Stormy Daniels describes an alleged sexual encounter with Trump – and faces sensitive cross-examination

Adult film actress Stormy Daniels shared the details of her alleged extramarital affair with former President Donald Trump during her testimony in the hush money trial on Tuesday. This is Yahoo News’ concise update on the criminal and civil cases against Trump. Here are the latest developments.

🚨 What happend today

Prosecutors called adult film actress Stormy Daniels to the stand to testify about her claim that she had sex with former President Donald Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, California, in 2006. She also testified that she tried to sell her story about the affair and get Trump’s lawyer to pay $130,000 Michael Cohen to remain silent about it.

The prosecution sought to use Daniels’ testimony to bolster its claim that Trump broke the law when he falsified business records to prevent a story about his infidelity with the porn actress from coming to light. During cross-examination, the defense attempted to portray Daniels as a liar who made up the story to make money.

🔬Zoom in

Dirty details: Daniels told the jury the details of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump. “I had taken off my clothes and shoes. I took off my bra. We were in the missionary position,” CNN reported Daniels testified about the encounter in Trump’s hotel suite. “I just left as quickly as I could. That’s it,” she said of the affair, adding, “I told very few people that we actually had sex because I was ashamed that I hadn’t stopped.”

But her contacts with Trump continued for months, Daniels testified, in part because Trump floated the idea of ​​her running for office The Apprentice. “I wanted to maintain that kind of relationship because I had the chance to be there The Apprentice was still in the air. “That would have been a great thing,” she told the jury.

Daniels also testified about her decision to sell her story of an affair with Trump after he announced his candidacy for president. In October 2016, after the release of the infamous Access Hollywood Daniels testified on tape that her publicist was approached by Trump lawyer Michael Cohen about paying her in exchange for her silence. “They were interested in paying for the story,” Daniels said of Cohen and Trump. “It was the best thing that could have happened” because she believed it would put an end to the threats she had been receiving from Trump’s supporters.

Judge denies defense motion for mistrial: Before their cross-examination of Daniels, Trump’s lawyers filed a motion for a mistrial because they said her testimony exceeded the limits set by the judge. “This is the type of statement that makes it impossible to recant,” defense attorney Todd Blanche told Judge Juan Merchan. While Merchan acknowledged that some of the statements were “better left unsaid,” he rejected the motion, saying, “I don’t think we’re at a point where a mistrial is warranted.”

Testy cross-examination: From the beginning, Trump attorney Susan Necheles tried to portray Daniels as vindictive toward Trump, as in the following exchange:

Necheles: “Am I correct that you hate President Trump?”

Daniels: “Yes.”

Necheles: “And you want him to go to prison?”

Daniels: “I want him to be held accountable.”

Necheles pointed out that Daniels owes Trump $560,000 in legal fees stemming from a defamation case Daniels brought against him that was dismissed, and pressed her about posts on before she paid Trump. “I hope I don’t have to pay him no matter what happens,” Daniels testified.

Necheles also accused Daniels of using the story of the alleged affair to extort money from Trump, prompting Daniels to exclaim, “Wrong!”

🗓 What’s next?

Trump’s lawyers will continue their cross-examination of Daniels on Thursday at 9:30 a.m. ET.

📖 The background

⚖️ Trump’s trials and legal cases