Trump trial: Stormy Daniels tells (almost) all about alleged encounter with Trump

Donald Trump watched Stormy Daniels testify on Day 13 of his hush money trial.

Last Updated: May 7, 2024, 7:29 PM EDT

Former President Donald Trump is on trial in New York City, where he is facing felony charges related to a 2016 hush money payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels. It marks the first time in history that a former U.S. president has been tried on criminal charges.

Trump last April pleaded not guilty to a 34-count indictment charging him with falsifying business records in connection with a hush money payment his then-attorney Michael Cohen made to Daniels in order to boost his electoral prospects in the 2016 presidential election.

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May 07, 2024, 12:33 PM EDT

Daniels says Trump again made advances

Daniels also testified that Trump made sexual advances toward her during a meeting in Hollywood, California.

"He kept trying to make sexual advances," Daniels said. "Scooting closer, giving me compliments," but she rebuffed him.

"Did he tell you to keep it confidential?" the prosecutor asked.

"Absolutely not," Daniels responded.

At no time during any of their encounters, Daniels testified, did Trump seem concerned about getting caught or his wife finding out.

Stormy Daniels is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger during former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 7, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
Jane Rosenberg via Reuters

Daniels said that was the last time she saw Trump in person.

As she left, she said, Trump told her, "'Want to get together again. I miss you.' You know, the usual."

Since that in-person encounter, Daniels said she got a few more phone calls from Trump, who at one point told her that she could not go on "The Apprentice."

During their last call, Daniels said that Trump apologized after another adult film star appeared on "The Apprentice." Daniels said she did not care.

She testified that her life in the years following her encounters with Trump were “amazing.”

She told jurors that she got a raise, directed more films, broke into mainstream film with feature film castings, became a decorated equestrian, and had a child.

May 07, 2024, 12:19 PM EDT

Daniels recalls meeting Karen McDougal at 2007 Trump party

Stormy Daniels said she saw Trump again in January 2007 at a Hollywood party celebrating the launch of Trump Vodka.

She recalled meeting a number of Trump's friends, including a woman named Karen. It turned out to be Karen McDougal, whose allegations of an affair were bought and buried by the National Enquirer before the 2016 election, publisher David Pecker testified earlier at trial.

"Did you know her last name then?" prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked.

"No," Daniels said, telling jurors she later learned her name was Karen McDougal.

Hoffinger asked Daniels about visiting Trump in Trump Tower -- an interaction Trump assistant Rhona Graff testified about earlier in the trial.

Daniels described the meeting as "rushed" and "very, very brief."

"It was very brief. He was very busy," Daniels said. "It was very sort of rushed."

When asked if Trump was worried about people seeing her in Trump Tower, Daniels said no.

"Oh, no. He introduced me to everyone," Daniels said. "He just seemed busy."

May 07, 2024, 12:13 PM EDT

Daniels says Trump kept in touch with phone calls

After the Lake Tahoe encounter, Daniels said she and Trump kept in touch, with him frequently referring to her as "honey bunch."

"It was weird," she said.

Daniels said she continued to take Trump's calls on the advice of her publicist, who wanted Daniels to explore the idea of going on "The Apprentice."

When Trump would call Daniels after their encounter, she testified that she would always put him on speakerphone because she "thought it was funny." She said "dozens and dozens of people heard me on the phone with him."

Jurors just saw a contact in Daniels' phone -- labeled "D Trump Rhona" -- for Trump's longtime executive assistant Rhona Graff.

"If I need to get a hold of him ... I need to get a hold of a woman named Rhona," Daniels said.

Jurors heard testimony from Graff less than two weeks ago when she testified about entering a contact for Daniels in the Trump Organization's system.

Jurors again saw the Trump Organization contact for Daniels, who confirmed the phone number was hers.

May 07, 2024, 12:08 PM EDT

Daniels told only 'very close' people about alleged encounter

Stormy Daniels testified that she met Trump the next day when he came to her hotel for an event associated with the golf tournament.

"The next day, I met him this time at my hotel at a nightclub restaurant downstairs," Daniels said.

"I arrived and he was sitting at a booth," Daniels said, adding Trump was sitting next to football player Ben Roethlisberger. Trump referred to Roethlisberger as "Big Ben," according to Daniels. She said she tried on his Super Bowl ring.

"He wasn't drinking," Daniels noted about Trump, who famously does not drink.

Daniels said that she told "scores of people'' about Trump inviting her to his suite, but she kept the information about the sexual encounter to very few people.

"The sex part I told very few, very close people," Daniels said.

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