Witness testimony in Donald Trump’s hush money trial is moving forward again and all eyes are on who will be called next. Porn actor Stormy Daniels took the stand mid-morning Tuesday and test…
Former President Donald Trump walks to speak to reporters at Manhattan criminal court, Monday, May 6, 2024 in New York.
Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, was called to the witness stand mid-morning, following testimony from a Penguin Random House executive. Daniels was considerably feistier on cross-examination, a contrast from her peppy, loquacious posture when she was being questioned by the prosecution. Her credibility and motives under attack, Daniels dug in at times in the face of pointed questioning from defense lawyer Susan Necheles.
“I want him to be held accountable,” Daniels said. Asked again by Necheles whether that meant going to jail, she said: “If he’s convicted.” After a prosecutor asked if she was still represented by Avenatti, Daniels said “no,” and referenced his legal downfalls — including a conviction for defrauding Daniels.The year 2017 was Stormy Daniels “best year ever,” she testified Tuesday.
“I agree there are some things that would’ve been better left unsaid,” Merchan said, noting the “witness was a little difficult to control.” Blanche argued that “the court set guardrails for this testimony” but it was “just thrown to the side.” “We have to adjust to whatever comes our way,” Adams said, declining to elaborate. “We don’t want to deal with hypotheticals, but they’re professionals. They’ll be ready.”
Daniels testified that she learned from Rodriguez that Cohen, who was then Trump’s attorney, was interested in purchasing her silence. Daniels has previously made that claim and produced a composite sketch of the man, which Trump called “a total con job.”DANIELS LAST SAW TRUMP IN JUNE 2007 Asked if Trump ever told her to keep things between them confidential, she testified: “Absolutely not.” Daniels said she spoke with Trump several more times by phone and that he eventually told her he wouldn’t be able to put her on “The Apprentice.”In her testimony Tuesday, Stormy Daniels said she next saw Donald Trump for a meeting inside Trump Tower set up by his assistant, Rhona Graff.
She found him with NFL quarterback Ben Roethlisberger. Daniels said Trump introduced her to the football player but seemed largely preoccupied during her 10-minute visit in the loud space, she told jurors. She added that Trump said he would continue to think about the possibility of her appearing on one of his “Apprentice” shows.
“He said, ‘Oh it was great, let’s get together again honey bunch,’” Daniels continued. “I just wanted to leave.”DANIELS FURTHER DESCRIBES ENCOUNTER WITH TRUMP “I thought, ‘Oh my God,’ what did I misread to get here?” Daniels testified. “Because the intention was pretty clear. Somebody stripped down in their underwear and posed on the bed, waiting for you.”