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The unprecedented criminal trial of former President Trump reached a fever pitch Tuesday with highly anticipated and salacious testimony from adult film actress Stormy Daniels that prompted a motion for a mistrial and a scolding from the judge.
Trump has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of falsifying business records in the first degree. The charges stem from a years-long investigation by the Manhattan District Attorney’s Office.
The charges are related to alleged payments made ahead of the 2016 presidential election to silence Daniels about an alleged 2006 extramarital affair with Trump.
This courtroom sketch shows former President Trump watching as witness Stormy Daniels takes the stand in his criminal trial in New York City on May 7, 2024. (Reuters/Jane Rosenberg)
Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg must convince the jury that not only did Trump falsify the business records related to alleged hush money payments, but that he did so in furtherance of another crime: conspiracy to promote or prevent election, which is a felony.
NY V TRUMP: JUDGE DENIES MOTION FOR MISTRIAL AMID STORMY DANIELS TESTIMONY
On their own, falsifying business records and conspiracy to promote or prevent election are misdemeanor charges.
Here are the top five moments from Tuesday’s day in court.
Stormy Daniels takes stand after judge approves prosecution’s questions about alleged sexual encounter
Attorneys for Trump objected to prosecutors’ plans to go through the “full details” of the alleged sexual encounter between the pornography actress and Trump.
Trump’s team argued there was no need for the details and further argued that there is an issue with Daniels’ credibility by pointing to her initial denial of any alleged encounter in 2018.
Prosecutors told Judge Juan Merchan that they would “not go into details of genitalia.”
Merchan sided with prosecutors, and Daniels promptly took the stand.
Daniels, whose legal name is Stephanie Clifford, told prosecutors she prefers to be…
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