Contrary to previous claims, Michael Cohen did not engage in a romantic relationship with Stormy Daniels.
One America News, a far-right cable network, propagated a false narrative about former President Donald Trump’s ex-fixer, asserting that it was he, rather than his former boss, who had engaged in a sexual relationship with an adult film star. This story emerged as Cohen is getting ready to testify against Trump at his Manhattan criminal trial, which focuses on Trump’s alleged affair with Daniels.
According to the New York Times, OAN retracted the claim this week after being threatened with legal action.
According to a report by OAN, it was claimed that Cohen had been involved in a relationship with Daniels since 2006. The network stated that they received this information from a whistleblower connected to Michael Avenatti, who was Daniels’ former attorney. It is important to note that Avenatti is currently in jail for extortion.
In a statement, Cohen dismissed the premise of the story as “beyond absurd” and “just plain stupid.” He clarified that he had actually first met Daniels in 2021 when he had the opportunity to host her on his podcast.
OAN opted to remove all references to the story from its website and social media platforms instead of dealing with a potential lawsuit. Cohen’s attorneys did not request any financial compensation.
In a statement, it was mentioned that this retraction is a result of a settlement made with Michael Cohen. OAN expresses its apologies to Mr. Cohen for any potential harm caused by the publication.
Justin Nelson, who also represented Dominion Voting Systems in its defamation lawsuit against Fox News, and Danya Perry, Cohen’s longtime lawyer, represented Cohen. Nelson expressed his satisfaction with OAN’s retraction, stating that it is a triumph for accountability. He emphasized that the retraction is not driven by monetary motives, but rather by the goal of safeguarding the truth.
As the trial approaches and Cohen prepares to testify, he has become a frequent target of criticism from right-wing individuals and even Trump himself. It is worth noting that Trump is currently under a gag order that prevents him from discussing witnesses, including Cohen. Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over Trump’s trial in Manhattan, is currently deliberating whether to hold Trump in contempt for violating the gag order by publicly attacking Cohen and other witnesses.
