Stormy Daniels, the porn star at the centre of Donald Trump’s historic criminal prosecution, testified on Tuesday about her claimed 2006 sexual encounter with the former president in a hotel penthouse suite.
Trump, 77, is accused of falsifying company records to reimburse his lawyer, Michael Cohen, for a $130,000 hush money payment to Daniels on the eve of his 2016 election against Hillary Clinton, when the lurid story of marital infidelity had the potential to sink his campaign.
Prosecutor Susan Hoffinger has announced, “The people call Stormy Daniels,” as Trump, who is seeking to recapture the White House in November, sat at the defence table in the Manhattan courtroom flanked by his lawyers, AFP reports.
What followed was specific evidence about the sexual contact Daniels claimed she had with the former US president, including his pyjamas, boxer shorts, sexual position, and the fact that he did not wear a condom, all as the former president, seated only feet away, gazed on in silence, stony-faced.
Trump has denied having sex with Daniels, and his defence team attempted unsuccessfully to declare a mistrial.
The unusual judicial showdown comes six months before Trump faces Democratic Vice President Joe Biden in the presidential election.
Daniels told prosecutors about her terrible background in Louisiana, a period as a stripper, and her eventual entry into the adult film industry.
Stephanie Clifford, 45, said she met Trump at a celebrity golf tournament in Lake Tahoe, where she worked as a greeter for X-rated movie business Wicked Entertainment.
Daniels claimed she was 27 at the time, and Trump was “probably older than my father.”
She claimed a member of Trump’s security detail informed her that the real estate mogul wanted to have dinner with her. She was hesitant but accepted after consulting with her publicist.
When Daniels arrived at Trump’s penthouse, he appeared dressed in “silk or satin pyjamas, which I immediately made fun of,” she told the jury.
“I said, ‘Does Mr. Hefner know you stole his pyjamas?'” she added, referring to the costume worn by the late Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner.
Trump changed clothes, and they started discussing pornographic films.
“He was very interested in a lot of the business stuff,” Daniels said.
The former US president, who was married at the time to his present wife, Melania, recommended Daniels go on his successful reality television show, “The Apprentice,” she claimed.
Daniels claimed she went to the toilet and returned to find the ex-president on the bed in boxer shorts and a T-shirt.
“It startled me,” she said. “The intention was pretty clear.”
“I was not threatened verbally or physically,” Daniels said, although there was an “imbalance of power.”
She mentioned they had brief sex on the bed “in a missionary position,” and Trump did not wear a condom.
“I felt ashamed. I didn’t stop it; I didn’t say no,” Daniels said.
Daniels claimed she met with Trump many times but ended communication when it became evident she would not participate on “The Apprentice.”
