Trump trial: Hope Hicks faces her ex-boss on 'Access Hollywood' tape, Daniels payment

Defense attorney Emil Bove asked Stormy Daniels' and Karen McDougal's former attorney Keith Davidson about his 2016 effort to negotiate a payment on behalf of McDougal, who was ultimately paid $150,000 by the National Enquirer so the publication could "catch and kill" her story.

Davidson was set to earn 45% of the payment based on the retainer agreement he signed with McDougal, according to testimony.

Bove suggested that the National Enquirer was struggling to verify McDougal's allegations, which threatened to derail the negotiations.

“I am drafting a declination of representation letter to send off,” Davidson texted Enquirer editor Dylan Howard in 2016, according to evidence.

Davidson testified he could not recall threatening to end the negotiations.

The judge subsequently recessed the proceedings for lunch, with Davidson's cross-examination set to resume after the break.

Under cross-examination, Stormy Daniels' former attorney Keith Davidson testified that he attempted to negotiate a monetary offer from Hulk Hogan related to the release of an alleged sex tape.

"There was a monetary demand made," Davidson said while declining to provide specifics.

Davidson denied that he leaked any information about the alleged tape to the National Enquirer though Dylan Howard.

Davidson appeared to admit that he was investigated for extortion related to Hulk Hogan by the Tampa Police Department.

"They conducted an investigation, yes," Davidson said.

"An investigation related to extortion?" Bove asked.

"I believe so," Davidson said.

"You were not ultimately charged, right"" Bove asked.

"True," Davidson said.

When asked if he learned about extortion law from the experience, Davidson mumbled, "Perhaps, I don't know."

Trump attorney Emil Bove's cross-examination of Stormy Daniels' former attorney Davidson turned heated as Bove asked Davidson about some of his previous cases.

Bove asked about his alleged involvement in a TMZ story related to Lindsey Lohan's treatment at a rehab facility.

"I don't recall that," Davidson.

Bove then asked Davidson about his clients related to Charlie Sheen.

"We asserted that there was tortious activity," Davidson said, adding there was some kind of settlement.

Bove then attempted to ask Davidson about the specifics of the settlement related to Sheen.

"I'm not going to answer that question," Davidson said. "I don't recall."

"Is it fair to say your memory seems a bit fuzzy?" Bove said.

Davidson appeared to be refusing to answer some questions while invoking attorney-client confidentiality.

"We're both lawyers here -- I'm not trying to play lawyer games with you," Bove said, telling Davidson he was just demanding truthful answers.

"You are getting truthful answers, sir," Davidson said bluntly.

Defense attorney Emil Bove appeared to suggest that Keith Davidson, as Stormy Daniels' attorney, was committing extortion when he negotiated the Daniels payment. Bove asked whether the statute of limitations has run out for any extortion offenses.

"What does the word extortion mean to you?" Bove asked.

"Extortion is the attaining property by fear or threat of force," Davidson said.

"By 2016, you were pretty well versed in getting right up to the line without committing extortion?" Bove asked.

"I don't understand your question," Davidson said.

Bove asked Davidson about a 2012 state and federal extortion investigation related to Hulk Hogan.

"I familiarized myself with the law," Davidson said of the 2012 investigation "I did everything I could to make sure my activities were lawful."

Bove attempted to suggest that based on that past experience, Davidson intentionally avoided making overt threats related to the 2016 election when negotiating the Daniels payment.

"I made no threats to anyone," Davidson responded.