Defence attacks credibility of Daniels’ testimony
PORN star Stormy Daniels described her 2006 encounter with Donald Trump in unflattering terms at his criminal trial yesterday, testifying she tried not to think about the sex while it took place and feared it would become public.
For several hours Daniels, 45, spoke on the witness stand about her encounter with Trump, 77, and the hush money deal she reached to stay quiet about it ahead of the 2016 election when he won the White House.
She told jurors that her life descended into ‘‘chaos’’ after the arrangement was made public in 2018, saying she was ostracised and harassed at her home.
‘‘Who do you understand Mr Trump to be referring to as ‘horseface’ and ‘sleazebag’ in this post?’’ prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked her as she displayed a social media post by Trump.
‘‘Me,’’ Daniels replied.
Daniels’ testimony provided fodder for Trump’s lawyers to seek a mistrial, arguing that details, such as her statement that Trump did not wear a condom, served no purpose other than to inflame the jury.
Justice Juan Merchan denied that request but agreed that some of her testimony ran too far afield.
Trump’s lawyers attacked her credibility and grilled her about inconsistent statements she has made over the years about her time with Trump.
Daniels also conceded that she ‘‘hates’’ Trump and wanted to make money off her story. Trump has pleaded not guilty to charges of falsifying business records to cover up a $US130,000 ($NZ216,983.65) hush money payment to Daniels and denies having sex with her.
His legal team has suggested that Daniels was angling for a spot on The Apprentice, a reality TV show then hosted by Trump. Daniels confirmed she hoped he would cast her on the show following their encounter. Daniels said Trump made sexual advances after inviting her to his hotel suite at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, Nevada. She ‘‘blacked out’’ despite consuming no drugs or alcohol after Trump prevented her from leaving the room by blocking the door, and woke up on the bed with her clothes off. She did not tell Trump to stop — ‘‘I didn’t say anything at all’’. She left the hotel room quickly afterward.