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, 2:48 PM EDT

Daniels says she issued false denial to 2018 WSJ article

Stormy Daniels testified that she honored the terms of her nondisclosure agreement in the following year after signing it, including declining to comment on a 2016 Wall Street Journal article about AMI's payment to Karen McDougal just days before the 2016 election.

When the Wall Street Journal published a story about Cohen's payment to Daniels in 2018, Daniels issued a denial -- which she testified was false -- authored by her then-attorney Keith Davidson.

"What kind of impact did it have?" Hoffinger asked about the impact of the 2018 reporting.

"Chaos," Daniels said, testifying the article "blew my cover."

"Suddenly I was front and foremost everywhere," Davidson said.

Daniels testified that on Jan. 30, 2018, she was booked on the Jimmy Kimmel show. As her talent agent, Gina Rodriguez, arrived with dresses, Daniels testified that her attorney at the time, Keith Davidson, came with a statement for her to sign denying a sexual relationship with Trump.

On television, Daniels said the signature on the statement was not hers. Asked why, Daniels said she wanted to "tip off to Jimmy Kimmel" that she "didn't sign it willingly."

Daniels, on the stand, appears more subdued following the break, with her testimony is consisting of more yes-or-no answers.

May 07, 2024, 2:43 PM EDT

Daniels says she understood agreement to be with Trump

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger resumed her direct examination by asking Stormy Daniels about October 2016, when she agreed to sell the rights to her story -- but the payment from Michael Cohen was repeatedly delayed.

Jurors were shown the final signed agreement between Stormy Daniels, through her attorney, and representatives for Donald Trump.

In the days ahead of the 2016 election, Michael Cohen wired Stormy Daniels’ lawyer $130,000 and entered into a confidential settlement agreement to kill the story, according to prosecutors.
Manhattan District Attorney’s Office

"Is that who you understand you were signing this agreement with?" Hoffinger asked, referring to Trump.

"Yes," Daniels answered.

Daniels said she received $96,000 of the $130,000 wired by Michael Cohen. The jury has previously seen the paperwork associated with the wire transfer to her attorney Keith Davidson.

May 07, 2024, 2:33 PM EDT

Daniels is told to 'stay focused' before she retakes stand

With the judge's permission and the defense's consent, prosecutor Susan Hoffinger stepped out to confer with Stormy Daniels before she was to retake the witness stand.

The judge said Hoffinger would remind Daniels to "stay focused" and make sure she "does not provide any unnecessary narrative."

Trump stared forward as Daniels reentered the courtroom. Only after she turned toward the witness stand -- passing the defense table where the former president sits -- did Trump glance at Daniels.

"Good afternoon Miss Daniels, I remind you that you're still under oath," Judge Merchan said as she retook the stand.

May 07, 2024, 2:27 PM EDT

Judge says remedy for defense is on cross-examination

"As a threshold matter, Mr. Blanche, I agree that there are some things that would be better left unsaid," Judge Merchan told defense attorney Todd Blanche in denying the defense's motion for a mistrial based on Stormy Daniels' testimony.

"The witness was a little difficult to control. Having said that, I do think there were guardrails in place ... certain details that I don't think we needed to get into," the judge said.

"Whether these are new stories or not new stories, the remedy is on cross-examination. So I'm going to deny your motion for a mistrial at this time," Merchan said.

"I was surprised that there were not more objections" from the defense team, the judge added.

"At one point, the court ... objected, because there was no objection coming from the defense," he said.

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