Adult film actress Stormy Daniels is set to testify in the criminal trial of former President Donald Trump on felony charges of falsifying bank records. The trial stems from allegations of an affair between Trump and Daniels, as well as a “hush money” payment made during Trump’s 2016 campaign to keep her quiet. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, met Trump in July 2006 at a celebrity golf tournament and claimed they had sex in his hotel room. She also alleged that Trump suggested she appear on his television show “Celebrity Apprentice.”
In July 2007, Daniels and Trump allegedly met again at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los Angeles but did not have sex. Trump later informed Daniels that she would not be on “Celebrity Apprentice,” and they did not meet again after that. In May 2011, Daniels gave an interview to In Touch Magazine about her alleged affair with Trump, but the interview did not run at the time due to threats of legal action from Trump’s attorney Michael Cohen. Several weeks later, Daniels was allegedly threatened in a Las Vegas parking lot by a man who warned her to “leave Trump alone.”
In August 2015, Trump and Cohen met with American Media CEO David Pecker, who allegedly agreed to silence negative stories about Trump, including paying off individuals with damaging information. Trump’s alleged affair with Daniels came to light in October 2016, just before the election, when Cohen arranged a $130,000 payment to her for her silence. Trump won the election in November 2016, and Cohen was later reimbursed for the payment through a series of false invoicing and payments.
The legal battle surrounding the hush money payment continued for years, with Cohen ultimately pleading guilty to campaign finance violations in 2018. Trump denied knowledge of the payment, but later acknowledged reimbursing Cohen for it. Cohen’s guilty plea led to a series of investigations into Trump’s finances and business dealings, culminating in his indictment on felony charges in March 2023. Trump’s trial began in April and is expected to last for several more weeks, with Daniels set to testify on Tuesday. The charges against Trump could result in prison time if he is convicted.
Trump has maintained his innocence, calling the criminal case a “witch hunt” and claiming the charges are politically motivated. His lawyers have argued that he did not falsify business records by paying his personal attorney and that the charges were brought too late. Despite Trump’s protests, the trial is moving forward, with witnesses like Daniels providing crucial testimony. The trial is one of four criminal cases Trump is facing, making him the first former president to ever face criminal charges. The outcome of the trial could have significant repercussions for Trump’s future and political legacy.
