Insights from Stormy Daniels' testimony in the Trump hush money trial
Daniels narrated various elements from Trump's hotel room to the stuff in his restroom. She even demonstrated re-creating the precise moment when Trump supposedly positioned on his hotel bed while nearly stripped.
However, some of the vivid details Daniels shared were so explicit that Judge Merchan interfered at several occasions. Trump's legal representatives also contended that Daniels tainted the jury, demanding a mistrial. The judge defied the request but conveyed that some of Daniels' particulars should have been omitted.
Significantly, Daniels also attested about Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen's fascination with buying her narrative after the "Access Hollywood" tape emerged before the 2016 elections.
The adult film actress is anticipated to retake the witness stand when the trial resumes tomorrow. Trump's lawyer Susan Necheles will continue her cross-examination of Daniels, which followed over 90 minutes of intense questioning on Tuesday afternoon.
Some key points from Day 13 of the Trump hush money trial:
Daniels offers explicit account of encounter
On Tuesday, Daniels acquainted the jury with the specifics of her 2006 encounter with Trump at the place, where she professes to have slept with Trump. (Trump denies the affair.)
Daniels woke up the court on the details of his hotel room, including the black-and-white tiled floor as well as a big mahogany table in the foyer's middle. She recounted the meal conversation – she was astounded that Trump showed curiosity about the business of the adult film industry, not only the sex.
Daniels also referred to the moment when, after visiting the toilet, she discovered Trump on Trump's hotel bed wearing simply boxers and a shirt. "In the beginning, I was just startled, like a frightening leap forward. I wasn't anticipating someone to be there, particularly without a lot of attire," she testified.
She added that Trump "stood up between me and the door. Not in a threatening manner. He didn’t approach me, he didn’t race towards me. Nothing like that." Daniels claimed she went blank during the event: "I disrobed my clothes and shoes off. We were in the missionary position."
At that point, the judge hindered Daniels from proceeding with anymore information. It was one of several objections he sustained either on his own or at Trump's attorneys' request.
Daniels related that she shivered while she got clothed and arranged future trysts with Trump in public. Daniels elucidated that even though she disclosed to numerous people that Trump was a client of hers, she confided only in a few people about the sexual incident, primarily because she was "embarrassed."
Overall, the testimony was so lengthy and detailed that Merchan admonished Daniels on several occasions to slow down and focus on the questions and briefly respond. A prosecutor also cautioned Daniels to remain focused while answering questions.
Hush money transpired following 'Access Hollywood' tape hubbub
Daniels proceeded to elaborate on how she maintained contact with Trump, even visiting him on Trump Tower to negotiate about the "Celebrity Apprentice" reality contest.
In 2015, after Trump commenced campaigning for president, her former publicist Gina Rodriguez attempted to market her information. However, Rodriguez couldn't attract much attention till following the "Access Hollywood" tape of Trump's unveiling in October 2016 – ultimately leading to the negotiations with AMI and subsequently with Michael Cohen, who reimbursed Daniels $130,000.
Daniels affirmed that the agreement between Peggy Peterson and David Dennison used pseudo-names for her and Trump, and that she signed the deal.
She also testified how she was non-truthful when she rejected having an affair with Trump in statements discharged in 2018 following the hush money payment's announcement. She concedes she signed a statement before going on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" in an attempt to hint to the late-night talk show host.
"Is this statement false?" inquired the prosecutor Susan Hoffinger on Tuesday.
"Yes," asserted Daniels.
Judge dismisses Trump's mistrial claim
Trump's legal professionals contended that the judge should force a mistrial after the morning's miscellaneous testimony from Daniels.
Trump continues to staunchly deny the allegations, his advocate Todd Blanche said, arguing there's no means of eliminating the impact of the trial's scandalous content for jurors who have now heard exclusionary information. The legal reps underscored that the testimony had no linkage with the district attorney's case about deceiving business records.
"This is the type of testimony that makes it impossible to return from, not even addressing the fact we're now discussing someone who has a political career and will be campaigning this afternoon," identified Blanche, adding that news outlets were already reporting at lunch about Daniels' narrative. Next
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Stormy Daniels Trial: Day 13 - An Explicit Sex Story
On Tuesday morning, adult film actress Stormy Daniels provided the Manhattan jury with a sexually detailed account of her encounter with former President Donald Trump in 2006 at his hotel. She walked through the floors and furniture in the room, described the contents of his toiletry kit, and reenacted her position on his hotel bed when she found him undressed. Some of the graphic descriptions prompted objections from the court, which moderated the details after Trump's attorneys claimed Daniels had unfairly prejudiced the jury.
However, Daniels also testified about her interactions with Trump and his former attorney Michael Cohen in 2015, when his reputation rose as a presidential candidate.
As the trial began Tuesday, Trump's legal professionals were seeking a mistrial after the salacious testimony, arguing that it had no bearing on the district attorney's allegations about falsifying business records.
The trial will resume on Thursday when Trump's lawyer Susan Necheles will continue her cross-examination of Daniels.
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How can we make amends in a way that's just to President Trump, suggested Blanche?
Hoffinger asserted that the testimony supplied "clear evidence of the defendant's plans" and Trump's "motive for making this payment."
In the end, Merchan declined the mistrial motion, but acknowledged that Daniels was a tricky witness to handle.
"I believe there are things that might have been better left untold," Merchan stated. "However, I don't think we're at a point where a mistrial is required."
Furthermore, Merchan expressed how his decisions favored the defense as he sustained most of their objections during the trial, evoking surprise at the lack of additional objections.
"The defense must assume some responsibility for that," Merchan added.
During the break, Trump hinted at his attorneys' tactics, posting on Truth Social: "THE PROSECUTION, WITH THIS WEAK CASE, HAS GONE TOO FAR. MISTRIAL!"
Defense presents argument that Daniels is lying for monetary gain
Trump lawyer Necheles didn't delay in questioning Daniels' account in cross-examination, implying she harbored hatred towards Trump.
"Is it accurate that you despise President Trump?" asked Necheles.
"Yes," Daniels replied.
"Do you want him to be imprisoned?" probed Necheles.
"I want him to be accountable," Daniels answered.
Daniels' actions tensed up and her tone became less cordial as Necheles attempted to undermine her credibility. Daniels briefly responded with "false" and "no" to several questions, refuting Necheles' claims that she had misstated specifics or was attempting to blackmail Trump.
Necheles further questioned Daniels on breaking a court injunction to reimburse Trump's attorney's fees for a frivolous lawsuit and whether she was earning money from her story.
"Are you profiting by claiming to have slept with President Trump for over ten years?" questioned Necheles.
"I've been making money by narrating what transpired to me," Daniels clarified.
"Money making by recounting your sexual encounter with President Trump, correct?" Necheles inquired.
"It's also cost me a significant amount of money," Daniels responded.
Throughout the trial, Daniels appeared confrontational towards Necheles as the latter alleged she invented a narrative about being menaced by a man in Las Vegas in 2011 and that she adjusted her story depending on payments.
In the final moments of cross-examination Tuesday, Necheles classified the $130,000 payment prior to the 2016 election as extortion - a method similar to Trump's attorneys' inquiries concerning Daniels' lawyer, Keith Davidson.
"You're attempting to extort money from President Trump, aren't you?" Necheles posed.
"False," exclaimed Daniels.
"That's what you were doing, right?" pressed Necheles.
"False," Daniels reiterated.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
