By Steve Neavling
Adult film actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday described in lurid detail her sexual encounter with Donald Trump in 2006 during his hush money trial in New York.
At one point, even the judge acknowledged that some of the vivid descriptions would have been “better left unsaid.”
The encounter was central to the trial because of a $130,000 payment that Daniels received in an alleged attempt to keep quiet about her claims that she had an affair with Trump. Prosecutors allege Trump made the payment to keep her quiet while he was running for president in 2016.
Defense lawyers repeatedly objected to the salicious details and demanded a mistrial, claiming the testimony was prejudicial and irrelevant, the Associated Press reports.
“This is the kind of testimony that makes it impossible to come back from,” attorney Todd Blanche said. “How can we come back from this in a way that’s fair to President Trump?”
The request was rejected by Judge Juan Merchan.
Daniels testified that Trump initiated the “brief” sexual encounter while they were discussing the adult film industry following a meeting at a golf tournament.
Trump was married to his wife Melania at the time.
Although she says she didn’t feel physically or verbally threatened, she insisted Trump was “bigger and blocking the way.”
After the alleged encounter, Daniels said, “It was really hard to get my shoes because my hands were shaking so hard.”
“He said: ‘Oh, it was great. Let’s get together again, honey bunch,’” Daniels said. “I just wanted to leave.”
Merchan advised Trump’s attorneys that their client was acting inappropriately during the testimony.
“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,” Merchan said, adding, “I am speaking to you here at the bench because I don’t want to embarrass him.”
Daniels is expected to resume her testimony Thursday.
