In a dramatic turn of events, Stormy Daniels is set to return to the witness stand in Donald Trump’s hush money trial as the defense launches a full-scale attack on her credibility.
The porn actor’s testimony about an alleged sexual encounter with the former president and the subsequent payment she received to remain silent is under intense scrutiny.
The trial against Trump resumes with defense lawyers cross-examining Daniels, whose testimony is pivotal to the prosecutors’ case accusing Trump of illegally influencing the 2016 presidential campaign by suppressing damaging stories about him.
During Daniels’ hours-long testimony on Tuesday, she detailed an unexpected sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, a claim vehemently denied by the former president.
However, Trump’s then-lawyer, Michael Cohen, paid her to keep quiet in the final weeks of the campaign.
The courtroom witnessed an extraordinary moment as Daniels recounted her version of events.
Trump, present in the courtroom, reportedly scowled and shook his head during her testimony. At one point, the judge even noted Trump’s audible frustration.
The defense sought to undermine Daniels’ credibility, painting her as a liar and opportunist seeking to profit from her allegations against Trump. Daniels staunchly denied any attempts at extortion, but admitted her dislike for the former president.
The trial took a contentious turn as the defense pushed for a mistrial, citing Daniels’ “extremely prejudicial” testimony. However, the judge denied the request, urging the defense to object more forcefully during her testimony.
Trump faces 34 counts of falsifying internal Trump Organization business records, largely related to the $130,000 payment to Daniels. Prosecutors argue that the payment was made to prevent further damage to Trump’s reputation after the release of the infamous “Access Hollywood” tape.
The defense contends that Trump sought to protect his personal life and family, rather than his campaign, from embarrassing revelations.
As the trial unfolds, the battle over Daniels’ credibility looms large, shaping the trajectory of the case against the former president.
