Stormy Daniels Testifies During Trump Trial
In a New York courtroom, Stormy Daniels took the stand on Tuesday, becoming the first witness to testify against former President Donald Trump in his ongoing hush money trial. The adult film star, who has been at the center of the criminal case, faced intense questioning from Trump's attorneys, prompting CNN's legal experts to comment on the effectiveness of the defense team's cross-examination.
Throughout the prosecution's questioning, Daniels detailed her alleged 2006 sexual encounter with Trump and the $130,000 hush money payment made by Trump's former attorney Michael Cohen just before the 2016 presidential election. However, as the defense team delved deeper, Daniels reportedly became more agitated and raised her voice, exclaiming at one point, "He made fun of me first!" while expressing her disdain for Trump and the media's scrutiny of her.
Trump, who was present in the courtroom, appeared to be in a more relaxed state during Daniels' testimony, in stark contrast to his earlier agitated demeanor. CNN described his behavior as "toddler-like." The defense team argued that Daniels' explicit testimony was not relevant to the case and called for a mistrial, but their request was denied by the presiding judge.
CNN's legal experts noted the changing attitudes in the courtroom throughout the day. Honig pointed out the stark contrast between Daniels and Trump. While Daniels appeared tense and visibly frustrated, frequently crossing her arms, Trump seemed relaxed and even leaned back in his chair at times, according to CNN. As Daniels continued to testify, Trump's attorneys mounted a pointed cross-examination, calling into question her credibility, motives, and recollection of events. This led to tense exchanges between the two sides and elicited a few laughs from CNN's legal analysts.
The hush money payment and how Trump reimbursed Cohen is central to the prosecution's case that Trump falsified business records to cover up the affair. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the 34 counts of falsifying business records and has denied having an affair with Daniels.
Daniels is the 13th witness to testify in the high-profile trial, and her testimony seeks to solidify the prosecution's claim that the hush money payment was a coordinated attempt to conceal damaging information, in violation of campaign finance laws. She is expected to return to the stand on Thursday to face further questioning from Trump's legal team.
As Daniels' dramatic testimony dominated the headlines, she also shared more specific and serious details about her encounter with Trump. She claimed that she informed Trump in 2006 about her sexual health, stating that she chose to work for her employer Wicked Pictures due to their "condom-mandatory" policy. She further explained that she was required to be tested every 30 days and had to use condoms despite having an allergy to latex.
Daniels also stated that during their meeting at a Lake Tahoe celebrity golf tournament, Trump showed a keen interest in the business aspects of her career. She said Trump asked her questions such as, "How did you get involved in the adult entertainment business?" and "Are there any unions, do you get residuals, how are people paid?" She described Trump's curiosity about the industry as "very cool."
As Daniels' testimony continues to unfold, it is clear that she remains a key figure in the hush money trial against Trump. Her emotional outbursts and tense exchanges with Trump's attorneys may further complicate the already complex case, making her a crucial part of the prosecution's strategy. As the trial progresses, more details are expected to emerge, shedding light on the relationship between Daniels and Trump and the events leading up to the hush money payment.