Stormy Daniels says she was detained in Canada and deported from the country over her July 2018 Columbus, Ohio arrest that happened one year ago today.
According to a blog entry on Daniels’ official website, on June 21, Daniels and her camp were traveling to Toronto, Canada where she was slated to appear as a host at a local nightclub. Once she landed in Canada at Pearson International Airport, Daniels said Canadian Border Services detained her and refused to let her enter the country, citing a July 12, 2018 arrest in Columbus, Ohio that resulted in dismissed charges; she says the Canadians later deported her to Florida.
An email to the Border Canadian Border Services Agency seeking confirmation of the events and comment for this story was not returned.
Columbus Police arrested the adult entertainer — who claims to have had an affair with then-private citizen Donald Trump in 2006 — on July 12, 2018. CPD said that Daniels violated an Ohio law by “touching” club-goers, who were actually undercover VICE officers. The charges were dismissed less than 12 hours later after Daniels hired Columbus defense attorney Chase Mallory.
The “deportation” from Canada a couple weeks ago was kept quiet until this week, when Daniels posted a blog entry on her website written by “a close friend” detailing Daniels’ account of what she says happened in Canada less than three weeks ago. According to the blog entry, Daniels was stopped at the gate in Toronto after landing, told she was not allowed to enter the country based on the Columbus arrest, and was told she was being put back on a plane bound for Miami, Florida. The account of the events goes on to say that Daniels had no reason to travel to Miami and that it was the Canadian government who chose where she would be taken when she was removed from their country.
“We were told that she was being sent home, because she is a porn star who was being paid to dance at the Sundowner in Niagara Falls,” the blog reads. Daniels’ friend outlines on the adult actress’ website that Daniels was not performing as a nude performer in the country, but instead was only hosting an event.
Three hours after being detained, Daniels was escorted by two Canadian border protection officers all the way to her seat on an American Airlines flight, the blog reads, where the plane took off for the Sunshine State.
“Fact is the matter is, Stormy was scheduled for two appearances at the Sundowner, but not as a stripper.”
The entry goes on to say, “Her contract stated very clearly that she was to appear at the Sundowner as a V.I.P. host for their 50th Anniversary celebration. Her duties were to meet and greet clientele, take photos with them, hold a brief Q&A session with the crowd, and autograph copies of her book (shipped from her Canadian publisher). At no point, was it intended nor suggested that she remove any clothing.”
Daniels did, indeed land in Miami a few hours later.
Columbus City Attorney Zach Klein said the elements for the July 2018 arrest were not met in the charges and that is why the cases were tossed out. Then-Columbus Police Chief Kim Jacobs apologized and called it a “mistake.” Daniels filed a federal lawsuit seeking millions in damages, which is still pending. The FBI launched a federal probe into the VICE unit after it was revealed in city emails that the officers may have politically targeted Daniels. VICE was later disbanded by the city and many of the officers on the squad lost their jobs; the FBI investigation continues.
As for why the dismissed charges allegedly kept Daniels from entering the country is unknown. The Canadians did not return the Guardian’s request seeking comment.
“Clearly, this is a matter that is irreversible. However, it is important that the public understands how unfairly Stormy was treated by border officials,” the blog concludes.
