Adult film star Stormy Daniels feels "a little vindicated" after former President Donald Trump became a convicted felon in New York, her husband Barrett Blade has revealed.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, is one of two women who were given "hush money" payments in 2016 to keep quiet about alleged past affairs with the then-future president. Trump was convicted by a Manhattan jury on Thursday on 34 felony counts of falsifying business records to cover up the payments.
"This wouldn't have happened without her, but also this wasn't her case," Blade, also an adult film actor who is legally named Russell Barrett, told CNN's Erin Burnett shortly after the verdict was announced. "This whole hush money trial is really... not her story."
"I mean, it's nice that the jury saw the facts and made their decision," he continued. "I think it does help with the fact that she feels a little vindicated that, you know, she was telling the truth."
Blade went on to say that he was not sure if Daniels' alleged vindication "matters" because "a lot of people still think she's lying," while adding: "People that aren't going to believe just aren't going to believe. They've made up their mind and that's that."
Trump was convicted of crimes that were only indirectly related to his alleged affair with Daniels. Former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who also allegedly had an affair with Trump, received hush money payments in 2016 that the former president was not charged with illegally concealing.
Blade said during his CNN interview that Trump's conviction had convinced Daniels to remain in the U.S., prompting Burnett to recall that Daniels had told her she was considering moving away from the country if the verdict went "the other way."
"So, now we continue with what we've always been doing," said Blade. "She's still pretty stoic. I think she's relieved. It's is a big weight off her shoulders at this point."
Blade also suggested that he was concerned about Daniels' future safety, telling Burnett earlier in the interview that "now all the MAGA idiots are going to be coming after her" because "facts are facts and I don't think they see that."
Newsweek reached out for comment to Trump's office via email on Thursday night.
Trump's alleged affairs with Daniels and McDougal purportedly took place around the time that Melania Trump was pregnant with the future first couple's son Barron. Trump has repeatedly denied that the affairs took place, despite acknowledging that the hush money payments were made by his former lawyer Michael Cohen.
The ex-president's sentencing hearing has been set for July 11, exactly two weeks after he and President Joe Biden are expected to face off in their first of two debates ahead of this year's presidential election. Trump has argued that his legal woes are nothing more than "election interference."
About the writer
Aila Slisco is a Newsweek night reporter based in New York. Her focus is on reporting national politics, where she ... Read more
