There has been mystique and scandal during the Trump administration as there has most presidencies. The most recent and possibly most notable so-called “scandal” is the alleged Stormy Daniels affair.

Despite the affair having happened 12 years ago, and Daniels giving an interview with In Touch in 2011, the former pornography star stepped forward again with her allegations of an affair with President Trump in 2006 after a charity golf event in Lake Tahoe.

Daniels claimed that in 2011, when she agreed to share her story with In Touch for $15,000, she was approached by an unknown man and commanded her to “leave Trump alone.” The interview never aired, as one of his attornies supposedly threatened to sue if it did air. 

This story has been at the top of many newspapers and in the mouths of countless reporters. There are a couple issues with having it discussed though. The emergence of her story has brought unnecessary scandal into the White House during Trump’s presidency, as if it has anything to do with his being in office. Trump was in the wrong to have had an affair; there is no arguing that. However, it happened 12 years ago while he was just a celebrity and not the president. Reporters are treating this story as though it recently happened. Instead of bringing scandal into presidency, the Daniels-Trump affair allegations should focus on the actual issue: both participants committed adultery. It should never be acceptable, celebrity or not, to cheat on your partner, which Trump and Daniels both did.  However, the affair should be a matter confronted in privacy between those involved. Melania Trump deserves at the very least the privacy of her husband’s past sexual encounters. While it makes Trump guilty of committing adultery, it should not be pinned on him as far as his presidency goes. We have had countless presidents who have committed affairs while in office and Trump has not been one of them so far as we know.  

Another issue with the emergence of the Daniels allegation is the illegality behind the entire situation. After agreeing to interview with In Touch, Daniels claimed to have been approached by a man and threatened her into not reporting it to authorities. Several years later, she denied ever having an affair with Trump.When talking to Cooper, she admitted to lying when she signed the document. However, regardless of if she lied signing it, she is breaching a legalized document by going against the contract and talking about it. Stormy Daniels’ allegations host a number of problems, from adultery of both parties to publicizing a private event, illegally breaking a contract and bringing the focus of the White House to an alleged past sexual encounter. While she very well may be telling the truth, she is ultimately breaking the law by admitting her encounter.

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