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Trump trial: Stormy Daniels tells (almost) all about alleged sexual encounter with Trump

PHOTO: Stormy Daniels is questioned by prosecutor Susan Hoffinger before Justice Juan Merchan during former President Donald Trump's criminal trial in Manhattan state court in New York City, May 7, 2024 in this courtroom sketch.
3:29
Jane Rosenberg via Reuters
Judge rejects Trump team request for mistrial after Stormy Daniels testimony
By Aaron Katersky, Peter Charalambous, Olivia Rubin, Lucien Bruggeman, Julia Reinstein
Last Updated: May 7, 2024, 11:30 PM

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.

MORE: Here are 8 pieces of evidence presented so far in Trump's hush money trial

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.

Top headlines:

  • Defense suggests Daniels is making up her story
  • Judge denies motion for mistrial after Stormy Daniels testimony
  • Daniels describes alleged sexual encounter with Trump
  • Jury sees paper trail detailing Cohen repayment plan
  • Judge again holds Trump in contempt, threatens jail time
Here's how the news is developing.

Pinned
Apr 22, 2024 9:51 AM

What to know about the hush money case

READ MORE: Here's what you need to know about the historic case.


Pinned
May 07, 2024 7:02 PM

Daniels says Avenatti sued Trump without her consent

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Stormy Daniels about her 2018 lawsuit against Donald Trump for defamation.

Trump had called Daniels' allegations of being threatened in Las Vegas a "con job." A court later dismissed the case and ordered Daniels to pay Trump's legal fees.

According to Daniels, her attorney at the time, Michael Avenatti, filed the lawsuit against her will.

"Did you want him to do that?" Hoffinger asked.

"No," Daniels said. "It just seemed really risky and it didn't seem like something that could be won. It seemed like a bad choice. Not worth it, I guess."

Daniels later fired Avenatti, who was disbarred and imprisoned for stealing from clients.

Daniels testified that she still owes Trump for the legal fees in the case.

"Because I don't have the means to pay that kind of funds and because I didn't think it was fair," Daniels said about why she hasn't paid.

She testified that the outcome of this criminal case will have no outcome on her outstanding fees -- possibly getting ahead of a potential line of cross-examination.


May 07, 2024 11:30 PM

Trump was 'cursing audibly' during Daniels' testimony

Former President Trump was "cursing audibly" at one point during today's direct examination of Stormy Daniels, according to a transcript of a sidebar conversation that was released following court.

"I understand that your client is upset at this point, but he is cursing audibly, and he is shaking his head visually and that's contemptuous.
It has the potential to intimidate the witness and the jury can see that," Judge Juan Merchan told Trump's attorney during the sidebar, according to the transcript.

"I will talk to him," said Trump attorney Todd Blanche.

"So, I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don't want to embarrass him," Merchan said. "You need to speak to him. I won't tolerate that."

"I will talk to him," Blanche replied.

Following a subsequent break, reporters heard Judge Merchan ask Blanche whether he had spoken to his client, but at the time it wasn't clear what the judge was referring to.

Daniels' testimony included a graphic description of her alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006.


May 07, 2024 9:17 PM

Trump, exiting court, calls case 'a disaster for the DA'

Former President Trump, on his way out of court, slammed the proceedings as "a disaster for the DA."

"This was a very big day, a very revealing day," Trump told reporters. "As you see, their case is totally falling apart."

PHOTO: Former President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media next to his attorney Todd Blanche at Manhattan criminal court, May 7, 2024, in New York.
Mary Altaffer/via Reuters
Former President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media next to his attorney Todd Blanche at Manhattan criminal court, May 7, 2024, in New York.
Mary Altaffer/via Reuters

"They have nothing on the books and records and even something that should bear very little relationship to the case," he said.

"It is just a disaster for the DA," said the former president.

-ABC News' Kelsey Walsh and Mike Pappano


May 07, 2024 8:36 PM

Court ends for the day

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.



May 07, 2024 8:26 PM

Defense presses Daniels on claim of extortion

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.


May 07, 2024 7:02 PM

Daniels says Avenatti sued Trump without her consent

Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger asked Stormy Daniels about her 2018 lawsuit against Donald Trump for defamation.

Trump had called Daniels' allegations of being threatened in Las Vegas a "con job." A court later dismissed the case and ordered Daniels to pay Trump's legal fees.

According to Daniels, her attorney at the time, Michael Avenatti, filed the lawsuit against her will.

"Did you want him to do that?" Hoffinger asked.

"No," Daniels said. "It just seemed really risky and it didn't seem like something that could be won. It seemed like a bad choice. Not worth it, I guess."

Daniels later fired Avenatti, who was disbarred and imprisoned for stealing from clients.

Daniels testified that she still owes Trump for the legal fees in the case.

"Because I don't have the means to pay that kind of funds and because I didn't think it was fair," Daniels said about why she hasn't paid.

She testified that the outcome of this criminal case will have no outcome on her outstanding fees -- possibly getting ahead of a potential line of cross-examination.


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