Turning Tide: Giuliani Goes on the Offensive Against Stormy Daniels
Continuing a string of controversial media appearances, President Donald Trump’s attorney Rudy Giuliani this week attacked both the character and appearance of the adult-film actress at the center of an ongoing lawsuit.
The former New York City mayor has previously assailed the legitimacy of special counsel Robert Mueller’s Russia probe, but shifted targets during an appearance at the Globes Capital Market conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, this week.
Recalling a widely criticized defense Trump himself employed against accusers during the campaign, Giuliani implied Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was not attractive enough for Trump’s tastes.
Giuliani told the audience to “look at Stormy Daniels” before contorting his face into a scowl.
“I know Donald Trump and — what good is three wives, beautiful women, classy women, women of great substance,” he said. “Stormy Daniels?”
At that point, the event’s moderator cut him off, explaining that participants were expected to “respect every woman” while on the stage.
A defiant Giuliani continued, suggesting that by virtue of Clifford’s career she is not entitled to the same respect as other women.
“Yes I respect porn stars,” he said. “Don’t you respect porn stars? Or do you think that porn stars desecrate women? Do you think that porn stars don’t respect women? And therefore sell their bodies.”
His extended public ridicule of the president’s accuser earned a swift rebuke from Clifford’s attorney.
Michael Avenatti, who has appeared frequently on cable news in recent months to provide updates on his client’s case, first shot back at Giuliani on Wednesday with a tweet calling him “a misogynist.”
Mr. Giuliani is a misogynist. His most recent comments regarding my client, who passed a lie detector test and who the American people believe, are disgusting and a disgrace. His client Mr. Trump didn’t seem to have any “moral” issues with her and others back in 2006 and beyond.
— Michael Avenatti (@MichaelAvenatti) June 6, 2018
“His most recent comments regarding my client, who passed a lie detector test and who the American people believe, are disgusting and a disgrace,” Avenatti wrote of Giuliani. “His client Mr. Trump didn’t seem to have any “moral” issues with her and others back in 2006 and beyond.”
Avenatti continued his response during an appearance on CNN the same day, calling Giuliani an “absolute pig” for making the remarks.
“Mr. Giuliani is an absolute pig for making those comments.”
Stormy Daniels’ attorney Michael Avenatti says Rudy Giuliani's derogatory remarks about his client today were “piggish… disgusting and an outrage” https://t.co/PNCqCkGtqG https://t.co/LAgY9SjRD0
— Anderson Cooper 360° (@AC360) June 7, 2018
Giuliani further claimed Clifford “has no reputation” based on her career choice, making the dubious legal claim that someone in the adult-film industry cannot suffer damages by defamation.
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