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Donald Trump’s New York hush money trial has resumed at Manhattan Criminal Court following Wednesday’s recess, with the porn star Stormy Daniels back on the witness stand facing more cross-examination from the defendant’s lawyers.
Ms Daniels appeared on Tuesday to regale jurors with her account of how she met Mr Trump, the infamous sexual encounter she says they had in July 2006 and the events leading up to the 2016 presidential election.
After lunch on Tuesday, the defence moved for a mistrial citing Ms Daniels’ “prejudicial” evidence, which was denied by Judge Juan Merchan.
As cross-examination began, the witness 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.
Elsewhere, Mr Trump spent his day off from court hosting an event at Mar-a-Lago for people who bought his superhero NFTs, rather than hitting the campaign trail, and attacked Joe Biden on Truth Social over escalating events in the Middle East, once again insisting the war in Gaza would never have happened if he had remained president.
Alex Woodward is covering Mr Trump’s trial in Manhattan and will be providing regular updates on proceedings.
Trump hosts dinner for people who bought his NFTs on day away from hush money trial
Amelia Neath has this report on how the defendant chose to spend his precious recess day yesterday after complaining endlessly that the trial was stopping him from visiting battleground states to campaign.
Joe Sommerlad9 May 2024 15:00
Davidson, on the call, accuses her of “basically yelling and screaming and calling me a pussy.”
“I wouldn’t be the least bit surprised if he comes out and says, you know what, Stormy Daniels, she wanted this money more than you can ever imagine. I remember hearing her on the phone saying, you fucking Keith Davidson. You better settled this God damn story. Because if he loses this election, and he’s going to lose, if he loses this election we lose all fucking leverage [and] this case is worth zero.”
Does she remember screaming at him?
“No, I do not actually. I never yelled at him.”
Daniels corrects Necheles, that the phone call is what Gina Rodriguez’s boyfriend was saying, not her. This is not the first time that the defense has attributed these remarks to the wrong person because Davidson’s remarks aren’t that clear out of context.
Alex Woodward9 May 2024 14:57
Necheles is now bringing up Michael Cohen’s recorded phone call with lawyer Keith Davidson about “leverage” that we heard a couple of weeks ago. Necheles suggests Daniels screamed at Davidson and called him a pussy, and to get the deal landed before the election before losing “leverage”.
“Can you show me where I said that?” Daniels says.
So now we’re hearing the clip of Cohen’s taped conversation with Davidson. Judge Merchan asked to stop the tape and they had a sidebar.
“Can you look at the transcript first before you play a tape?” he tells them.
Alex Woodward9 May 2024 14:51
Necheles suggests Daniels was motivated to go public after Trump’s opposition to abortion rights and gay marriage, and that she wanted to “hurt him politically.”
“You were threatening that you would try to hurt President Trump politically if you didn’t get this story?”
Alex Woodward9 May 2024 14:49
Necheles: Isn’t it correct that instead of being paid for your silence you wanted to be paid for your story?
Daniels: “I don’t remember saying that exactly, no. … I wanted the truth to be printed with a paper trail of some sort, whether it was an interview or money. … I wanted the truth to come out.”
But if the story had been out there would’ve been a paper trail?
“Correct, with a target on my back and my family’s.”
Alex Woodward9 May 2024 14:46
Cross-examination resumes
Defence attorney Susan Necheles resumes her cross-examination: You were not asking for money in 2016?
Daniels replies: “I never asked for money from President Trump”
“No … I never asked for money from anyone in particular. I asked for money to tell my story. … I was asking to sell my story to publications, to get the truth out.”
But “I accepted an offer,” she said.
Necheles is coming in fast and furious already.
That was your choice, right?
“Not necessarily, I wanted to do a press conference.” But she was “running out of time.”
Running out of time to get money?
“Running out of time to get the story out. … I chose to be safe.”
You chose to make money, right?
“I chose to take the non-disclosure.”
Alex Woodward9 May 2024 14:43
Watch: Trump again claims courthouse closed down like Fort Knox
Oliver O’Connell9 May 2024 14:35
Judge Merchan enters
Judge Juan Merchan is on the bench and proceedings are getting underway.
Alex Woodward is at the courthouse reporting for The Independent and will be sending updates throughout the day.
Stormy Daniels is back on the stand. Jury coming in…
There is an issue with court photography.
At around 8:43, a court officer told the pool photographers in the hallway pen that Justice Merchan is no longer allowing photography in the courtroom for the rest of the trial.
Officer said that someone in the pool violated the court order by taking a photograph of Trump from the aisle, while walking into the well. The order permits photographers to take photos only from the well itself, the officer said.
Pool photogs talked to court spox Al Baker, who said he would look into the matter.
Photographers can still do their job in the hallway outside.
And an update from the pool:
Court spox Al Baker said photos inside the court are “not happening today”.
Oliver O’Connell9 May 2024 14:34
Barron Trump to step onto political stage as Florida delegate for Republican convention
Here’s more on the youngest Trump’s first baby steps into politics from James Liddell.
Joe Sommerlad9 May 2024 14:30
Trump seated in court
Donald Trump is seated in court beside Todd Blanche.
Susan Necheles and Emil Bove are seated beside them.
Trump entered hallway at 9:18 and walked up with Todd Blanche. Spoke for 5 minutes.
Rick Scott (not Tim) hung back and didn’t come close to poolers nor talk to us
Trump began by criticizing Biden’s decision on arms to Israel. Said: “If any Jewish person voted for Joe Biden they should be ashamed of themselves”
Said his lawyers just filed a “major motion” in appellate division over gag order.
Talked about unfairness of trial, Merchan.
“We have Rick Scott here, we have other politicians here.” Unclear who other politicians are.
Said “there’s a danger from the right”, not the left
Praised statement from Ted Cruz criticizing the case.
‘I think you’ll see some very interesting things today ” and praised his lawyers.
Oliver O’Connell9 May 2024 14:28
