(CNN) The attorney representing the porn star who is suing President Donald Trump says the White House's suggestion that the President knew nothing about a payment made to keep her quiet is "patently absurd." "The idea that somehow President Trump didn't know anything about this and that Attorney Cohen was just running off and doing what he thought was best without any consultation with President Trump, it is patently absurd," Michael Avenatti, the attorney for Stephanie Clifford, told CNN's Anderson Cooper on Wednesday night. Clifford, also known as Stormy Daniels, has filed a lawsuit against Trump in which she cites multiple instances of his legal counsel, Michael Cohen, working to keep her from speaking out about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter. Avenatti said a private mediator issued a temporary restraining order against Clifford on behalf of Cohen on February 27, and has cautioned Clifford to keep quiet as recently as Wednesday. On Wednesday, White House press secretary Sarah Sanders fielded questions about Cohen making a $130,000 payment to Daniels in October 2016, and she said Trump didn't know about it -- as far as she knew.

Source: CNN March 08, 2018 03:00 UTC