The porn star Stormy Daniels, who is at the center of Donald Trump's historic criminal trial, testified Tuesday about an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with the former president in a hotel penthouse suite. She provided testimony that, at times, included graphic details.
To pay back his attorney, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels on the eve of his 2016 election against Hillary Clinton—a campaign that could have been destroyed by the outrageous allegations of marital infidelity—Trump, 77, is accused of fabricating business records.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger remarked, "The people call Stormy Daniels," as Trump sat at the defense table in the Manhattan courtroom with his attorneys flanking him. Trump is attempting to retake the White House in November.
The former president looked on stonily as Daniels testified in detail about the alleged sexual encounter she had with Trump, including his boxer shorts, the sexual position, and the fact that he did not wear a condom.
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Given the "extremely prejudicial" character of Daniels' testimony, Trump's defense team attempted but was unable, to have a mistrial declared. Trump has denied having had an affair.
After the day's events, Trump spoke with reporters, referring to the case as a "disgrace" and saying he "should be out campaigning right now."
Trump is under a gag order from Judge Juan Merchan that forbids him from criticizing witnesses in public, and the former president refrained from commenting on Daniels's testimony.
But in an informal chat with Trump's attorneys in the courtroom, Merchan warned the Republican that he would not put up with Daniels's "potential to intimidate the witness" by shaking his head and "cursing audibly" during Daniels's testimony.
In addition to the four criminal cases he is facing, Trump had some good news on Tuesday when a federal judge in Florida decided to postpone his trial on charges of mishandling classified documents indefinitely.
Due to the volume of pre-trial motions, Trump appointee District Judge Aileen Cannon stated that the May 20 trial date was not feasible. She didn't schedule a second trial.
