Stormy Daniels Testifies in Trump Criminal Trial Amid Accusations of Extortion and Rehearsal

In the ongoing criminal trial of Donald Trump, adult film star Stormy Daniels is set to continue testifying today after spending several hours yesterday discussing her alleged affair with Trump in 2006 and subsequent payment to keep quiet during the 2016 election. The defense attempted to discredit Daniels’ credibility by accusing her of attempting to extort Trump and rehearsing her testimony, which she denied. This testimony serves as a prelude to the prosecution’s star witness, Michael Cohen, who initiated the payment. Prosecutors allege that Trump and two associates devised a plan to impact the 2016 election by purchasing and concealing damaging stories about Trump’s campaign. Daniels has previously stated that the encounter with Trump was brief and left her feeling shaken. Trump denies any sexual involvement. During jury selection, the media was instructed not to reveal the names or employers of potential jurors, although some information was able to be shared, such as the fact that one juror follows Cohen on social media. The trial is expected to last between six and eight weeks, with Trump expected to attend daily. Trump is currently facing multiple criminal cases, including charges relating to attempts to overturn his election loss in Georgia and Washington, D.C., as well as allegations regarding the retention of classified documents at his Florida estate.