Exclusive Joe Arce Photo: Newsmaker Stormy Daniels in Chicago

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CHICAGO – Approximately one year after Donald Trump took his oath of presidential office, THE WALL STREET JOURNAL revealed in January of 2018 that Trump attorney Michael Cohen paid Stormy Daniels $130,000 in October of 2016 to stop her from disclosing a past 2006 affair with the presumed leader. Recently, Joe Arce took an Exclusive Photo of Ms. Daniels.



Stormy Daniels was appearing at the EXXXOTICA Expo – where Joe Arce of HollywoodChicago.com photographed her – the weekend of July 16th-18th, 2021, the 10th Anniversary of the largest event “dedicated to Love and Sex.” The adult film star, who met Trump in 2006, had an affair with the ex-representative of the U.S. Executive Branch shortly thereafter, while Trump’s wife Melania was recovering from the birth of their son Barron. When the truth first arose, Trump called it “fake news.”

Stormy Daniels in Chicago on July 16th, 2021
Photo credit: Joe Arce of Starstruck Foto for HollywoodChicago.com

Stormy Daniels was born Stephanie Gregory in Louisiana. At age 17, she began work as a stripper, and worked her way up in the industry, taking the name Stormy Daniels as a tribute to Motley Crüe and Jack Daniels. Her career in adult films began in 2002, earning the Best New Starlet at the AVN (Adult Video News) Awards.

The notoriety surrounding the Trump/Daniels affair included late payments from Cohen, the legality of the non-disclosure agreement and difficulties with her own attorney Michael Avenetti. Both Michael Cohen and Michael Avenetti were charged with various crimes both associated with the Trump/Daniels affair and in the case of Avenetti, extortion and larceny (he stole advance payments for Stormy Daniels book). Daniels also alleged that she was threatened with physical harm while in Las Vegas, with an unknown man saying “Leave Trump alone. Forget the story. That’s a beautiful little girl. It’d be a shame if something happened to her Mom.”

The smoke has cleared from this patriarchal legal morass, and Daniels has moved on to a new project, as a paranormal investigator in the a self funded TV pilot series called “Spooky Babes.” At this writing, the full series is being negotiated for pick up. Donald Trump was defeated by President Joe Biden in 2020, Stormy Daniels continues her career.

By PATRICK McDONALD Editor and Film Writer HollywoodChicago.com pat@hollywoodchicago.com