OAN Retracts False Story About Michael Cohen and Stormy Daniels Affair

One America News Network (OAN) retracted a story on Monday that falsely claimed Michael Cohen, former President Donald Trump’s attorney, had an affair with adult film star Stormy Daniels. The article, published on March 27, was based on an unverified post from a user on platform X, who claimed to have received information from Daniels’ then-attorney, Michael Avenatti. The post alleged that Cohen and Daniels had an affair since 2006 and that Cohen devised a hush money scheme to extort the Trump Organization before the 2016 election.

OAN clarified in a statement that there is no evidence to suggest that Cohen and Daniels had an affair or that Cohen orchestrated the alleged extortion scheme. The network is removing the story from all its platforms and social media. The retraction is part of a settlement with Cohen, who has denied the allegations. OAN apologized to Cohen for any harm caused by the publication.

Trump, who has denied a relationship with Daniels, is currently on trial for 34 felony counts related to allegations of falsifying business records concerning hush money paid to Daniels during the 2016 presidential campaign. Both Cohen and Daniels are expected to testify.

Cohen criticized the retracted story’s allegations, calling them “absurd” and “stupid.” His attorney, Danya Perry, described the retraction as a vindication for Cohen. Daniels also denied the allegations, and her attorney, Clark Brewster, labeled the article as “reckless.”

Avenatti, currently serving a prison sentence for an unrelated fraud scheme, denied the claims in the article, describing them as “completely fabricated, untrue and bogus.” Tony Seruga, the author of the post that formed the basis of the article, has not responded to requests for comment.

OAN recently settled a defamation lawsuit with voting machine company Smartmatic and previously settled a defamation lawsuit with two Georgia election workers accused of committing ballot fraud during the 2020 presidential election.