Stormy Daniels, the porn star central to Donald Trump’s historic criminal trial, testified on Tuesday regarding an alleged 2006 sexual encounter with the former president in a hotel penthouse suite.
Trump, 77, faces accusations of falsifying business records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels just before the 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, a scandal that could have jeopardized his campaign.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger called Daniels to the stand in the Manhattan courtroom, where Trump, aiming for a return to the White House in November, sat with his defense team.
Daniels provided detailed testimony about the encounter, including Trump’s attire, the sexual acts, and the absence of a condom, while Trump remained silent and expressionless.
Trump has consistently denied any sexual involvement with Daniels, and his defense team unsuccessfully attempted to declare a mistrial.
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This courtroom confrontation occurs six months before the election, where Trump seeks to defeat Democratic President Joe Biden.
Daniels recounted her upbringing in Louisiana, her career as a stripper, and her entry into the adult film industry.
Daniels, 45, born Stephanie Clifford, recalled meeting Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe when she was 27 and he was “probably older than my father.”
Despite initial reluctance, she agreed to have dinner with Trump at his penthouse suite, where he wore silk or satin pajamas, prompting a jest from Daniels about Hugh Hefner.
Their conversation shifted to business matters, with Trump expressing interest in adult movies and suggesting Daniels appear on his reality show, “The Apprentice.”
After a bathroom break, Daniels found Trump on the bed, leading to consensual sex without a condom, although she felt an imbalance of power and later regretted not stopping it.
She ended contact with Trump when it became clear she wouldn’t appear on “The Apprentice.”
After Trump’s presidential candidacy announcement, Daniels considered selling her story, leading to a non-disclosure agreement negotiated by her lawyer Keith Davidson and Cohen, for which she received $130,000.
During her testimony, Daniels mentioned an incident in 2011 where she allegedly felt threatened by a man warning her not to discuss Trump.
Trump’s attorney unsuccessfully sought a mistrial due to the perceived prejudicial impact of this testimony.
Trump, under a partial gag order, faces consequences for breaching it, including a $10,000 fine and potential jail time for future violations.
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