Former President Donald Trump says there is “just found” evidence in his case involving former adult-film star Stormy Daniels. However, there is one glaring problem.
On Wednesday, Trump shared a post on TruthSocial and wrote, “LOOK WHAT WAS JUST FOUND! WILL THE FAKE NEWS REPORT IT?” In his post, Trump included a statement from Daniels that is dated January 30, 2018.
“Over the past few weeks I have been asked countless times to comment on reports of an alleged sexual relationship I had with Donald Trump many, many, many years ago,” the statement from Daniels says. “I am not denying this affair because I was paid ‘hush money’ as has been reported in overseas owned tabloids. I am denying this affair because it never happened.”
In April 2023, Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg indicted Trump, accusing him of paying hush money to Daniels and alleging that the former president “repeatedly and fraudulently falsified New York business records to conceal crimes that hid damaging information from the voting public during the 2016 presidential election.”
Trump has continued to deny any wrongdoing in the case, which is set to begin on Monday.
Megan Varner/Getty Images
While Trump’s post appeared to suggest that the evidence he found was new, a report from the Associated Press (AP) last month said that the statement by Daniels was originally released six years ago, and that she had later recanted the remarks.
“She said her denials were due to a non-disclosure agreement and that she signed the statement because parties involved ‘made it sound like I had no choice,'” AP reported.
Trump has repeatedly denied the allegations leveled by Bragg and previously said that he would testify in the trial.
“I would have no problem testifying,” Trump said. “I didn’t do anything wrong.”
Trump was previously placed under a gag order in the case by New York Supreme Court Justice Juan Merchan. The order was later expanded after Trump continued to attack Merchan’s daughter and her connection to the Democratic Party.
Earlier this week, Trump suffered a legal loss in his attempts to delay the trial. His most recent bid centered around challenges to the gag order. However, a New York appeals court on Tuesday denied his efforts.
During an interview with Fox News’ Fox & Friends co-host Brian Kilmeade on Wednesday, Trump’s middle son, Eric Trump, spoke about his father’s criminal trial: “Every single time he walks into that courtroom, million and millions of dollars flow in because the American people know exactly what’s happening to him.”
Newsweek reached out to Trump’s spokesperson via email for comment on Wednesday.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.