Stormy Daniels' Supporters Rally Around Her Amid Alleged Threats
In a remarkable display of solidarity, supporters of Stormy Daniels have raised more than $900,000 through an online GoFundMe campaign aimed at helping her relocate to a safe haven and cover mounting legal fees. This outpouring of support comes in the wake of Daniels' pivotal testimony in the criminal trial that led to Donald Trump's conviction on 34 felonies.
Dwayne Crawford, a friend and former manager of the adult film actor, initiated the fundraiser, citing escalating threats and harassment Daniels and her family have endured from Trump's supporters as he seeks a second presidential term. Crawford's impassioned plea on the campaign page, which set an ambitious goal of $1 million, resonated deeply with donors.
"It's become unsafe for her family and her pets," Crawford wrote, emphasizing the urgency of the situation. "Stormy needs help to relocate her family to somewhere they can feel safe and live on their terms."
The campaign, aptly named "I Stand with Stormy Daniels," has garnered support from over 17,600 donors as of Friday, reflecting widespread recognition of Daniels' courage and the challenges she now faces.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, played a pivotal role in the case against Trump, as her testimony centered around the $130,000 payment she received to keep quiet about an alleged extramarital sexual encounter with the former president a decade before his 2016 election victory. This payment, falsely recorded as legal expenses, formed the basis of the charges against Trump, ultimately leading to his conviction.
As the legal battles continue, with Trump seeking to overturn the conviction and navigate additional pending cases, Daniels finds herself caught in the crosshairs of his supporters' wrath. In a recent MSNBC interview, she revealed the harrowing threats she has endured, including messages threatening to rape and murder her young daughter and other family members.
"I've lost … mostly my peace, mostly my daughter's privacy, and time – time I'll never get back with her," Daniels lamented, underscoring the personal toll her involvement in the case has taken.
The fundraising effort has garnered support from notable figures, including writer E. Jean Carroll, who herself won a substantial civil penalty against Trump over allegations of rape and defamation. However, Daniels' former attorney, Michael Avenatti, who remains imprisoned for defrauding her and other clients, has dismissed the campaign as a "GoFundMe grift" and "complete bullshit."
Amid the controversy and personal attacks, Crawford remains steadfast in his commitment to supporting Daniels. "If we allow Stormy, after choosing to stand up to the president of these United States, to lose her life, her liberty, or her happiness, then we have failed at the very foundational core of what this nation was built upon," he asserted.
As the legal battles rage on and threats against Daniels escalate, this remarkable grassroots effort stands as a testament to the power of collective action and a resounding affirmation of the principles of justice and freedom that lie at the heart of the American democratic experiment.