CALIFORNIA/LEGAL/MICHAEL COHEN/TRUMP AS PRESIDENT/WOMEN: “A federal judge in California put a temporary stop Thursday [3-29-18] to efforts by Stormy Daniels’ attorney to depose President Donald Trump and his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen over a $130,000 payout from Cohen to the porn star before the 2016 election. Judge S. James Otero of the US District Court for the Central District of California denied the motion for an expedited trial and discovery process, saying Daniels’ attorney, Michael Avenatti, was ‘premature’ in making the motion because Trump and Essential Consultants LLC, the company established by Cohen to pay Daniels the $130,000 to keep quiet about an alleged affair between her and Trump, have not yet filed a petition to compel arbitration, which they have stated they’re going to do. In his decision, Otero admonished the parties, writing that ‘instant litigation is not the most important matter on the court’s docket.’ He also vacated a hearing date previously set for April 30.”
-Javier De Diego and MJ Lee, “Judge denies motion by Stormy Daniels’ attorney to depose Trump, Cohen,” CNN Politics, CNN.com, Mar. 29, 2018 2:47pm