The porn actress and the president: Stormy Daniels at the helm, a few steps from Trump

"Stormy Daniels is called " the bar,” says a prosecutor.

Immediately, silence settles in the crowded New York court where former US President Donald Trump is being tried.

Tuesday, the ex-porn actress faced the Republican candidate for the November presidential election, seated a few steps from her.

With an impassive face, he looked straight in front of him while Stephanie Clifford, her real name, straightened her hair and put on glasses.

It was prosecutor Susan Hoffinger who questioned the forty-year-old about the case which required the real estate mogul to appear before a judge in the middle of the electoral campaign.

Il is being prosecuted for 34 falsifications of accounting documents which allegedly served to conceal the payment of $130,000 to Stormy Daniels in the final stretch of the 2016 presidential election, which he won narrowly against Hillary Clinton.

This payment was used to buy Stormy Daniels' silence about a sexual relationship she claims to have had with Donald Trump in 2006, when he was already married to his current wife, Melania . A relationship that he denies.

The revelations about the affair have been a thorn in the Republican's side for years.

On Tuesday, the latter spoke with his lawyer Todd Blanche, his head tilted towards him, while the former porn actress turned director described how she was elected “Miss Nude North America”.

– “Harmful” –

Donald Trump at his trial © POOL – Win McNamee

She began her testimony by recounting her schooling, her experience in ballet and horse riding – she is passionate about horses.

“I was collecting manure”, said -she said. “Then I started dancing.”

A friend who worked at a dance club took her there, and Stormy Daniels ended up performing there.

“They didn't bother to look at my ID card (..). I made more money than collecting manure”, said – she said.

Even before Stormy Daniels began to speak in the courtroom, Donald Trump had lost his temper.

“I just recently learned who today's witness is. It's unprecedented, the lawyers didn't have time to prepare”, said he stormed in a publication that he has since deleted on his Truth Social platform.

Mr. Trump's face is more closed than usual entered court.

One of his lawyers, Susan Necheles, objected to Stormy Daniels being called to the stand to discuss the details of the alleged affair before the jury.

“We learn that the witness, the second witness, will be Stormy Daniels. We wish to renew our objection to her testifying about any sexual act,” she declared, deeming it “prejudicial”.

The prosecutor promised that the testimony would not include a “description of genitals.”

But “it is important to establish the sexual act and what it felt about him,” she continued. “There will be a few details, very brief.”

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