President Trump’s longtime lawyer reportedly referred a client to an attorney last year who was at the time working for adult-film star Stormy Daniels, raising questions over whether Trump’s lawyer acted as a fixer for the president.
Keith Davidson, a longtime Los Angeles attorney, told CNN that Trump’s lawyer Michael Cohen referred his name to Chuck LaBella, a Trump associate who at the time was being accused by actor Tom Arnold of having information that could damage the Trump campaign.
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“Chuck LaBella has all the dirt,” Arnold said in October of last year, adding in a second tweet: “Chuck LaBella was there and knows all.”
Arnold’s attorney was then contacted by Davidson. LaBella told CNN the attorney reached out to stop the actor from spreading “slanderous accusations and outright lies.” LaBella also said he never hired Davidson and that Davidson reached out to Arnold’s attorney on his behalf.
“Keith Davidson has never been hired as my counsel. I have never met him. I have never paid him. I have never signed any agreement with him.”
Davidson, who was at the time also representing Daniels, no longer represents the adult-film star, who is now backed by attorney Michael Avenatti.
CNN noted the episode could be potentially significant amid allegations in a lawsuit filed by another Davidson client, Karen McDougal, about coziness between Davidson and Cohen.
McDougal, a former Playboy model who also says she had an affair with Trump, has filed a lawsuit against Davidson claiming he was “working closely with representatives for Mr. Trump while pretending to advocate on her behalf.”
McDougal has accused Davidson of being part of a “broad effort to silence and intimidate her and others.” He denies the claims.
In his statement to CNN, LaBella denied that Davidson had been referred to him by Cohen.
“After working for over 30 years in Hollywood, Keith has been know[n] as the fixer. Many people over the years have recommended Keith to me. He has been in my rolodex. That’s how I know of him.”
Trump publicly acknowledged questions surrounding Daniels for the first time this week, telling reporters on Air Force One that he had no knowledge of Cohen’s $130,000 payment to the actress shortly before the 2016 election. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has said the money was part of an agreement to keep her silent about an affair she claims she had with Trump in 2006.
“You’ll have to ask Michael Cohen. Michael is my attorney. You’ll have to ask Michael,” Trump repeatedly told reporters this week.