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.

Apr 22, 5:51 am

What to know about the hush money case

May 07, 2024, 12:39 PM EDT

Daniels says man threatened her not to discuss Trump

Stormy Daniels told jurors that she did an interview with "InTouch" in 2011 about her interactions with Trump.

In June 2011, she said a man approached her in the parking lot of a Mommy-and-Me class in Las Vegas.

According to Daniels, the man "threatened" her not to continue telling her story about her "encounter with Trump."

Daniels said she did not report the encounter to police.

"He told me not to say anything at all, and I was scared," Daniels said, appearing to get choked up during this testimony.

Daniels testified that this exchange, in part, prompted her to want to take down a blog post in 2011 that alleged she had had a sexual encounter with Trump.

Jurors earlier heard about the blog post during the testimony of Daniels' then-attorney Keith Davidson, who sent a cease-and-desist letter to the blog to get the post removed.

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.

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