Stormy Daniels, the adult film star, took the stand in a Manhattan courtroom on Tuesday to recount her encounter with Donald Trump in 2006. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, testified about a meeting in a penthouse suite where Trump allegedly made remarks about his wife and daughter before engaging in sexual activity. This testimony, detailed by journalists present, provided a granular account of the intimate encounter with the former president, who is facing charges in New York related to hush-money payments to Daniels.
Trump, who is also the presumed 2024 Republican presidential nominee, denies the encounter ever took place. The trial, now in its fourth week, is focused on proving Trump’s involvement in covering up a $130,000 payment to silence Daniels during his 2016 presidential campaign. This payment, allegedly made to Trump’s former lawyer Michael Cohen, and disguised as “legal expenses,” has led to 34 felony charges against the former president.
The trial began with the testimony of Sally Franklin, an executive and editor at Penguin Random House, the publisher of some of Trump’s books. Prosecutors presented excerpts from Trump’s books, including claims by Trump about personally signing checks and meticulously tracking funds within the Trump Organization.
Daniels’ testimony lasted for several hours, during which she described her interactions with Trump following the initial encounter, including attempts to secure a spot on NBC’s “The Apprentice.” Despite objections from Trump’s defense team and occasional reprimands from Judge Juan Merchan for straying from the questions, Daniels recounted her experiences in detail.
She described meeting Trump at a Lake Tahoe golf tournament and reluctantly agreeing to dinner in his hotel suite. Daniels testified that Trump greeted her in silk pajamas and later, after dinner, positioned himself between her and the door, preventing her from leaving.
Daniels also mentioned subsequent encounters and threats she received to keep quiet about the affair, particularly after Trump’s presidential run announcement in 2015. She emphasized that her motivation was not financial gain but rather to share her story.
Trump’s defense attempted to discredit Daniels, questioning her about her motivations and the veracity of her claims. Despite these challenges, Daniels maintained her position.
Following Daniels’ testimony, Trump took to social media to express his frustration, claiming a mistrial should be declared. This was not the first time Trump violated his gag order, resulting in fines from the court.
As the trial continues, with Trump’s team expected to continue cross-examination, the case remains a focal point in the legal battles surrounding the former president.
