Confession time—I’m utterly obsessed with the Stormy Daniels-Donald Trump scandal.
It’s got everything I want in a sleazy, political sex scandal: Lurid details, colorful characters, interesting asides and, perhaps best of all, another opportunity to expose Republicans for who they are—a bunch of freaking hypocrites.
Plus, there’s a Chicago angle! Michael Avenatti—Daniels’s lawyer—used to work with our very own Mayor Rahm Emanuel!
All right, before I dive into the Rahm connection, a few words about the scandal, for those who think they’re above paying attention . . .
Daniels is a former porn star who claims to have had an affair with Trump back in 2006, when they had gathered in Lake Tahoe for a celebrity golf tournament.
This was just one year after Trump had married Melania and four months after she gave birth to their son, Barron.
So much for family values, Republicans.
In 2016, just before the presidential election, Trump’s lawyer apparently paid Daniels $130,000 to sign a shut-up-and-go-away agreement. But now she’s suing to break up that agreement on the grounds that—oh, just read some of the stories yourself. (Like you’re not as obsessed as I am.)
As the story unfolds it’s got the potential to force Trump to either ‘fess up to paying off his former lover, or publicly lie about it. Either way, President Donnie’s got to be squirming.
Now, about that local angle.
I know Avenatti once worked with Rahm ’cause I read about it on Avenatti’s website. I went to his website cause, like I told you, I’m obsessed with this story.
And you wonder what I’m doing at four in the morning when the rest of you are asleep.
In his website bio, Avenatti writes: “While in college and later in law school, Michael worked at a political opposition research and media firm run by Rahm Emanuel (who later became White House Chief of Staff and is presently the Mayor of Chicago).”
This goes back to the early 90s when Rahm ran a firm called the Research Group and was making a name for himself as a ferociously persistent political fund-raiser who did things like send a dead fish to an adversary along with a hand-written note that said: “It’s been awful working with you. Love, Rahm.“
I’ve got mixed feelings about the Avenatti-Emanuel connection.
On the one hand, I can’t be too sure about a dude who brags about working with Rahm.
On the other hand, it is a matter of historical record. So maybe Avenatti’s not bragging so much as just stating fact.
On another hand—man, I need more hands—well, let’s be real. Rahm’s got a lot of qualities that would come in handy in the Daniels-Trump case.
He-s ruthless, laser focused, dogged, and foul-mouthed. OK, that last trait isn’t a necessity, but it would make for funny dialogue should they turn this sucker into a movie.
I always said that if Rahm only used his immense talents for a greater good than promoting himself, I’d be among his greatest fans.
If Avenatti is cut from the same cloth as the guy he once worked with, he has the potential to do our country a great service.
I’m not saying the Stormy Daniels case means the end of the Trump presidency. But one can hope.
Give ’em hell, Avenatti!