In the courtroom, with Donald Trump just a few feet away, Stormy Daniels shared her testimony on Tuesday regarding a sexual encounter she claims to have had with the former president in 2006. This encounter, she testified, led to her being paid to keep silent during the 2016 presidential race.
Jurors seemed captivated as Daniels provided a detailed and sometimes explicit account of the alleged encounter, which Trump has denied. Trump remained focused ahead as Daniels entered the courtroom, later whispering to his lawyers and shaking his head during her testimony.
This testimony was highly anticipated in a trial that has swung between sensationalistic elements and mundane legal details. The presence of a porn actor claiming intimacy with a former president added another layer to a case already laden with allegations of sex, hush money, and cover-ups, all unfolding as Trump gears up for another White House bid.
Despite objections from defense lawyers, Daniels delved into lurid details. Attorney Todd Blanche contended that such testimony made it challenging for Trump to receive a fair trial. The defense unsuccessfully sought a mistrial, arguing that Daniels’ remarks were prejudicial and irrelevant.
During cross-examination, the Trump legal team aimed to portray Daniels as motivated by personal animosity towards the former president and seeking profit from her claims against him.
“Is it true that you have animosity towards President Trump?” defense lawyer Susan Necheles queried Daniels.
“Yes,” she conceded.
Daniels’ testimony holds significance in the case because, according to her account, Trump’s then-lawyer and fixer, Michael Cohen, paid her $130,000 in the final weeks of the 2016 campaign to keep quiet about the alleged encounter. Trump maintains his innocence.
Under prosecution questioning, Daniels described how a chance meeting at a golf tournament led to a “brief” sexual encounter initiated by Trump after inviting her to dinner and his hotel suite. Despite feeling an imbalance of power due to Trump’s stature and the presence of his bodyguard outside the suite, Daniels stated she didn’t feel physically threatened.
At the time, Trump was married to Melania, who hasn’t been present in court. Daniels recalled Trump claiming they didn’t sleep in the same room, prompting a reaction from him at the defense table.
After the encounter, Daniels recounted difficulty putting her shoes on due to shaking hands. Trump allegedly remarked, “Oh, it was great. Let’s get together again, honey bunch,” to which Daniels expressed a desire to leave.
