Stormy Daniels Testifies About Alleged Encounter with Donald Trump in Court
Stormy Daniels, an adult film star, testified in a Manhattan court on Tuesday about her encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. She described meeting Trump in a penthouse suite, where he allegedly made remarks about his wife and daughter before they engaged in sexual activity.
The testimony provided detailed insights into the intimate encounter between Daniels and Trump, who is currently facing charges in New York related to hush-money payments made to her. Trump, who denies the encounter, is the first former president to face criminal charges.
Daniels’ testimony is a crucial part of the trial, as prosecutors seek to prove that Trump orchestrated a cover-up of the $130,000 payment made to Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. The payment was allegedly disguised as “legal expenses” and funneled through Trump’s former lawyer, Michael Cohen.
The trial also featured testimony from Sally Franklin, an executive at Penguin Random House, which published some of Trump’s books. Prosecutors presented excerpts from Trump’s books to establish his involvement in financial matters and payments.
Daniels’ testimony provided a detailed account of her encounter with Trump, including their initial meeting at a golf tournament and subsequent interactions. She described feeling pressured by Trump and his associates to keep quiet about the encounter, especially after Trump’s presidential run gained momentum.
Despite objections from Trump’s legal team and interruptions from the judge, Daniels recounted her experiences with Trump, including a threat she received in 2011 to keep quiet about the encounter.
In response to Daniels’ testimony, Trump posted on his social media platform, criticizing the prosecution and calling for a mistrial. However, the judge denied the motion for a mistrial, and cross-examination of Daniels is expected to continue.
The trial marks the first of four criminal indictments against Trump to reach the trial stage, with implications for his future legal battles and political aspirations.