannon Stapleton/File Photo(Reuters) - Adult film star Stormy Daniels, whose allegations of a onetime sexual liaison with U.S. President Donald Trump triggered a legal battle, is returning as a superhero in a series of comic books. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, will be releasing a fictional comic book series called Stormy Daniels: Space Force in the autumn with TidalWave Productions. On Wednesday, Daniels and TidalWave will rerelease an updated bio comic book titled Female Force: Stormy Daniels. Compared with her 2018 biography, Daniels said, Its a little bit more campy.Since a U.S. judge dismissed her hush-money agreement case against Trump in March 2019, Daniels has tackled new ventures, including a podcast and performing standup comedy around the world. She plans to star in an upcoming horror film.

FILE PHOTO: Attorney Michael Avenatti arrives at United States Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., July 23, 2019. Avenatti faces two other criminal trials this year, one in Manhattan and one in southern California. While representing Daniels, Avenatti launched a media blitz to discuss his cases and criticize Trump, making hundreds of television appearances. Avenatti faces an April trial in Manhattan for allegedly defrauding Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, out of book contract proceeds. And he faces a May trial in California on charges including stealing millions of dollars from several clients and lying to the Internal Revenue Service.

Avenatti's trial in California is scheduled to begin in May. Earlier Wednesday, Manhattan federal court Judge Gardephe denied Avenatti's motion to toss the Nike extortion case, seeming to pave the way for Avenatti's trial beginning next Tuesday, the same day that Trump's impeachment trial is expected to begin the Senate. But Gardephe said later Wednesday that the plan for the trial has been "thrown into chaos" by Avenatti's arrest in California. During a telephone conference after Avenatti's bail was revoked, his lawyer, Jose Manuel Quinon, told Gardephe, "We have some very difficult problems." The judge added: "Avenatti is being prosecuted for activities wholly unrelated to the political arena."

(Reuters) - Celebrity lawyer Michael Avenatti was arrested on Tuesday on accusations that he violated the terms of his release from custody while awaiting trial on charges that he sought to extort millions of dollars from Nike Inc., federal prosecutors said. FILE PHOTO: Attorney Michael Avenatti exits the United States Courthouse in the Manhattan borough of New York City, U.S., October 8, 2019. Avenatti, who gained international notoriety representing adult film star Stormy Daniels in a legal battle with U.S. President Donald Trump, was scheduled to appear in federal court in Santa Ana on Wednesday. Avenatti became a prominent critic of Trump and frequent cable TV guest while representing Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Avenatti faces up to 30 years in prison if convicted on the California charges and up to 20 years in the New York indictment.

(Reuters) - California attorney Michael Avenatti, known for representing porn actress Stormy Daniels in a lawsuit against U.S. President Donald Trump, was more than $15 million in debt when he allegedly tried to extort as much as $25 million from Nike Inc (NKE.N), U.S. prosecutors claimed. REUTERS/Brendan McDermidSpecifically, the Government presently estimates that the defendants debts at that time were, conservatively, in excess of $15 million, prosecutors said in a filing late on Tuesday in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York. Any claim that I was $15 million in debt is completely bogus, ludicrous and absurd. Since his March 25 arrest in the Nike case, Avenatti has defended himself against a variety of criminal charges. He has also pleaded not guilty in California to wire fraud, bank fraud and other crimes, including stealing from clients.

(Reuters) - Porn star Stormy Daniels has settled a lawsuit against the city of Columbus, Ohio, for $450,000, receiving the payout after she charged that police arrested at a strip club in retaliation for her claim that she had an affair with Donald Trump. Daniels has described having an affair with Trump before he became president and receiving hush money through his former lawyer Michael Cohen. Daniels lawsuit alleged the Columbus vice unit officers who arrested her were registered Republicans, as is the president, and retaliated by arresting her during her performance. Brewster, Daniels lawyer, credited city officials for how they handled the case. The city of Columbus took responsibility and understood it and did a proper investigation and was critical of their own people.

Columbus, Ohio The city of Columbus, Ohio, has reached a $450,000 settlement with Stormy Daniels over the porn actress' arrest at a strip club last year. Her federal defamation lawsuit against several police officers alleged officers conspired to retaliate against her over her claims that she had sex with Donald Trump before he became president. A message was left with an attorney for Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford. Daniels was arrested on suspicion of inappropriately touching an undercover officer. An internal police review determined her arrest was improper but not planned in advance or politically motivated.

Ohio's capital city agreed Friday to pay porn actress Stormy Daniels $450,000 to settle a lawsuit over her arrest at a strip club last year, the latest fallout traced to the city's now-disbanded vice unit. Daniels' federal defamation complaint against several Columbus officers alleged police conspired to retaliate against her over her claims that she had sex with Donald Trump before he became president. The interim Columbus police chief recommended this month that two officers from the former vice unit be fired for their roles in the undercover strip club operation that resulted in Daniels' arrest. An internal police review determined Daniels' arrest was improper but not planned in advance or politically motivated. The city disbanded the vice unit the same month as allegations of problems piled up, placing the investigation of vice-related crimes under the Narcotics division and promising a more community-based approach.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - A Manhattan state prosecutor on Monday urged a federal judge to dismiss U.S. President Donald Trumps bid to block a subpoena seeking eight years of his tax returns as part of a criminal investigation. Vance also argued that the dispute belongs in New York state court, where a grand jury issued the subpoena, not in federal court. U.S. District Judge Victor Marrero in Manhattan is scheduled to hear arguments in the case on Wednesday. Trump filed the lawsuit on Thursday seeking to block enforcement of grand jury subpoena that Vance issued on Aug. 29 to Mazars USA, Trumps longtime accounting firm, for personal and corporate tax returns from 2011 to 2018. Vance issued the subpoena four weeks after issuing another subpoena to the Trump Organization for records of hush money payments, including to two women prior to the 2016 election.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyer Michael Avenatti asked a federal judge to dismiss an indictment accusing him of trying to extort Nike Inc (NKE.N), saying he was targeted in a vindictive and selective prosecution because of his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump. Attorney Michael Avenatti speaks to the media outside United States Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., July 23, 2019. Avenatti also said Trump and his family have demonstrated genuine animus toward him and that it was clear he would not have been prosecuted if not for that animus. Avenatti, 48, became famous last year representing porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had sex with Trump, in lawsuits involving the president and his now-imprisoned former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. The case is U.S. v. Avenatti, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Lawyer Michael Avenatti asked a federal judge to dismiss an indictment accusing him of trying to extort Nike Inc (NKE.N), saying he was targeted in a vindictive and selective prosecution because of his feud with U.S. President Donald Trump. Attorney Michael Avenatti speaks to the media outside United States Court in the Manhattan borough of New York City, New York, U.S., July 23, 2019. Avenatti also said Trump and his family have demonstrated genuine animus toward him and that it was clear he would not have been prosecuted if not for that animus. Avenatti, 48, became famous last year representing porn star Stormy Daniels, who said she had sex with Trump, in lawsuits involving the president and his now-imprisoned former personal lawyer Michael Cohen. The case is U.S. v. Avenatti, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No.

Five Columbus, Ohio, police officers have been slapped with internal department charges accusing them of violating rules of conduct in the controversial July 2018 arrest of porn star Stormy Daniels at a strip club. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is suing the Columbus Police Department in connection with the incident. The now-disbanded Vice Unit that arrested Daniels also is the subject of a pending federal criminal investigation. The Vice Unit was placed under FBI investigation in September at the request of the then-Columbus police chief. Mitchell was not involved in Daniels' arrest.

The new material cited several phone calls involving Hicks in support of the application. That evening, Hicks initiated what would become a four-minute, three-way call with Trump and Cohen, according to the document. Before Oct. 8, Cohen had not spoken on the phone with Hicks for at least several weeks, the document said. Cohen had at least two more calls that evening with Hicks before the Journal story was published online, the FBI document said. The next morning, Cohen sent a text message to Hicks saying he felt the Journal story was getting little to no traction.Same, Hicks texted back.