Charles Harder, an attorney best known for representing Hulk Hogan in his legal fight against Gawker, filed a notice on behalf of Trump joining in the removal. “Mr. Trump intends to join in EC’s anticipated Petition to Compel Arbitration under the Arbitration Agreement,” he announced.

In Clifford’s lawsuit, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, claims that the settlement agreement and therefore its confidentiality provisions — which they call a “hush agreement” — were never valid because Trump did not sign the agreement. He also argues that the agreement should be found to be invalid as counter to public policy.

“This is simply more of the same bullying tactics from the president and Mr. Cohen. They are now attempting to remove this case in order to increase their chances that the matter will ultimately be decided in private arbitration, behind closed doors, outside of public view and scrutiny,” Avenatti told BuzzFeed News. “To put it simply — they want to hide the truth from the American people. We will oppose this effort at every turn.”