Trump's hush money trial: Stormy Daniels' testimony and other takeaways from Day 13
Stormy Daniels testifies in court: Highlights from Day 13 of Trump's hush money trial
On Tuesday, May 7, the hush money trial of former President Trump reached a crescendo as adult film actress Stormy Daniels took the stand, marking a pivotal moment in the courtroom drama. Daniels’ testimony was crucial, alleging a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, which led to a $130,000 payment during the 2016 presidential race to prevent her from disclosing the affair. The prosecution contends that this payment, facilitated by Trump’s former attorney Michael Cohen, was falsely categorized as legal expenses to conceal its true purpose: silencing Daniels to aid Trump's electoral prospects. Trump denies the affair and any criminal wrongdoing, maintaining that the funds were legitimate legal fees. The charges against Trump include 34 felony counts of falsifying business records, with potential imprisonment as a consequence, though rare for a first-time offender. Here are the key highlights from Tuesday’s proceedings.
Daniels mocks Trump
Daniels recounted her encounter with Trump at a celebrity golf event in Lake Tahoe in July 2006, where she detailed being invited to dinner with him after the day's activities. She described receiving specific instructions to take a designated elevator to Trump's penthouse suite at the hotel. Upon arrival, Trump's bodyguard, Keith Schiller, greeted her with a polite remark, "Have a nice evening, you look nice," as per Daniels' testimony. Inside the suite's foyer, adorned with black and white tiles, Daniels called out “Hello?” and was met by Trump, who was clad in what she described as silk or satin pajamas. In a light-hearted exchange, Daniels jokingly remarked, "Does Mr Hefner know you stole his pajamas?" alluding to Hugh Hefner, the then-publisher of Playboy. She testified that Trump obliged when she asked him to change his attire.
Daniels says Trump called her ‘Honeybunch’
According to the testimony of the adult film star, she and Trump engaged in a two-hour-long conversation inside his hotel suite, where topics ranged from discussing Trump's television show, 'The Apprentice,' to Daniels sharing her journey from adult film star to director. During their conversation, Trump affectionately called Daniels "Honeybunch," per the latter's testimony.
Trump allegedly told Daniels she reminded him of his daughter
Daniels also remembered Trump allegedly likening her to his daughter during their chat, stating, "You remind me of my daughter – smart, blonde, and beautiful. And people underestimate her as well." However, Daniels did not specify which daughter Trump was referring to. This isn't the first instance of a former paramour alleging that Trump drew comparisons between them and his daughter. Karen McDougal, a former Playboy model who also received a hush money payment regarding an alleged affair with the ex-president, has previously claimed that Trump likened her to Ivanka.
Daniels says she 'swatted' Trump 'right on the butt’
Daniels testified that at one point she became frustrated with what she perceived as Trump's arrogance, noting that he consistently attempted to "one-up" her and monopolize the discussion with talk about himself. She recounted telling him, "Are you always this rude? You don't even know how to have a conversation?" According to Daniels' testimony, Trump appeared to be "taken aback" by her remark. She said she responded by playfully swatting him "right on the butt" with a rolled-up Forbes magazine. Following this gesture, she noted that he became "much more polite."
Melania and Trump ‘don’t even sleep in the same room’
During their conversation, Trump's relationship with his wife Melania also came up, according to Daniels. She recounted Trump showing her a photo of Melania but dismissing any concerns, allegedly saying, "Don't worry about that. We don't even sleep in the same room." At the time of the purported encounter, Trump and Melania were relatively new to their marriage, having tied the knot approximately a year and a half earlier in January 2005. Their son, Barron Trump, was born in March 2006, just four months before the alleged affair. Despite Trump's initial invitation to dinner, Daniels testified that it never materialized.
Trump gave Daniels a 'jump scare'
In her testimony, Daniels described returning from the restroom to find Trump lying horizontally on the bed, clad in boxers and a t-shirt. “At first I was just startled, like a jump scare,” she testified. “I felt the blood leave my hands and my feet, almost like standing up too fast. ... I just thought, ‘Oh my god, What did I misread to get here?’ The intention was pretty clear." To illustrate the scene, Daniels even mimicked Trump's posture on the bed for the jurors, placing one hand on her head and the other on her hip. She further testified that Trump did not use a condom during their encounter. Afterward, Daniels claimed that Trump remarked, "That was great. Let's get together, honeybunch."
Defense's request for mistrial rejected
Lawyers representing the former president urged Judge Juan Merchan to declare a mistrial amidst Stormy Daniels' testimony. The defense argued that Daniels had delved into excessive and prejudicial detail, aimed at "pure embarrassment" rather than serving a legitimate legal purpose. One contentious point was Daniels' assertion that Trump had not used a condom during their alleged encounter. Despite the defense's plea, Judge Merchan denied the request for a mistrial, deeming it unwarranted. He also expressed surprise at the lack of objections from the defense during Daniels' testimony. While uncomfortable with certain aspects of Daniels' testimony, Merchan instructed her to adhere strictly to the questions posed. Additionally, he ordered Daniels' remarks regarding the alleged sexual position with Trump (purportedly "missionary") to be struck from the official record.
Defense challenges Daniels' motives
During the cross-examination of Daniels, Trump's legal team adopted an aggressive stance, aiming to portray the adult film actress as motivated by personal vendetta and financial gain. A notable exchange occurred when Trump's lawyer, Susan Necheles, directly asked Daniels, "Am I correct that you hate President Trump?" Daniels affirmed with a simple "Yes." The focus of Trump's defense also shifted to a separate case where Daniels sued Trump for defamation and subsequently lost, refusing to pay the owed money. Necheles emphasized this point, accusing Daniels of “looking to extort money” from Trump. Daniels vehemently denied the accusation, saying it was "false."
NYC mayor affirms Rikers Island is 'ready' for Trump
The day's focus remained on Daniels, yet other notable developments unfolded amidst her testimony. During a separate press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams (D) addressed concerns regarding the potential incarceration of Trump, affirming that the city's jail commissioner was “prepared for whatever comes." Adams reassured, "They're professionals, they'll be ready." This came in response to Judge Merchan's indication on Monday that Trump could face imprisonment if he continues violating a gag order. Trump's repeated breaches have already amassed fines totaling $10,000. The mayor expressed confidence in the professionalism of prison officials, particularly those at Rikers Island, New York's largest jail, which has stood for nearly a century. However, it's worth noting that The New York Times has characterized Rikers as "a notoriously violent, dilapidated facility."
