Stormy Daniels says Donald Trump greeted her in silky pajamas
Adult movie actress Stormy Daniels took the stand to testify about her alleged sexual encounter with Donald Trump in his hush money trial.
Stormy Daniels is again on the witness stand Thursday, the place she is going through extra cross-examination from former President Donald Trump’s lawyer in his New York hush money trial.
The grownup movie star described on Tuesday having intercourse with Trump after assembly him at a 2006 Lake Tahoe golf match and having dinner with him in his lodge suite. Trump denies that occurred.
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles has raised minor inconsistencies in how Daniels’ has advised the story of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump over the years, comparable to variations in whether or not Daniels was approached by Trump or his bodyguard. Necheles has additionally pressed Daniels on the assorted methods she has profited from telling her story.
Daniels’ story of that 2006 night shaped the premise for a $130,000 hush money cost she obtained from Trump lawyer Michael Cohen lower than two weeks earlier than the 2016 presidential election. Prosecutors allege that the cost violated federal marketing campaign finance legal guidelines and that Trump falsified information to cowl it up.
Keep up with USA TODAY’s stay updates from inside and outdoors the Manhattan courtroom:
Jurors had been proven a social media submit by Trump during which he mentioned in all caps: “IF YOU GO AFTER ME, I’M COMING AFTER YOU.” Daniels mentioned she believed the submit was directed at her as a result of it was posted across the time Trump sued her in Florida to recoup authorized charges {that a} California decide ordered her to pay.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger confirmed the jury a tweet that Daniels confirmed receiving on March 18, 2023, referring to Daniels as a “disgusting degenerate prostitute.” The Twitter poster added: “Good luck walking down the streets after this!”
Daniels described that tweet and one other as “tame” in comparison with others she’s obtained.
– Aysha Bagchi
Stormy Daniels acknowledged on Tuesday {that a} California decide ordered her to pay Trump’s authorized charges after she filed a defamation lawsuit in opposition to him. She mentioned her former lawyer, Michael Avenatti, who’s now in jail for embezzlement and different crimes, wished to file the lawsuit. The defamation declare wasn’t based mostly on her and Trump’s dispute over whether or not they had intercourse in 2006.
Trump has sued Daniels in Florida to get the money, however she nonetheless hasn’t paid, she testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger is once more asking Daniels questions. Hoffinger mentioned that the protection questioned whether or not worry was any a part of Daniels’ motivation in getting into into the non-disclosure settlement, and that Daniels had testified she entered the deal due to some recommendation from an lawyer good friend about “hiding in plain view.”
Daniels responded that it wasn’t the lawyer representing her, however as an alternative a good friend giving her recommendation: “Get excessive, keep excessive.” The which means of that was one thing will not occur to you “if everyone seems to be you,” Daniels defined.
Daniels agreed she was glad to get money from the deal, however maintained that wasn’t the core motivation: “We’re all glad to take money. It was only a bonus.”
– Aysha Bagchi
Susan Necheles completed her cross-examination of Daniels with a last query concerning the alleged sexual encounter with Trump. Necheles prompt that Daniels’ story has modified, and the explanation it has modified is that it did not occur. Daniels predictably denied that was true.
– Aysha Bagchi
Necheles seems to be shifting on from questioning Daniels about her alleged sexual encounter with Trump, and attending to the guts of the prosecution’s case. She simply requested Daniels to substantiate she would not have private information about whether or not Trump falsified business information, which is the central cost on this case. Daniels agreed she did not.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Stormy Daniels to substantiate she would not have any “private information” about his involvement – or lack thereof – in her hush money deal. “Not straight, no,” Daniels agreed.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Daniels about facets of her account suggesting she felt lightheaded or pressured when she got here out of the toilet and noticed Trump in his underwear. Daniels described on Tuesday an influence imbalance between her and Trump, and described her consciousness that Trump unhealthy a bodyguard close by, but in addition maintained she wasn’t bodily threatened.
I preserve that he didn’t put his arms on me,” Daniels responded to Necheles Thursday. Daniels added that Trump did not give her any form of medication or alcohol, and did not threaten her bodily.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Stormy Daniels to substantiate she has acted and had intercourse in over 200 porn motion pictures. Daniels mentioned it was about 150.
Necheles requested Daniels to substantiate that, regardless of that sexual historical past, she is now saying that seeing Trump sitting on a mattress in a t-shirt and boxer shorts was “so upsetting” that she “obtained lightheaded” and almost “fainted.”
Daniels responded that she sees her husband bare almost on a regular basis, but when she got here out of the toilet and noticed somebody who wasn’t her husband bare, it could be shaking.
Asked if the alleged incident with Trump was the primary time somebody made a cross at her, Daniels mentioned it wasn’t, nevertheless it was the primary time a bodyguard was close by.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles has been asking Daniels about particulars throughout her descriptions of her historical past with Donald Trump. Necheles famous Daniels as soon as described in an interview Trump approaching her to ask about having dinner, whereas in court docket Daniels described his bodyguard approaching her. Daniels responded that Trump and his bodyguard are a unit.
Necheles requested about particulars in Daniels story on whether or not she took a automobile or walked to Trump’s lodge, and whether or not she discovered Trump “all sprawled out on the sofa” when she arrived at his suite.
“Details of your story hold altering, proper?” Necheles requested. “No,” Daniels mentioned.
– Aysha Bagchi
After Trump lawyer Susan Necheles prompt Daniels made up her story of getting intercourse with Trump, Daniels shot again: “If that story was unfaithful, I might have written it to be so much higher.”
“I did not have to write down this one,” Daniels added.
– Aysha Bagchi
Necheles is constant to ask Daniels about merchandise Daniels sells and to counsel the grownup movie star is motivated by money. Daniels confirmed she sells a $30 comedian ebook titled: “Stormy Daniels Political Power comedian.” An picture of the comedian ebook was proven to the jury, with a blonde feminine character standing boldly on the entrance cowl.
– Aysha Bagchi
Jurors simply noticed a photograph of a “Stormy Saint of Indictments candle,” which Daniels confirmed she sells on her web site. Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Daniels to substantiate she makes $40 on these. Daniels mentioned she truly makes about $7 per candle.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles requested Daniels if she tweeted that she made $1 million from her ebook in addition to collaborating on a actuality TV present, “The Surreal Life.” Daniels confirmed that was true, and that she made $200,000 from showing on the present.
Daniels 2018 ebook, “Full Disclosure,” was a telling of Daniels’ life story, together with her expertise with Trump.
– Aysha Bagchi
Daniels confirmed signing two statements in early 2018 denying having had an affair with Trump. One was dated Jan. 10, 2018 and one was dated Jan. 30, 2018.
The jury already noticed these statements when Daniels’ former lawyer, Keith Davidson, testified.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles performed a recording for the jury during which former lawyer to Daniels Keith Davidson was speaking with former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen. Davidson mentioned Daniels advised him that if “he” – presumably Donald Trump – loses the election, “we lose all f—–g leverage,” “so settle this f—–g case.”
Necheles requested Daniels if that refreshed her recollection on what she mentioned to Davidson. “I by no means yelled at Keith Davidson on the cellphone,” Daniels mentioned. Daniels added that it seems like a menace from Davidson.
– Aysha Bagchi
Necheles has continued to press Daniels on whether or not she wished to publicize her story in 2016 or was as an alternative after money. Necheles requested Daniels about conversing with a reporter at Slate Magazine about doubtlessly going public. Necheles prompt Daniels wished money from that reporter, when she might have simply had him publish the story.
The higher various was to guard my story with a “paper path,” Daniels mentioned. “It was an ideal answer.”
– Aysha Bagchi
Donald Trump’s youngest son Barron Trump is making his massive political debut as an at-large delegate on the Republican National Convention this yr.
Barron, now 18 years old, was nonetheless a child throughout Donald Trump’s presidency. But now he seems to be becoming a member of Trump’s different relations on the political scene. Ivanka Trump, Donald Trump Jr., Eric Trump and son-in-law Jared Kushner have all been intimately concerned in Donald Trump’s campaigns and administration.
The hush money trial is on a break on May 17 so Donald Trump can attend Barron Trump’s highschool commencement.
– Kinsey Crowley
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles has begun cross-examining Daniels once more. Necheles is focusing her opening questions at this time on Daniels’ declare that she wished to share her story about Trump in 2016, earlier than she took a hush money deal to maintain quiet.
Daniels defined she took the deal as a result of she selected to be “secure.”
“You selected to make money, proper?” Necheles shot again.
“I selected to take the non-disclosure,” Daniels replied.
– Aysha Bagchi
Former President Donald Trump complained once more concerning the safety exterior the New York courthouse for his hush money trial, arguing police had been wanted extra for protests at Columbia and New York universities.
“Outside of this building it’s closed down like Fort Knox,” Trump advised reporters in a hallway assertion exterior the courtroom. “This is like an armed camp down here.”
Trump argued that faculty protests had been organized by individuals on the left facet of the political spectrum quite than the proper, and that these protests had been an even bigger menace to the nation than China or Russia.
“You have nothing to worry about. The problem is from the left, not the right,” Trump mentioned. “In my opinion, it’s a bigger danger than China or Russia.”
– Bart Jansen
Former President Donald Trump predicted “some very revealing things” as his New York hush money trial continues Thursday with testimony from porn actress Stormy Daniels.
Daniels testified Tuesday about having intercourse with Trump in 2006 whereas he was married, which he has denied. Trump’s former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid Daniels $130,000 to silence her declare earlier than the 2016 election, which prosecutors contend was election interference.
Under cross-examination, Daniels acknowledged hating Trump and refusing to pay him lots of of 1000’s of {dollars} in authorized charges from an unsuccessful defamation go well with in opposition to him.
“I think you’ll see some very revealing things today,” Trump mentioned within the hallway Thursday.
Trump entered the courtroom after studying a collection of statements from legal professionals, teachers and Republican lawmakers criticizing the case.
“No evidence of any crime,” Trump mentioned.
– Bart Jansen
Porn star Stormy Daniels was introduced into the courtroom at 9:32 a.m. EDT to proceed testifying within the hush money case. The decide has now requested for the jury to be introduced in.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Juan Merchan entered the courtroom at about 9:30 a.m. EDT.
– Aysha Bagchi
Former President Donald Trump entered the courtroom at 9:24 a.m. EDT, flanked by his authorized group. He is carrying a blue tie.
Alina Habba, who represented Trump in his recent E. Jean Carroll and civil fraud trials and is an enormous persona defending him on tv exhibits, is right here once more at this time in one of many benches behind the protection trial group’s desk. I have never seen Eric Trump, the previous president’s center son, who was current for Stormy Daniels’ testimony on Tuesday.
– Aysha Bagchi
The prosecution group started arriving within the courtroom at 9:16 a.m. EDT and is getting arrange. So far, prosecutors Joshua Steinglass, Matthew Colangelo, Rebecca Mangold, Christopher Conroy, and Susan Hoffinger are right here. Hoffinger is dealing with the prosecution’s questioning of Stormy Daniels.
– Aysha Bagchi
Trump’s legal trial begins again up at 9:30 a.m. EDT on Thursday, after having a break day on Wednesday.
– Aysha Bagchi
After Judge Juan Merchan threatened Donald Trump on Monday with potential jail if he violates a gag order in his New York hush money trial once more, specialists mentioned the detention might vary from a holding cell behind the courtroom to notorious Rikers Island.
Ronald Kuby, a veteran New York protection lawyer who has visited shoppers in metropolis jails and in addition frolicked in them for varied acts of protest, mentioned Trump is unlikely to take pleasure in any detention as a result of the cells may be tiny, the steel doorways loud and the meals unappetizing.
“It’s a bad experience,” Kuby advised USA TODAY. “Trust me. I’ve been there.”
For in a single day detention, Rikers Island is an possibility, though specialists known as it unlikely. City jails on Rikers Island have been criticized for many years for violence and unsanitary circumstances.
James Oleson, an affiliate professor of criminology on the University of Auckland’s faculty of social sciences, who beforehand served as a staffer on the U.S. Judicial Conference’s committee on legal legislation, mentioned the theater of placing Trump behind bars for just a few hours may not be more practical than fines in curbing Trump’s feedback. Merchan has fined Trump $10,000 for 10 violations of the gag order, for commenting on witnesses and jurors collaborating within the trial.
“It is terra incognita: unknown land, off the existing maps,” Oleson mentioned of probably jailing a former president.
– Bart Jansen and Josh Meyer
Trump lawyer Susan Necheles started cross-examining Stormy Daniels on Tuesday. Necheles targeted on difficult Daniels’ credibility and suggesting Daniels is a person motivated by money.
Necheles famous that Daniels publicly denied she had intercourse with Trump earlier than she mentioned they did have intercourse. The jury has already seen proof of that. Daniels’ former lawyer Keith Davidson testified to his personal involvement in making ready a denial by Daniels in early 2018.
Necheles additionally painted Daniels’ hush money deal in 2016 as extortion. “False,” Daniels shot again emphatically.
– Aysha Bagchi
Two House Republican chairmen urged Attorney General Merrick Garland to contemplate legal expenses in opposition to Donald Trump’s former private lawyer, Michael Cohen, for allegedly mendacity to Congress.
Cohen, a key witness in Trump’s New York hush money trial, has already pleaded responsible to mendacity to Congress a couple of Trump actual property venture in Russia. But Judiciary Chairman Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, and Oversight and Accountability Chairman James Comer, R-Ky., urged Garland to contemplate extra expenses in opposition to Cohen as a result of he’s a key witness in Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg’s legal trial in opposition to Trump, the place his credibility will likely be at stake.
The lawmakers accused Cohen of mendacity not less than six instances, together with by denying he dedicated fraudulent acts that he’d already pleaded responsible to and by testifying he didn’t search a job in Trump’s White House.
The accusations are based mostly on Cohen’s testimony to Comer’s committee in February 2019, which outlined the present legal case in opposition to Trump. Trump is charged with falsifying business information to cover his reimbursement to Cohen, who paid porn actress Stormy Daniels to stay silent earlier than the 2016 election about her declare she had intercourse with Trump whereas he was married.
Trump denied having intercourse and mentioned he was paying Cohen for authorized bills, to not repay Daniels.
“In short, to prosecute President Trump, Bragg has revived this ‘zombie’ case relying on a known – and convicted – liar and his testimony at a congressional hearing in which he lied at least six times,” the lawmakers wrote.
– Bart Jansen
Trump faces 34 felony counts of falsifying business information. Prosecutors allege Trump falsified information to cowl up unlawfully interfering within the 2016 presidential election by a $130,000 hush money cost to porn star Stormy Daniels. The cost was made by former Trump lawyer Michael Cohen lower than two weeks earlier than Election Day.
– Aysha Bagchi
The trial is mostly off on Wednesdays. Judge Juan Merchan designated these days to preside over particular court docket applications for legal defendants who’ve psychological well being points or are veterans, in accordance with the Associated Press.
– Aysha Bagchi
Judge Juan Merchan mentioned in a personal dialog at his bench Tuesday that he heard Trump cursing throughout Daniels’ testimony and he “will not tolerate that.”
“I perceive that your consumer is upset at this level, however he’s cursing audibly, and he’s shaking his head visually and that is contemptuous,” Merchan mentioned, in accordance with a transcript that has now been launched. “It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that.”
Merchan mentioned he noticed Trump shake his head and look down when Daniels described evenly spanking him with {a magazine} at dinner earlier than their alleged sexual encounter.
When there was dialogue about The Apprentice, Trump “once more uttered a vulgarity,” the decide mentioned, in accordance with the transcript.
“I’m chatting with you right here on the bench as a result of I do not wish to embarrass him,” Merchan advised Blanche, who mentioned he would discuss to his consumer and later confirmed having completed so.
– Aysha Bagchi
