In a courtroom drama laden with historic firsts and a tapestry of salacious details, Stormy Daniels took the stand on Tuesday, testifying about an alleged sexual encounter with former US President Donald Trump that ignited a firestorm during the 2016 presidential race.
Porn actor Daniels provided a detailed and at times graphic account of the encounter, which she claims occurred in 2006. The trial revolves around hush money paid to Daniels by Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, to keep her silence about the alleged encounter.
Jurors were reportedly riveted as Daniels recounted the encounter, a stark contrast to Trump’s stoic demeanor as he sat just feet away. Trump, who has vehemently denied the allegations, stared straight ahead during Daniels’ testimony, occasionally whispering to his legal team and shaking his head.
Daniels shares explicit details of the encounter
Despite objections from defense lawyers, Daniels delved into the intimate details of the encounter, prompting accusations of prejudice and demands for a mistrial. However, the judge ruled against the defense, stating that objections should have been raised during the testimony.
Daniels also shared an anecdote about ‘spanking’ Trump with a copy of his magazines, CNN reported. Daniels said coming out of the hotel bathroom, she found Trump on the bed in his undergarments, it stated, adding that she described feeling startled by his presence but emphasised that he did not behave threateningly. “At first, I was just startled, like a jump scare. I wasn’t expecting someone to be there, especially minus a lot of clothing,” Daniels testified.
She said Trump “stood up between me and the door. Not in a threatening manner. He didn’t come at me, he didn’t rush at me. Nothing like that.” As Daniels began to describe the encounter in more explicit terms, Judge Merchan intervened, limiting the level of detail she could provide.
Personal animus and financial gain for Daniels?
During cross-examination, Trump’s defense team sought to portray Daniels as motivated by personal animus and financial gain. They questioned her about her feelings toward Trump and her financial situation, aiming to discredit her testimony.
Trump’s lawyer Susan Necheles continued to press Daniels on various points, including allegations of disobeying a court order to pay Trump’s legal fees and inquiries into whether she profited from recounting her story. “You’ve been making money by claiming to have had sex with President Trump for more than a decade,” said Necheles.
“I’ve been making money by telling my story about what happened to me,” Daniels responded. “That story has made you a lot of money, right?” Necheles asked. “It’s also cost me a lot of money,” Daniels replied.
Daniels engaged in contentious exchanges with Necheles as Trump’s attorney contended that she fabricated a narrative involving a purported threat from a man in Las Vegas in 2011 and accused her of altering her account depending on financial incentives.
Daniels’ testimony is central to the case, as it revolves around the $130,000 payment she received from Cohen just weeks before the 2016 election. She described how a chance meeting at a golf tournament led to a brief sexual encounter with Trump, who was married to Melania Trump at the time.
The courtroom atmosphere grew tense at times, with the judge admonishing Trump’s visible reactions as potentially contemptuous and intimidating. Daniels’ testimony marked a historic moment as she became the first to testify against a former American president in a felony trial.