Donald Trump watched Stormy Daniels testify on Day 13 of his hush money trial.
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.
Judge Merchan has ended the proceedings for the day.
Former President Trump was conferring with his attorney when Stormy Daniels passed by the defense table on her way out of the courtroom, and she and Trump did not appear to acknowledge each other.
Court is off tomorrow, with Daniels' cross-examination scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. ET on Thursday.
Defense attorney Susan Necheles, resuming her cross-examination of Stormy Daniels following a break, raised the defense claim that Donald Trump was the victim of extortion.
"You were looking to extort money from President Trump, right?" Necheles asked.
"False," Daniels replied.
"That's what you did, right?" Necheles insisted.
"False," Daniels responded.
On occasion, Daniels has been hesitant to answer questions during the cross-examination, especially when Necheles quickly presents an exhibit to jurors.
"You want me to comment on something when I don't know the context, and that is not fair," Daniels said at one point.
Defense attorney Susan Necheles asked Stormy Daniels a line of questions about what details Daniels included and omitted from her 2018 book, based on some of what she said today court.
At one point Necheles directly asked if Daniels was simply making up her story about Trump.
"You are making this up as you sit there?" Necheles said.
"No," Daniels forcefully responded.
"The whole story was made up, wasn't it?" Necheles said.
"None of it is made up," Daniels responded.
For most of the cross-examination, Donald Trump, at the defense table, has been sitting back in his chair and angled toward the witness stand. His eyes are frequently closed, and he rarely confers with his lawyers.
Defense attorney Susan Necheles is attempting to suggest that Daniels has profited from what defense attorneys have argued is a false claim of a sexual encounter.
"You have been making money by claiming you had sex with Donald Trump for more than a decade?" Necheles asked.
"I have been making money by telling my story about what happened to me," Daniels responded.
"And that story has made you a lot of money, right?" Necheles followed up.
"It has also cost me a lot of money," Daniels said.
