Live updates: Stormy Daniels testifies in Trump trial – The Independent

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Adult film actress concludes testimony after firmly refuting inconsistencies in her account of the alleged sexual encounter between her and the former president in 2006
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Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has resumed at Manhattan Criminal Court following Wednesday’s recess, beginning with the porn star Stormy Daniels returning to the witness stand to face more cross-examination from the defendant’s lawyers.
Ms Daniels sparred with defense attorney Susan Necheles over alleged inconsistencies in the various tellings of her sexual encounter with Mr Trump in 2006 but remained calm and firm in her testimony.
Earlier in cross-examination, she was confronted about whether she “hates” Mr Trump and wants to see him in jail – to which she replied she wants to see him held accountable for his actions.
On Tuesday the defence moved for a mistrial citing Ms Daniels’ “prejudicial” evidence, which was denied by Judge Juan Merchan.
Taking the stand later in the day was Madeleine Westerhout, Mr Trump’s “gatekeeper” and former director of Oval Office operations during the administration. She cried as she fondly recalled her time working for him.
Motions for a lifting of the gag order relating to Ms Daniels and another attempt at a mistrial were denied by Judge Merchan.
Alex Woodward is covering Mr Trump’s trial in Manhattan and will be providing regular updates on proceedings.
Sheila Flynn writes:
He was a lawyer with a two-syllable name, a colourfully complicated personal life and a Rasputin-like grip on United States politics – especially in New York.
The very mention of Roy Cohn during his four decades of headline ubiquity could spark anything from anger to hatred to fear; his shadowy legend persists nearly 40 years after the death of a man dubbed a “new strain of sonofabitch” – by his own autobiography co-author, no less.
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Decades before Trump erected his Tower, an insidiously well-connected New York power-player was cutting a ruthless path through US society, politics and courtroom battles. A new film debuting at Cannes charts Roy Cohn’s outsized influences on America and the 45th president, writes Sheila Flynn
Donald Trump’s latest attempt to lift a gag order placed on him during his New York criminal hush money trial has been denied.
Lawyers for the former president argued that since a key witness – adult film actress Stormy Daniels – has now left the stand, the order should be lifted so Mr Trump can “respond” to her testimony.
Judge Juan Merchan, who is presiding over the case, denied the motion on Thursday, saying he was concerned about “attacks” on Ms Daniels and other witnesses. He added: that he was also concerned with “protecting the integrity of these proceedings as a whole.”
The gag order, over which Mr Trump has already been fined $10,000 for violating, seeks to protect witnesses, jurors, court staff and their families.
Continue reading…
Lawyers for the former president argued that he should be allowed to discuss remarks made by the former adult film actress on the stand now that she was ‘no longer a witness’
The judge in Donald Trump’s civil fraud trial is now under investigation after a hotshot New York real estate attorney claimed he gave him unsolicited advice ahead of the hotly-anticipated multi-million-dollar ruling, according to a report.
Attorney Adam Leitman Bailey told NBC New York that he spoke to Judge Arthur Engoron three weeks before he made his final judgment in the former president’s case, where he found Mr Trump, his two oldest sons, as well as their Trump Organization associates and properties liable for $464m for falsely inflating his assets.
Kelly Rissman reports:
Attorney Adam Leitman Bailey claimed he spoke to Judge Arthur Engoron three weeks before he made his final judgment in the former president’s case
At the onset, Judge Merchan argued that the jury is in a position to decide whether to believe Trump or Daniels.
The prosecution doesn’t have to prove the encounter happened, but they can build up her credibility, which was immediately attacked in the opening statements, opening the door for prosecutors for Daniels to tell her story.
“Your motion for a mistrial is DENIED. I’ll see you tomorrow at 9:30.”
“There were many times, not once or times, where Ms Necheles could have objected and didn’t,” says Judge Merchan.
“For some unexplained reason, which I don’t understand, there was no objection to material [or] mention of the condom … I agree, that shouldn’t have come out. I wish that didn’t come out … For the life of me I don’t know what she didn’t object.”
He also mentions that Daniels had backtracked immediately when the way her words came out made it sound like she might’ve been drunk or under the influence, yet Necheles kept bringing it up, drilling it into the jury’s ears.
Steinglass wraps up and Todd Blanche rises.
“What is it Mr Blanche?” Judge Merchan says.
“Very briefly. Very briefly.”
He says what the prosecution said is “not true,” and that Karen McDougal was a witness. Merchan cuts him off.
“I’m not gonna get bogged down on that … That has nothing to do with this motion on a mistrial.”
“It does!”
“I’m making you the ruling. I decide.”
Steinglass mentions that they never had plans to call McDougal, she was just on the witness list.
Blanche holds his arm out and looks at the judge and then at fellow defense attorney Emil Bove as if asking, “are you serious?”
Bove smiles and shakes his head.
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Stormy Daniels is cross-examined by Donald Trump’s lawyer Susan Necheles on 9 May 2024
REUTERS
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