Donald Trump’s legal team attempted to serve Stormy Daniels a subpoena related to a documentary about her life and involvement with Trump, but she refused to accept it. The encounter took place at a bar in Brooklyn before a screening of the film “Stormy” and has sparked a legal battle between Trump’s lawyers and Daniels’ attorney. Trump’s lawyers are asking the judge to force Daniels to comply with the subpoena, claiming it is relevant to the former president’s criminal trial.
Daniels is expected to be a witness at Trump’s trial, where he is accused of falsifying business records in relation to a $130,000 payment she received to keep silent about a sexual encounter with him. Trump has pleaded not guilty to the charges and denies having had a sexual encounter with Daniels. His lawyers argue that payments made to Daniels were legitimate legal expenses and were recorded accurately. The trial is underway in Manhattan, with Daniels set to testify about the payment.
Trump’s lawyers are also seeking information about the documentary “Stormy” and how it was promoted and edited. They are requesting details about any compensation Daniels received for the film. The premiere of the film on NBC’s Peacock streaming service has raised concerns about negative publicity affecting Trump’s ability to receive a fair trial. Trump’s legal team accuses Daniels of using her status as a witness to promote her brand and make money.
In a separate filing, the Manhattan district attorney’s office indicated that they plan to challenge Trump’s credibility by questioning him about recent legal setbacks if he chooses to testify at the trial. Trump was recently ordered to pay significant civil penalties in two separate cases where he was found to have lied and defamed another individual. A hearing is scheduled to determine if this line of questioning will be allowed during the trial.
The legal dispute over the subpoena is the latest attempt by Trump’s lawyers to obtain potentially damaging information from Daniels. The subpoena also requests communications between Daniels and other key witnesses, including Michael Cohen and Karen McDougal. The judge had previously blocked an attempt by Trump to subpoena NBC Universal for information related to the documentary, calling it a fishing expedition. The ongoing legal battle highlights the contentious nature of Trump’s criminal trial and the involvement of key witnesses like Stormy Daniels.
