Trump lawyer grills Daniels, says she sought to profit off story of sex

NEW YORK — Donald Trump’s lawyer accused porn star Stormy Daniels of profiting off her story they had sex in 2006, part of an effort to undermine her credibility as a witness in the first criminal trial of a sitting or former U.S. president.

Daniels’ unflattering account of a sexual encounter with Trump in a Lake Tahoe hotel suite in 2006 riveted jurors on Tuesday, reminding U.S. voters of the more lurid aspects of his 2017-2021 presidency as he campaigns to win back the White House this year.

Trump, 77, is charged with 34 counts of falsifying business records to cover up his former lawyer Michael Cohen’s $130,000 payment to Daniels, 45, for her silence ahead of the 2016 election about the alleged encounter. Trump has pleaded not guilty and denies ever having sex with Daniels.

His lawyer Susan Necheles showed jurors Daniels’ social media posts advertising merchandise on her online store around the time Trump had been charged last year.

The merchandise included a “Stormy Saint of Indictments” candle with her photo on it and a comic book titled, “Political Power: Stormy Daniels.”

“A large part of your livelihood for a bunch of years now has been making money off the story that you had sex with President Trump and that you will help President Trump be convicted, right?” Necheles asked.

Daniels said she needs money to foot her legal bills — she owes Trump more than $500,000 from a failed defamation lawsuit — and that selling merchandise was part of her job.

“That is me doing my job,” Daniels said in a confident tone, wearing a green shirt and a black coat.