A federal judge has rejected adult film star Stormy Daniels' request for permission to question Donald Trump and schedule a trial soon in her lawsuit to end her agreement to remain silent about her alleged sexual encounter in 2006 with the U.S. president. The judge said the defendants' eventual response might address some open issues, limiting the need to gather evidence. According to Daniels, the agreement is void because Trump never signed it, and the $130,000 payment amounted to an illegal campaign contribution. Avenatti has said he would need no more than two hours each to question Trump and Cohen. Cohen has said Daniels made defamatory statements about him in an interview broadcast on Sunday on CBS News' 60 Minutes.

Source: CBC News March 29, 2018 20:26 UTC